Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge
| Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  Map of the United States | |
| Location | Iberville / St. Martin parishes, Louisiana |
| Nearest city | Krotz Springs, Louisiana |
| Coordinates | 30°29′00″N 91°44′00″W / 30.48333°N 91.73333°W |
| Area | 15,000 acres (61 km2) |
| Established | 1986 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge |
The Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge is located about 30 miles (48 km) west of
History
The National Wildlife refuge system began in 1903, by executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt, with the designation of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida. The Atchafalaya NWR became part of a system that includes more than 150 million acres (610,000 km2) in 552 national wildlife refuges, along with other units of the refuge system, and 37 wetland management districts.[2] The refuge was established in 1986,[3] to provide for 1) conservation and management of all fish and wildlife within the refuge, 2) to fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife, and 3) to provide opportunities for scientific research, environmental education, and fish and wildlife oriented recreation, including hunting, fishing and trapping, birdwatching, nature photography, and others.
Wildlife and habitat
The refuge is encompassed within 1,500,000 acres (6,100 km2) of
The basin's wooded wetlands also provide vital nesting habitat for
The lifeblood of the fishery is the basin's annual flooding and dewatering cycle. Overflows occur during the winter and spring rains, with many areas gradually becoming dewatered during the summer and fall. Sportfishing is popular throughout the basin. Largemouth bass, white crappie, black crappie, warmouth, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish are the primary species sought. More than 85 species of fish occur in the basin, and their populations frequently exceed 1,000 pounds per acre (100 g/m2). Red swamp and white river crayfish are also important for both a sport and commercial harvest.
Refuge area
The combined area of the refuge, totaling 44,000 acres (180 km2), classified as bottomland hardwoods, contains four dominant tree species associations: (1)
Flood of 2011
Due to the flooding of the Mississippi River and the opening of the Morganza Floodway the refuge was closed to the public May 14, 2011.
See also
- Sherburne Complex Wildlife Management Area, a state-managed protected area which is partly coextensive, partly adjacent with Atchafalaya NWR
- Atchafalaya Basin
- Mississippi Alluvial_Plain (ecoregion): Inland Swamps (73n)
- List of National Wildlife Refuges: Louisiana
References
- ^ Sherburne Wildlife Management Area, Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, and Bayou des Ourses Area (PDF) (Map). Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
- ^ National Wildlife Refuge System
- ^ [1] -Approved by Congress
- ^ refuge closed Archived March 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine -KATC.com, posted May 14, 2011; Retrieved 2011-07-21
- ^ The Advocate (Capital City Press), Posted 07-21-2011; Retrieved 07-21-2011
Sources
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [2]