Two Projects Improve White River NWR
DU and partners will enhance nearly 270 acres
DU and partners will enhance nearly 270 acres
Ducks Unlimited completed one project and is planning another on White River National Wildlife Refuge. The Dry Lake project enhanced 121 acres of moist soil wetlands with management infrastructure. The Turner Tract Phase II project will enhance 146 acres in two new impoundments. This project is supported in part by a recent grant from Entergy and a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant. These two areas are sanctuary, which will enhance waterfowl hunting on other portions of White River NWR.
Entergy committed $150,000 for the Turner Tract project through their Environmental Initiatives Fund. Improvements on public lands like the White River Refuge enhance outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone, including Entergy's employees and customers. While we are enhancing habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife, we are enhancing water quality and flood protection in the area.
The White River NWR is part of Arkansas' Big Woods and one of the nation's largest remaining seasonally flooded bottomland hardwood forests. These forested wetlands are important for mallards and other migrating and wintering waterfowl. The area is part of DU's America's River Initiative, aimed at ensuring sufficient wetland habitat within the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.