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Photo: Fred Broerman
Stephen
W. Gard
Project Leader
Coldwater River NWR
P.O. Box 1070
2776 Sunset Drive
Grenada, MS 38901
Phone: (662) 226-8286
Fax: (662) 226-8488
E-mail: yazoo@fws.gov
Fact
Sheet
Hunt
Regulations |
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Refuge
Facts:
- Established: 1991.
- Acres: 2,508 acres in Tallahatchie
and Quitman counties, Mississippi.
- Refuge is unstaffed and
managed by North Mississippi Refuges Complex in Grenada, MS.
- Location: Coldwater River
National Wildlife Refuge is located 4.5 miles south of Crowder, Mississippi;
much of the refuge is inaccessible during the winter months due to backwater
flooding of the Tallahatchie River.
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All photos by
Fred Broerman
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Natural
History:
- All refuge lands were agricultural
lands upon acquisition. One thousand acres of the property was planted
in hardwood seedlings in 2000.
- The refuge has a complex
of 25 old catfish ponds (10 to 21 acres in size) which are now managed
for waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds.
- Very impressive numbers
of shorebird occur from July through September. Large concentrations
of migratory waterfowl use the catfish ponds and flooded portions of
the Refuge in winter. Wading birds feed in shallow pools of the old
catfish ponds during summer and large groups of waders congregate to
roost in willow thickets at night.
- Two hundred and ninety
acres of the refuge is managed in fallow fields for grassland birds
and moist soil habitat for wintering waterfowl.
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Financial
Impact of Refuge:
- Currently unstaffed; development
is conducted by North Mississippi Refuges Complex.
- Presently closed to public
use due to intensity of management efforts and small size.
- Current budget (FY 05)
included in the North Mississippi Refuges Complex.
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Refuge
Objectives:
- Provide habitat for migratory
waterfowl, shorebirds and wadingbirds.
- Converting marginal agriculture
land to hardwood forests.
- Provide fallow field habitat
for wintering grassland birds.
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Management
Tools:
- Pumping water, discing
and drawing down water on the 25 old catfish ponds for wading birds
and shorebirds in the summer.
- Bottomland hardwood forest
management and reforestation.
- Partnerships.
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Public
Use Opportunities:
- Bird watching, nature photography
and non-consumptive use is allowed on a limited basis through a Special
Use Permit which can be obtained at the Complex office.
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Calendar of Events:
May:
Migratory Bird Day.
October: National Wildlife Refuge Week.
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Questions and Answers:
Is Coldwater River National
Wildlife Refuge open to public use including waterfowl hunting?
No. The refuge is
too small, has no access roads, and is intensively managed for migratory
shorebirds and waterfowl. The large concentrations of waterfowl and shorebirds
which use the refuge decline when frequently disturbed.
Will the Service condemn land to expand the size of the refuge?
No. While the Service has an ongoing acquisition program, all
lands acquired have been and will continue to be on a willing seller basis.
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