Partners in Wetlands
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Ducks Unlimited Install a New Water Well in Northwest Mississippi

(left to right) Chris Cole from Ducks Unlimited along with Barry Moss, Wildlife Biologist and Bill Fly, Resource Manager from Arkabutla Lake discuss the optimum location for a new water well to be installed within the Askew Wildlife Management Area.

Lake: Arkabutla Lake, MS

Partners: USACE; Ducks Unlimited

Partnership Type: MOU

Corps POC: Bill Fly, Resource Manager

Story: On 24 September 2003, Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a collaborative effort to improve waterfowl management within the Askew Management Area near Arkabutla Lake. Under the new partnership, entitled the Askew Wildlife Management Area Site Specific Agreement No. US-MS-76-1, the two organizations will work together to improve waterfowl habitat, by maintaining and managing moist-soil management areas, green tree reservoirs, and all associated levees for the enhancement of waterfowl and shorebird habitat. This agreement includes the installation of a pump and well needed to flood these areas as well as provision of electricity for the pump. The partnership is one that both organizations expect will support plant and animal populations that are typical of bottomland ecosystems located along the Lower MS Alluvial Valley.