Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge
Catahoula National
Wildlife Refuge,
located in
east central
Louisiana,
12 miles east
of Jena, was
established
in 1958 as
a wintering
area for migratory
waterfowl.
The refuge
contains 25,162
acres divided
into two units.
The 6,671 acre
Headquarters
Unit borders
nine miles
of the northeast
shore of Catahoula
Lake, a 26,000
acre natural
wetland renowned
for its large
concentrations
of migratory
waterfowl.
The 18,491
acre Bushley
Bayou Unit,
located 8 miles
west of Jonesville,
was established
May 16, 2001.
This acquisition
was made possible
through a partnership
agreement between
The Conservation
Fund, American
Electric Power,
and the Fish
and Wildlife
Service. The
habitat found
at the refuge
is primarily
lowland hardwood
forest subject
to seasonal
backwater flooding
from the Ouachita,
Black, and
Red Rivers.
White-tailed deer, small game mammals, songbirds, raptors, waterbirds, reptiles, and amphibians are commonly seen throughout the refuge. Waterfowl are abundant during the winter. Peak waterfowl populations of 75,000 ducks have been recorded. In 1979, the Duck Lake Impoundment was created to provide 1200 acres of waterfowl habitat. Management of the impoundment is to manipulate water levels to promote the growth of aquatic and moist soil vegetation. In 2001, Catahoula NWR was designated a Globally Important Bird Area. Catahoula Lake is recognized as a Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR site): a historic concentration area for shorebirds, waterbirds, and migrating/wintering waterfowl. Catahoula NWR also borders a portion of the Dewey Wills Wildlife Management Area. Together, these areas provide a haven for wildlife and preserve representative samples of the unique habitats originally found in the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.