Welcome to Red River NWR

The Red River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters is located along the Red River in Bossier Parish, Louisiana, south of the Jimmie Davis/70th Street Bridge. The Headquarters Unit is open for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and photography from sunrise to sunset seven days a week. The new Visitor Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and on some weekends. Informational brochures about the Refuge and regulations regarding public use of the Refuge’s four units are available at the Visitor Center and in kiosks on the various units.

Red River NWR is on Facebook.

Also check out photos of Red River NWR on Flickr!

 

 

Refuge History

The Red River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was created legislatively by the Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act - signed into law on October 13, 2000. The first land purchase was made in August 2002 consisting of 1,377 acres. According to legislation, the refuge shall consist of approximately 50,000 acres of Federal lands and waters along that section of the Red River between Colfax, Louisiana and the Arkansas state line, a distance of approximately 120 miles. Therefore, Red River NWR is comprised of a headquarters unit and four additional focus units.

Red River NWR is located in the Red River Valley which historically was forested with bottomland hardwoods, cypress sloughs and shrub/scrub swamps, providing a variety of habitats for wildlife. In the early 1800’s, settlers began clearing land for homesteads and farms after the Louisiana Purchase. The mid-1800’s brought more clearing for cotton farming and during the mid-1900’s, deforestation accelerated with the increase in soybean prices.

In 1870, Captain Shreve began clearing log jams to make the Red River more navigable and attempts to improve navigation continued with the completion of the lock and dam system in 1994. Completion of the Red River Waterway Project in 1994 led to higher and more consistent water levels in the river which has greatly reduced the turbidity. Water quality has improved and with the seasonal retention of water levels, a rich diversity of aquatic plants has developed.

Increased water levels on the river also improved condiditons for some wildlife. Flooded timber and farm fields with wet, depressional areas are now more common and are being used by wading birds, waterfowl, and other aimals. USDA programs such as the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are restoring valuable wildlife habitat through the reforestation of marginal farmlands and highly erodible lands in the Red River Valley.

Once the 50,000 acres has been acquired, the refuge will connect with other conservation areas reducing habitat fragmentation and providing wildlife corridors and stop-over areas for migrating waterfowl and songbirds.

Red River NWR is a relatively new refuge, therefore public use areas and opportunities are being added as staff and funding grow.

For more information on the Red River Waterway Commission please visit: http://www.redriverwaterway.com/

 

Read about our plans for Red River NWR in the CCP document.

Finalized Comprehensive Conservation Plan

 

Directions to Red River Visitor Center

The Refuge Headquarters has a new address: 150 Eagle Bend Point, Bossier City, LA 71112. To find us using GPS or online maps, use the old address of 555 Sunflower Road. Until the Teague Parkway extension is completed, access to the Refuge and the Visitor Center will continue to be from Sunflower Road. When the parkway is completed, the Refuge will have a dedicated exit from the parkway.

From the intersection of US 71 (Barksdale Boulevard) and Jimmie Davis Highway (LA 511) in Bossier City, go south about one-half mile on US 71. Turn right (west) on Sunflower Road and proceed to the refuge entrance at the end of the road (about one mile). Drive through the gate and follow the main gravel road about one-half mile, bearing left at the fork in the road, to the Visitor Center.

 

Refuge Bird Sightings

eBird is a real-time, online bird checklist that any birdwatcher can use. eBird is sponsored by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Here you can see which birds have been seen in the past month on the refuge by birdwatchers. If you want to add your sightings, sign up at ebird.org. List the birds you saw on the refuge under the “hotspot” for Red River NWR