Photo credit: © Gary Holmes

Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1994 to protect a remnant of the bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem along the Trinity River. The Refuge is currently at almost 25,000 acres and continues to grow. It is one of only 14 priority-one bottomland sites identified for protection in the Texas Bottomland Protection Plan. Additionally, this refuge is located within the Gulf Coast Joint Venture Project Area of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and, as such, is highly valuable for a diversity of waterfowl species. This type of habitat is used during migration or nesting by nearly 50 percent of the neotropical migratory bird species listed by the Service. Bottomland hardwood forests also support abundant populations of white-tailed deer, squirrels, numerous other furbearers, freshwater turtles, alligators, snakes, river otters, and bald eagle. Although not fully surveyed, the refuge contains more than 650 plant species and 400 vertebrate species.

Wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities available at the Trinity River NWR include fishing, hunting, photography, and general nature observation. Most of these recreational opportunities are permitted on numerous public use areas throughout the Refuge. Many other tracts found on the Refuge are currently closed to the public due to lack of access, roads, and facilities.

Photo Credit © Shannon Tompkins

Liberty, Texas – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces the availability of the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for a 30 day public review comment period.  The final plan will guide management decisions and set forth goals, objectives and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and establish the Service’s best estimate of future needs for the next 15 years.   A public open house meeting will be held April 10, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the new Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, 601 FM 1011, Liberty, TX.  The meeting will consist of a brief introduction to the planning process, what the refuge is proposing, continue with a question answer session and allow an opportunity for attendees to make oral comments for the record on the Draft Plan.  Comments will be accepted until May 4, 2012.  For more information, contact Refuge Manager, Stuart Marcus at 936-336-9786.

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Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment