RED RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

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Charlotte Barton
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RED RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE http://www.fws.gov/refuge/red_river/ https://www.

1 RED RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Photograph of wood ducks taken on Refuge by volunteer Ronnie Maum

2 Wildlife Quiz 4 Bird Species Answer = Numbers by species

3 Wildlife Quiz

Is one of over 500 National Wildlife Refuges Mission

administer a national network of lands and waters for the

wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the

4 Is one of over 500 National Wildlife Refuges Mission Statement of the National Wildlife Refuge System To administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

5 Legislatively Established Did you know that there are 23 refuges in Louisiana? Red River NWR was established on October 13, 2000, by House Resolution 4318 (Public Law ).

and animal communities within the Red River Basin Provide

6 Our Specific Refuge Purpose Wildlife Comes First! Provide for the restoration and conservation of native plant and animal communities within the Red River Basin Provide habitat for migratory birds Provide technical assistance to private land owners

7 Secondary Purpose is Wildlife-Dependent Recreation Hunting Fishing Photography Nature Observation Education Interpretation

with bottomland hardwood forests, cypress sloughs, and

8 Location Map 15K acres spread over four Refuge Units within the Red River Valley Historically, the area was forested with bottomland hardwood forests, cypress sloughs, and shrub swamps $20 Million 1/2 Duck Stamp 1/2 Land & Water Cons Fund

Parish 1,422 acres with $1,324 paid out in Revenue Sharing Natchitoches Parish

9 Revenue Sharing $16.5K Bossier Parish 651 acres with $3,283 paid out in Revenue Sharing DeSoto Parish 1,422 acres with $1,324 paid out in Revenue Sharing Natchitoches Parish 7,524 acres total with $9,372 paid out in Revenue Sharing Red River Parish 2,261 acres total with $2,665 paid out in Revenue Sharing

10 Lower Cane River (7,613 acres) Natchitoches Parish High waterfowl Use: average of 30,000 ducks and 2,000 geese

11 Natchitoches Parish Red River National Wildlife Refuge First refuge land was purchased in ,377 acres in Spanish Lake Lowlands Unit for $ 1 million Spanish Lake Lowlands (2,793 acres) )

12 Bayou Pierre Unit (3,994 acres) DeSoto and Red River Parishes Dill Tract Yates Tract Pintail Tract

13 Headquarters Unit (652 acres) Visitor Center/Office 4+ miles of unimproved trails 1 mile asphalt provided by RRWC Boat Launch, Pavillion and Fishing Pier Lake Caroline

Public Use Refuge open during daylight hours

14 Public Use Refuge open during daylight hours for all users No fees for any users 75% open to hunting state seasons No rifle hunts yet Youth waterfowl lottery hunts in closed area of Bayou Pierre Unit HQ Unit closed to hunting Fishing open except during hunting season

15 Wildlife Quiz

16 Staff Permanent staff of 4 Refuge Manager- Pat Stinson Lead Refuge Ranger- Terri Jacobson Refuge Ranger David Young Equipment Operator- Phillip Bell 1 part-time/term equipment operator 3-6 college students through the year 5-10 high school students Lots of volunteers

17 Reforestation (5,500 acres) - multiple partnerships

18 Open Land 1,750 acres Farm (1,100 acres)

19 Management for Waterfowl Red River NWR is a place for birds! Actively provide habitat for migratory birds, with an emphasis on waterfowl and shorebirds. Water control Farming Growing weeds

20 Moist Soil Management 650 acres The main purpose is to provide food resources for waterfowl. Use a combination of: Water management Disking Mowing Spraying Other birds benefit from the management. Some of these birds are egrets, ibis, plovers, sandpipers, dowitchers, avocets, stilts and rails.

21 Migratory Song Bird Surveys and Banding Dickcissel Yellow Breasted Chat

22 Wood Duck Banding

23 Managing for Invasive Plants and Animals Exotic Invasive Species Chinese Tallow Tree Trifoliate Orange Royal Palownia Chinaberry Water Hyacinth Salvinia Feral Hogs

2016 833 124K 150 USDA Wildlife Services Lead & Helo

24 Hog Control Northwest LA Aerial Gunning Project Year Killed Acres Landowners K K K K 150 USDA Wildlife Services Lead & Helo Natchitoches SWCD Red River SWCD LA Dept Wildlife & Fisheries Red River NWR NRCS

25 Chinese Tallow Tree & Salvinia 5-10 High School Students Annual Spot Treatment Hack and Squirt 2016 covered 275 acres (=26 acres) Provided educational materials at public events Spend $10-15K annually

26 Wildlife Quiz

27 Urban Refuge Unit just south of Bossier City Located off Teague Parkway Visitor Center, Education Center and Offices opened in January 2012 Visitor Center

28 Programs 198 Programs with 9,183 Attendees 14K visits to Visitor Center 35K visits to the Refuge (hunting, bird watching, etc) Education Interpretation Summer Camps Special Events

29 Nature Explore Discovery Area Teach kids to play outside!

30 Volunteer Opportunities Two RV pads for resident volunteers 120 Volunteers 6,300 Hours = 3 Full Time Employees SCA intern Nature Store Volunteer Youth and Adult Service Hours Youth Service Hours

31 Friends of Red River NWR Nature Store and keep Visitor Center open most Sundays and Holidays Loaner Backpacks and Binoculars Profits, grants, and fund raising support Refuge activities friendsofredriver.org

32 Flooding $200K in damages Large water control structure, 1 bridge, roads, trails, parking lots, bank erosion, salvinia, no farming

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/red_river/ www.fws.gov/northlouisiana/redriver www.

33 Any Questions Before Quiz Answers?

34 Wildlife Quiz Answers??

35 Wildlife Quiz Answers 1 Bald eagle 1 blue-winged teal 75 green-winged teal 2 northern shovelers

National Wildlife Refuge System

Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge part of the US Department of the Interior US Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System What is the National Wildlife Refuge System? Our Mission: The mission