The Louisiana Wetland Management District (WMD) was established in September
1990 in response to growing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service responsibilities on
lands that were off traditional refuges. These include Farmer's Home
Administration (FmHA) and fee title tracts, leases and work on private lands.
The WMD encompasses 20 parishes in the northern half of the state. Most of the
37 FmHA easements, 10 fee title tracts, and 4 leases are concentrated in
northeastern Louisiana. WMD currently oversees Service interests on 25,710
acres not including Partners agreements

The Louisiana Wetland Management District (WMD) was established in September 1990 in response to growing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service responsibilities on lands that were off traditional refuges.  These include Farmer's Home Administration (FmHA) and fee title tracts, leases and work on private lands.  The WMD encompasses 20 parishes in the northern half of the state.  Most of the 37 FmHA easements, 10 fee title tracts, and 4 leases are concentrated in northeastern Louisiana.  WMD currently oversees Service interests on 25,710 acres not including Partners agreements

Bird's eye view of the park

Louisiana Wetland Management District

D'Arbonne NWR, located north of West Monroe, Louisiana, lies on the western
edge of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. It was established in 1975 to protect
bottomland hardwood forest and provide wintering habitat for migratory
waterfowl. Additionally, the refuge provides habitat for alligators, bald
eagles, the little known Rafinesque's big-eared bat, and the endangered red-
cockaded woodpecker. The refuge is bisected by 13 miles of Bayou D’Arbonne, a
stream in the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System, and is crisscrossed
by numerous creeks, sloughs and oxbow lakes. Cypress swamps, bottomland
hardwood and upland forests complete the landscape that is habitat for a
diverse group of plants and animals.  
  
In years of normal or above rainfall, the refuge’s bottomland hardwood forest
is a very important overflow area for the Ouachita River floodplain. High
water levels, which usually occur between January and May, can flood up to 87%
of the refuge. The wetland forests not only provide habitat to wetland
dependent wildlife, they also reduce damage from flooding in developed areas,
filter silt and other particles from the water, help neutralize pollutants and
provide recharge areas for aquifers.

D'Arbonne NWR, located north of West Monroe, Louisiana, lies on the western edge of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. It was established in 1975 to protect bottomland hardwood forest and provide wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl. Additionally, the refuge provides habitat for alligators, bald eagles, the little known Rafinesque's big-eared bat, and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. The refuge is bisected by 13 miles of Bayou D’Arbonne, a stream in the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers System, and is crisscrossed by numerous creeks, sloughs and oxbow lakes. Cypress swamps, bottomland hardwood and upland forests complete the landscape that is habitat for a diverse group of plants and animals. In years of normal or above rainfall, the refuge’s bottomland hardwood forest is a very important overflow area for the Ouachita River floodplain. High water levels, which usually occur between January and May, can flood up to 87% of the refuge. The wetland forests not only provide habitat to wetland dependent wildlife, they also reduce damage from flooding in developed areas, filter silt and other particles from the water, help neutralize pollutants and provide recharge areas for aquifers.

D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1997. Although
the suburban sprawl of the city of Monroe surrounds much of its boundary, the
refuge itself represents many habitat types and is home to a diversity of
plants and animals. The Refuge was established for "...the conservation of the
wetlands of the nation in order to maintain the public benefits they provide
and to help fulfill international obligations contained in various migratory
bird treaties and conventions..." 16 U.S.C. 3901 (b) (Wetlands Extension Act).
The central physical feature of the Refuge is the lake itself Black Bayou Lake
is approximately 1,500 acres of shallow water studded with baldcypress and
water tupelo trees. The lake is owned by the City of Monroe, which manages its
water level as a secondary drinking water source. The Fish and Wildlife
Service has a 99 year lease on the lake itself and manages its wildlife and
habitat.

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1997.  Although the suburban sprawl of the city of Monroe surrounds much of its boundary, the refuge itself represents many habitat types and is home to a diversity of plants and animals.  The Refuge was established for "...the conservation of the wetlands of the nation in order to maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill international obligations contained in various migratory bird treaties and conventions..." 16 U.S.C. 3901 (b) (Wetlands Extension Act).  The central physical feature of the Refuge is the lake itself  Black Bayou Lake is approximately 1,500 acres of shallow water studded with baldcypress and water tupelo trees.  The lake is owned by the City of Monroe, which manages its water level as a secondary drinking water source.  The Fish and Wildlife Service has a 99 year lease on the lake itself and manages its wildlife and habitat.

Louisiana Wetland Management District

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Nearby Parks

D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge

Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge