Ouachita-Black Rivers System in AR and LA has four locks and dams. There are
boat ramps and picnicking facilities on the river. The Felsenthal National
Wildlife Refuge is located along the river near the AR and LA border.

Ouachita-Black Rivers System in AR and LA has four locks and dams.  There are boat ramps and picnicking facilities on the river.  The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge is located along the river near the AR and LA border.

Bird's eye view of the park

Ouachita-Black River - Jonesville Pool

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.

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.

Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1992, is located in
Concordia Parish in east central Louisiana. The 14,668 acre refuge is composed
of some of the last remaining, least disturbed bottomland hardwoods in the
Mississippi River Delta. Because of its large contiguous stand of bottomland
hardwood forest, the refuge was designated as critical habitat and serves as a
corridor for the Louisiana black bear between Tensas River National Wildlife
Refuge and the state of Louisiana’s Red River Wildlife Management Area.

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1992, is located in Concordia Parish in east central Louisiana. The 14,668 acre refuge is composed of some of the last remaining, least disturbed bottomland hardwoods in the Mississippi River Delta. Because of its large contiguous stand of bottomland hardwood forest, the refuge was designated as critical habitat and serves as a corridor for the Louisiana black bear between Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge and the state of Louisiana’s Red River Wildlife Management Area.

White-faced Ibis

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge was established in October 2000 with the
purpose of conserving and restoring habitat for migratory birds, aquatic
resources, and endangered plants and animals. The Refuge consists of 17,500
acres. Topography on the refuge is characterized by ridges and swales that
create a great diversity of plant and animal communities. The refuge is named
for Lake Ophelia, a 350-acre permanently flooded lake.

Major habitat types found on the refuge include: 8,400 acres bottomland
forest, 4,200 acres reforestation and 3,400 acres cropland that are used to
provide winter forage for migratory waterfowl, 500 acres of managed moist soil
wetlands and 1,000 acres of lakes and bayous.

Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge was established in October 2000 with the purpose of conserving and restoring habitat for migratory birds, aquatic resources, and endangered plants and animals.  The Refuge consists of 17,500 acres. Topography on the refuge is characterized by ridges and swales that create a great diversity of plant and animal communities. The refuge is named for Lake Ophelia, a 350-acre permanently flooded lake.Major habitat types found on the refuge include: 8,400 acres bottomland forest, 4,200 acres reforestation and 3,400 acres cropland that are used to provide winter forage for migratory waterfowl, 500 acres of managed moist soil wetlands and 1,000 acres of lakes and bayous.

Ouachita-Black River - Jonesville Pool

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Nearby Parks

Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge

Bayou Cocodrie National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge