Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge the world's largest green-tree reservoir.
Located in southeast Arkansas, approximately eight miles west of the town of Crossett.
Named for a small community located at its southwest corner, this 65,000 acre refuge contains an abundance of water resources dominated by the Ouachita and Saline Rivers and the Felsenthal Pool..
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This 65,000 acre low lying area is kriss-crossed by a
system of rivers, creeks, sloughs, swamps, and dotted with lakes throughout a widespread
bottomland hardwood forest that gradually rises to an upland forest community.
Historically, periodic flooding of the "bottoms" during winter and spring provides for excellent flooded timber duck hunting. Flooding of the Felsenthal Refuge
Greentree Reservoir will begin in mid-November with expectations that water levels will
reach full flood by the end of December
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge
lies within the Mississippi Flyway. Ducks began arriving in September with blue-wing
teal, mallards, black ducks, gadwall, and ring-neck ducks among the 20 species that winter
here. Wood ducks are a year-round resident, nesting in tree cavities and nest boxes
that have been placed throughout the hardwood forest.
Black Bears
Rick Eastridge, bear program coordinator with the Game and
Fish Commission, said that in the past several years,
33 adult females with 84 cubs have
been moved from White River NWR to Felsenthal NWR.
Migrant Birds
During the spring, summer, and through early fall,
Felsenthal is sanctuary for a variety of other migrant birds. A variable of
songbirds and shorebirds stop briefly in the fall and spring to replenish energy reserves
for the long journey to and from wintering areas in Central
and South America, while other
birds, such as Northern parula, prothonotary warbler, and American redstart utilize the
refuge for nesting.
Almost 100 species of birds are known to nest in the area.
Camping
There are 11 primitive camping areas (no facilities) on
Felsenthal NWR.
Also adjacent to the refuge are two camp grounds with full
facilities:
Crossett Harbor RV Park on Highway 82 and Grand Marais Campground at
the town of Felsenthal
Endangered Wildlife
The red-cockaded woodpecker, a small resident bird, is an endangered species. This woodpecker prefers open, park-like timber stands where it drills nesting cavities in mature pine trees. In these upland areas, trees with cavities are marked with white bands. Artificial nest inserts are placed in mature pine trees to supplement natural cavity trees and to encourage establishment of new colonies. Forest management practices, such as selective cutting and intensive prescribed burning, are the primary management tools used to improve and maintain a home for this endangered bird.
Bald Eagles
Felsenthal Refuge is home to bald eagles during the winter as
these magnificent birds follow waterfowl down the flyway. In the future,
these birds may
begin nesting here since the Felsenthal Pool has created what appears to be optimum
habitat.
Alligators
Felsenthal NWR is on the northern edge of the American
alligator's range. Although no longer on the endangered list, this ancient reptile is
still considered threatened in Arkansas. This resident makes its home in the thousands of
acres of shallow water wetlands
. Alligators have been known to nest on the refuge.
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Established: 1970.
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Felsenthal is the world's largest green-tree reservoir consisting of the 15,000-acre Felsenthal Pool that is more than doubled to 36,000 acres during winter flooding.
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Open water: 15,000 acres, bottomland hardwood: 40,000 acres and uplands: 10,000 acres.
For Water Levels Call: 870-943-2307
For Hunting and fishing information Call: 870-364-3167
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