Duck River Unit Reopens after Work

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Duck River Bottoms to Open Saturday, Dec. 21

The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge announces the reopening of portions of the Duck River bottoms area of the Duck River Unit this Saturday, December 21. Recently this area has been temporarily closed due to a large construction project restoring the main exterior levee around the bottoms.

Because the refuge is in the midst of the waterfowl season, the main road leading through the bottoms and the road leading to the refuge subheadquarters will be the only ones to reopen. These are the only roads in the bottoms that are normally open in the winter.

This project, which began in early spring, will hopefully lessen flooding problems in the bottoms area. This area repeatedly had to be closed due to flooding causing refuge staff, fishermen, hunters, refuge farmers and refuge visitors observing wildlife much disappointment over the years.

Also, as part of this project two boat ramps and parking lots were constructed within the bottoms. One of these ramps provides access into Grassy Lake and the other into Clear Lake. Because both Grassy and Clear Lake are seasonally closed the boat ramps will not be open until March 16th, but the parking lots will be open year round.

Another boat ramp on the Tennessee River side near the pumping station has been improved to a wider and longer ramp. Also the parking lot to this ramp has been improved to accommodate more vehicles and trailer parking. Another improvement has been to add a wooden handicap accessible ramp to the fishing pier just past the pumping station.

Refuge Manager John Taylor wants to thank the public for their patience during this extended closure and hopes that the public will take some time this winter to come view the waterfowl and see all the improvements made to the Duck River bottoms.

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