North Neches River National Wildlife Refuge
This plan establishes the purpose and need for action to develop the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge opened on April 13, 2019.
by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to establish a new National Wildlife Refuge in East Texas along a 38 mile reach of the upper portion of the Neches River dividing Anderson and Cherokee Counties. According to the Preliminary Project Proposal approved in 1988, the refuge would be approximately 35 miles south-southeast of Tyler and 100 miles southeast of Dallas. The proposed refuge is located on both sides of the Neches River and includes overflow bottomlands and adjacent pine and pine/hardwood forests.
Refuge Purposes – Should the Service establish the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge, the purposes of the refuge would be to: (1) protect nesting, wintering and migratory habitat for migratory birds of the Central Flyway; (2) protect the bottomland hardwood forests for their diverse biological values and wetland functions of water quality improvement and flood control assistance; and, (3) provide for compatible wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.
Published March 01, 2005
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the oldest federal conservation agency, tracing its lineage back to 1871, and the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is management of fish and wildlife for the American public. The Service helps ensure a healthy environment for people by providing opportunities for Americans to enjoy the outdoors and our shared natural heritage.
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