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Note: The White Lake Refuge is part of the IBA site, Mississippi Alluvial Valley in Tennessee.

Photo by Ken Leggett

An aerial view of White Lake Refuge looking south.

Location:  On the Obion River, 20 miles west of Dyersburg, Dyer County, Tennessee.
Physiographic Province:  PIF 05 (Mississippi Alluvial Valley); BCR 26 (Mississippi Alluvial Valley)

Geographical Coordinates: 
     White Lake--Lat. 360652N  Long. 0893418W 
Elevation Range:  259' - 264'
     262' White Lake
Size: 2,050 acres
USGS 7.5' quad:  Caruthersville SE

Description:  The site resides within the major historic drainage from Reelfoot Lake to the Mississippi River. In the 1980's, White Lake was cleared for agricultural use. Beginning in 1990, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency began purchasing land--938 acres (March 1990) water units, 296 acres (April 1994) row crops, 37 acres (May 1997) grass, 256 acres (March 2000) BLAH, and 523 acres (March 2000) row crops. The above acreage listed as row crops will be developed into a water management unit in 2006. Reforestation on 300 acres was conducted in 1991, 1995, 2001, and 2004 using Willow Oak, Water Oak, Cherry Bark Oak, Nuttall Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, and Cypress. In 1992 and 1993, TWRA jointly with Ducks Unlimited and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, constructed terraced levees, water control structures, and wells on 615 acres to provide for waterfowl impoundments, moist-soil wetlands, emergent wetlands, and flooding of agricultural crops. A 300-foot deep well pump, pumps approximately 3,000 gpm and floods all seven units independently. In addition, the Obion River will over bank each year, usually in February, March, and April, at which time the whole refuge is flooded.

IBA Criteria:  4a, 4b, 4d

Photo by Carl Wirwa

Windbirds heading north in the spring.

Ornithological Importance:  This drainage has been the historic waterfowl flyway in spring and fall migrations. In addition, wading birds and shorebirds are attracted in significant numbers to the wetland habitat. American White Pelican use the refuge frequently. High numbers include--November 5, 2000 (275), June 30-July 4, 2003 (110), June 7, 2004 (145), July 18, 2004 (81), and  June 27, 2003 (80).  Anhinga, a Tennessee In Need of Management species, is present occasionally. Records include--September 5, 2000 (1, male), June 4, 2003 (1), and May 18-June 7, 2005 (1, female). Bald Eagle, a Tennessee In Need of Management species, averages 4 birds with a maximum of 10 birds during the winter period (1993-2004). No nesting is known on the site. Mississippi Kite, a Tennessee In Need of Management species, averages 20 individuals with a maximum of 100 individuals using the area during the breeding season (1993-2004). There is no documented nesting. Least Tern, a Tennessee and Federal Endangered species, forage on the refuge. High number--June 1, 2005 (150+). See Least Tern Surveys in the Mississippi River for a summary.
    Note 1. The four-year waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) average from the "Tennessee Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey," 2002-2005, is 22,937 birds (5% of the statewide wintering total). The total annual waterfowl number during that survey period is 27,000 (2002), 22,968 (2003), 28,180 (2004), and 13,600 (2005). The four-year survey average for the major wintering duck species is Mallard (13,685 [5% of the statewide wintering total]), Gadwall (4,688 [13% of the statewide wintering total]), Ring-necked Duck (1,437 [11% of the statewide wintering total]), Northern Pintail (1,325 [9% of the statewide wintering total]), and Green-winged Teal (901 [10% of the statewide wintering total]). Mallard, Wood Duck, and Hooded Merganser (May 25, 2005 (4 females + 21 chicks) nest. Canada Goose was detected only one time in the four-year survey period, 35 birds (2004).
     Note 2. Wading birds present during the migration periods and summer include American Bittern, Least Bittern, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron (few), Cattle Egret,   Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, White Ibis, and Green Heron. American Bittern: Generally 1-2 birds observed during spring migration April-May in 2001, 2002 and 2005, August 22, 2000 (1). Least Bittern: Records include--April 24, 2002 (1). Great Egret: High numbers--June 17, 2000 (138), May 10, 2005 (54), June 7, 2005 (37), and June 11, 2002 (23). Snowy Egret: Highs numbers--May 9, 2002 (18), June 17, 2000 (10), and May 25, 2005 (30+). Little Blue Heron: Highs numbers--June 15, 2002 (150). Tricolored Heron: Records include--June 27, 2003 (1) and August 7-September 2, 2004 (1). Cattle Egret: High numbers--June 11, 2002 (50) and May 11, 2003 (34). Black-crowned Night-Heron: Generally 1-3 birds present June-August 2000-2005, high--May 9, 2005 (9). Yellow-crowned Night-Heron: Records include--July 19 and September 2, 2004 (1, immature). White Ibis: Records include--July 22, 2000 (1) and July 6, 2004 (1 immature). Wood Stork: July 21, 2002 (1 immature).
     Note 3. Shorebird habitat consists primarily of moist soil fields. At least 23 species have been detected. There were 12 species on September 3, 2002, 13 species on August 7, 2004 and 16 species on May 25, 2005). Thousands of shorebirds were present during the spring migration in 2005. High numbers include: Black-bellied Plover--May 18, 2005 (15). American Golden Plover--May 3, 2002 (11). Semipalmated Plover--May 18, 2005 (52).  Killdeer--July 18, 2004 (537), July 24, 2004 (400-500). Black-necked Stilt--August 17, 2002 (16), May 16, 2005 (15), July 4, 2003 (7-8), 2004-2005--1-2 pairs bred. Greater Yellowlegs--May 12, 2005 (125) and April 26, 2005 (121). Lesser Yellowlegs--Spring 2004 (3,000 at one time), May 18, 2005 (1,850), May 12, 2005 (1,000). Solitary Sandpiper--July 24, 2003 (108), August 4, 2003 (25), and May 18, 2005 (25). Spotted Sandpiper--May 18, 2005 (10). Semipalmated Sandpiper--May 28, 2004 (160), May 23, 2005 (35), and May 25, 2005 (480). Least Sandpiper--July 11, 2003 (40), July 18, 2004 (197), July 24, 2004 (373), May 12, 2005 (150), May 18, 2005 (125). Pectoral Sandpiper--July 18, 2004 (68), July 24, 2004 (148), May 18, 2005 (850), May 12, 2005 (225). Dunlin--May 25, 2005 (42). Stilt Sandpiper--September 3, 2002 (13), Short-billed Dowitcher--April 30, 2005 (102). Long-billed Dowitcher--April 20, 2005 (50).

Ownership:  Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
    Contact:  Carl Wirwa, Area Manager, 18 East Main Street, Alamo, TN 38001, 731-696-3197 or 731-423-5725, Carl.Wirwa@state.tn.us. TWRA Region I Office, 200 Lowell Thomas Drive, Jackson, TN 38301, 731-423-5725, 800-372-3928 (toll free in Tennessee).

Conservation Concerns:  Critical concerns are disturbance to birds, agricultural conversion, drainage, and channelization. Serious concerns are recreational development/overuse and hunting conflict.

Management Program:  None.

Submitted by:  Carl Wirwa, Area Manager, 18 East Main Street, Alamo, TN 38001, 731-696-3197 or 731-423-5725, Carl.Wirwa@state.tn.us

Additional Contributors:  Ken Leggett, kcleggett@bellsouth.net, Glen Criswell

Approved under the umbrella IBA site Mississippi Alluvial Valley:  February 2006--Yes 7  No 0

This page was last updated on 02/19/06.