Port Louisa
National Wildlife Refuge
Contacting the Refuge:
Refuge Manager: Tom Cox
e-mail for manager can be sent to: Sally_Jack@fws.gov10728 County Road X61
Wapello, IA 52653-9477
Phone: 319-523-6982
Fax: 319-523-6960
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)Located along the Mississippi River
in southeastern Iowa
Refuge Facts
Established: 1958
Acres: 10,780
Formerly known as the Wapello District of the Mark Twain NWR
Refuge is separated into four divisions: Louisa, Big Timber, Keithsburg and Horseshoe Bend
Financial Impact of Refuge
Six person staff
23,500 visitors in 2004
FY 2006 Budget: $780,534
Natural History
Major migratory bird corridor
Habitat consists of bottomland timber, backwater sloughs, marshes, wet meadows and grasslands
Provides riverine habitat and contributes to healthy floodplain functions
Refuge Objectives
Protect and enhance refuge habitat for endangered species
Provide habitat for migratory birds and resident wildlife
Protect and enhance habitat for wood duck and neotropical bird production
Provide wildlife-dependent recreation and public use opportunities
Highlights
The refuge marks the location where the prairie meets the river and is a mosaic of large tracts of bottomland hardwood, riverine, wetland and prairie habitat that hosts thousands of migrating birds, endangered species, fish and resident wildlife while offering the public excellent opportunities to enjoy these resources
Priorities
Enhance moist soil management areas
Expand wildlife-dependent public use program
Upgrade public boat ramp on the Big Timber division
Provide technical and financial support to private landowners for habitat restoration
Public Use Opportunities
Hiking
Hunting and fishing
Environmental education
Wildlife observation and photography
