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Deep Fork
National Wildlife Refuge		 The scene of the bottomland hardwood forest can be viewed at the Deep Fork NWR boardwalk.
P.O. Box 816
Okmulgee, OK   74447
E-mail:
Phone Number: 918-756-0815
Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/oklahoma/Deep%20Fork/		 Deep Fork NWR is comprised of bottomland hardwood forests.
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  Overview
Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge
Protecting important wetlands along the Deep Fork River, Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Oklahoma is a newcomer to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Established in 1993, the 8,696-acre refuge is subject to flooding at least once a year. This flooding results in excellent conditions for waterfowl, including mallard, blue-winged teal, shoveler, pintail, and wood ducks.


Getting There . . .
The refuge is located in Okmulgee County, 35 miles south of Tulsa and approximately 100 miles east of Oklahoma City.

To reach the Headquarters Office: Take Highway 75 to Okmulgee, then 6th Street west to Grand. On Grand, travel to 4th Street. The Headquarters Office is located in the Post Office at 111 West 4th Street, Room 318.

Get Google map and directions to this refuge/WMD from a specified address:

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These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.

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Wildlife and Habitat
Approximately 85 percent of the refuge is bottomland hardwood forest. Major tree species in the wetland areas include bur oak, southern red oak, pin oak, shumard oak, black walnut, dogwood, and redbud. Some of the upland areas have post oak and blackjack oak. Native prairie is also found on the uplands.

Waterfowl seen on the refuge are primarily mallards, but blue-winged teal, shoveler, pintail, and wood duck are common. Red-headed and downy woodpeckers, white-eyed and red-eyed vireos, prothonotary and parula warblers, indigo bunting, and field sparrow are common breeding birds.

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History
Unfortunately, bottomland hardwood forests are rapidly disappearing. Historically, this forest ecosystem of eastern Oklahoma extended across an estimated 2.2 million acres. By the early 1980s, roughly 85 percent of the forests had been destroyed, leaving only about 330,000 acres in the State.

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    Recreation and Education Opportunities
Fishing
Hunting
Interpretation
Photography
Wildlife Observation
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Managment Activities

Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge is a young refuge with additional acquistion lands to be purchased. The refuge staff currently manages the lands with prescribed fire, pest control, hunting and water quality monitoring.

The bottomland hardwood forests of this area are very sensitive to water quality and quantity. Therefore, control of beaver dams is important to ensure that the bottomland harwood forests are not underwater most of the year.