Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge


	Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge
	643 Wildlife Road Dover, TN 37058 E-mail: crosscreeks@fws.gov Phone Number: 931-232-7477
	Visit the Refuge's Web Site: http://www.fws.gov/crosscreeks/	Mallards and American blacks ducks take flight on Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge.

Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge
Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge Cross Creeks NWR is located four miles east of Dover, in Stewart County, Tennessee and approximately seventy-five miles northwest of Nashville, Tennessee. The refuge was established in 1962 as a result of mitigation proceedings with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when portion of the Kentucky Woodlands NWR was inundated with the creation of the Lake Barkely Project. Its primary purpose is to provide feeding and resting habitat for migratory birds with an emphasis placed on providing habitat for wintering waterfowl.

Getting There . . .
Cross Creeks NWR is located 75 miles northwest of Nashville, TN. Take Interstate 24 appoximately 45 miles, then U.S. Highway 79 from Clarksville, TN to Dover, TN. In Dover turn on TN Highway 49 south and travel two miles. Turn left on Wildlife Road and follow the signs to the office/visitor center complex.

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The diversity of habitats enables a variety of wildlife species to make the refuge their home either the entire year, during the winter months as many waterfowl do, or during temporary stopovers as do some migratory songbirds. Over 250 bird species have been observed on the refuge. Up to 230 species of mammals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians may use the refuge for part or all of their life cycle.

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Situated in the floodplain of the Lake Barkley section of the Cumberland River, the refuge river bottomlands is composed of a mosaic of wetlands, bottomland forest, managed impounded water, and cultivated fields, all surrounded by rolling hills and majestic steep rocky bluffs. Hardwood forests make up the remaining one third of the refuge's 8,862 acres.

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Refuge management activities focus on restoration, enhancement, and protection of migratory bird, primarily wintering waterfowl, habitat throughout the refuge's river bottomlands. Cross Creeks manages sixteen waterfowl impoundments, two deep water reservoirs, 1,200 acres of agricultural land and 800 acres of moist soils to provide food for migratory waterfowl, as well as a host of other wildlife. A technique called "moist soil management" involves the manipulating of impoundment water levels to promote production of natural plants and a variety of insects and crustaceans preferred by many wildlife species. Together with the refuge farming operations that produce corn, soybeans, wheat and small cereal grains, a virtual smorgasbord of nutritious foods is made available for wintering waterfowl and resident wildlife.

Other species that benefit from refuge management programs include threatened bald eagles that nest on the refuge and others that might visit such as peregrine falcons, osprey and golden eagles. The refuge sustains a viable population of white-tailed deer and wild turkeys as well as rabbits, squirrel and quail.

The management of the 12.5 mile river corridor is vital to raptors, neotropical migrant birds, and wading birds. Refuge mudflats and pool edges are important stopovers for fall and spring migrant shorebirds.