Lousiana DWF Reopening Three Wildlife Management Areas Sept. 8
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will reopen Joyce, Manchac, and a portion of Pearl River wildlife management areas (WMAs) on Saturday, Sept. 8. All had been closed in advance of Hurricane Isaac’s landfall.
Due to flood water impacts preventing full site access, only that part of Pearl River WMA south of I-10 will be opened, until further notice. Additionally, the Swamp Walk on Joyce WMA will remain closed until further notice. Within Manchac WMA, users are reminded that a portion of site known as “The Prairie” is designated as a Limited Access Area and internal combustion engines are not allowed from September through January.
LDWF sites that remain closed until further notice include the following WMAs and refuges: Elm Hall (Assumption Parish); Elmer’s Island (Jefferson Parish); and Maurepas Swamp (Ascension, Livingston, St. James and St. John the Baptist parishes). Habitat and facility damage assessments are ongoing at sites still closed to determine storm impacts.
For more information on state WMAs, contact Christian Winslow in LDWF’s Hammond field office at 985-543-4781 or cwinslow@wlf.la.gov. For a complete list of state WMAs and refuges, go to: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/wma.
