Green tree reservoirs gtrs provide critical wintering waterfowl habitat and public waterfowl hunting opportunities that arkansas is known nationally and internationally for

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $11,800,000 Project Grant under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance Program (CFDA 15.664) to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) on November 1, 2024. The grant funding will support critical renovations and infrastructure improvements to the Shirey Bay Rainey Brake Wildlife Management Area in Arkansas, which contains approximately 5,800 acres of forested wetlands that provide critical wintering habitat for waterfowl and public hunting opportunities. The project aims to address deteriorating forest health conditions caused by altered hydrology and increased rainfall, which threaten the long-term sustainability of this important habitat and the recreational activities it supports. The grant will enable AGFC to better manage the water control structures and infrastructure within the Green Tree Reservoirs to improve drainage and forest health. This work is essential for sustaining Arkansas's nationally and internationally renowned waterfowl hunting opportunities, which generate an estimated $70 million in economic impact annually and support a diverse array of terrestrial and aquatic species beyond just waterfowl.

Shirey BAY rainey brake wildlife management area is an 11308 acre wildlife management area WMA that has approximately 5800 acres of forested wetlands occurring in three gtrs in part flooded with a 6.5 mile water delivery canal. Decades of altered hydrology within this WMA and increased rainfall has resulted in significant impacts to forest health jeopardizing both the long term sustainability of this valuable habitat and the sustainability of the recreational opportunities the WMA provides to northeast arkansas. The bottomland hardwood forests found at shirey BAY rainey brake WMA are in significant decline up to and including tree mortality. Critical renovations are needed to manage the water control structures and infrastructure at shirey BAY rainey brake WMA. These enhancements will allow for better drainage within the GTR particularly during summer growing season and will improve deteriorated forest health conditions within this vitally important remnant bottomland hardwood forest. The long term health of these forests is critical to sustaining arkansas waterfowl hunting opportunities into the future. Gtrs like shirey BAY rainey brake provide an opportunity for waterfowl hunting to 40000 individuals annually with an estimated economic impact of $70 million to local communities across arkansas. Additionally these unique habitats support a host of other terrestrial and aquatic species which provide significant wildlife viewing and other hunting opportunities beyond just waterfowl hunting.