About Us

Overflow National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a wetland complex within the watershed of Overflow Creek, which flows south along the length of the refuge. On the western boundary, there are approximately 100 acres of upland forests on a narrow strip along the escarpment that separates the Mississippi Alluvial Valley from the Gulf Coastal Plain. The majority of the refuge is bottomland hardwood forests consisting primarily of willow and overcup oaks. Willow oaks produce small acorns that are an excellent food source for the mallards and wood ducks that make their winter home here. 

Our Mission

Overflow National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1980 to protect the bottomland hardwood forest, a vital habitat for migratory waterfowl populations along the Mississippi Flyway.

Overflow NWR is operated under the following management objectives:

• Provide a diversity of habitat types for migratory waterfowl and other birds;
• Provide habitat and protection for endangered and threatened species;
• Provide opportunities for environmental and ecological research;
• Provide a variety of recreational opportunities consistent with primary wildlife objectives; and
• Expand the public’s understanding of and appreciation for the environment with special emphasis on natural resources.