Highlights of the Conservancy’s Work in the Pascagoula River Watershed

1976 — The state of Mississippi acquires 35,000 acres from The Nature Conservancy along most of the Pascagoula River corridor to form the Pascagoula River Wildlife Management area.

1989 – The Nature Conservancy opens its first office in Mississippi, establishing the Mississippi Chapter.

1990 — Sweetbay Bogs Preserve, located in Stone County within the Pascagoula River Watershed, is dedicated as the Mississippi Chapter’s first preserve.

1999 — The Conservancy purchases 3,273 acres at the headwaters of the Pascagoula where the Leaf and Chickasawhay rivers converge. The land is dedicated and named the Charles Deaton Preserve.

2001 — The Conservancy establishes the Pascagoula Watershed Conservation Initiative, an action plan designed to protect the viability of the Pascagoula River basin for future generations.

2002 — The Conservancy acquires the Dearman Tract, 1,476 acres on the upper Pascagoula River.

2002 — The Herman Murrah Preserve is dedicated in memory of Herman Murrah. This 1,600-acre preserve includes 3.5 miles of river frontage that connects the Deaton Preserve to the Pascagoula River Wildlife Management Area.

2002 — Cat’s Den Cave, located in Smith County on the upper Leaf River, is donated.

2003 — Singing River: Rhythms of Nature, an Emmy-awardwinning documentary about the Pascagoula River airs for the first time, bringing attention and bolstering support for protection of the river across the country.

2003 — The Conservancy opens the Upper Pascagoula Preserves stewardship office in Merrill to facilitate management
of these preserves.

2003 — The Conservancy works with the Pascagoula River Basin Alliance to complete the Pascagoula River Ecotourism Study to aid communities as they consider developing ecotourism strategies.

2005 — The McNeal Tract, 1,312 acres located in George County, is acquired.

2006 — $200,000 is donated for restoration of gopher tortoise habitat in Mississippi.

2006 — The 108-acre Harvell and Pellerree Jackson Sandhills Preserve is donated.

For more information on the Pascagoula River, please contact Rebecca Stowe, Director of Stewardship.

The Nature Conservancy

Mississippi Stewardship Program
138 Main Street Merrill
Lucedale, MS  39452
(601) 947-3111

Nature picture credits (top to bottom):  © Leah Bray (Hatpin), © Rebecca Stowe (Tiger Swallowtail on Stokesia Aster), © Janet Haas (Reb-bellied Woodpecker)