None The Nature Conservancy in Mississippi Press Releases Search All Press Releases Matthew Miller, Program Director (662) 844-1885

The Nature Conservancy Joins With U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

White’s Slough will provide, many educational and recreational opportunities

COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI — January 23, 2008 — The Nature Conservancy has entered into an agreement with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop a stewardship plan that would improve habitat quality, sustain long-term viability of native species, and provide increased educational and recreational opportunities for local residents. This beautiful 100-acre property located in the city limits of Columbus, Mississippi, is a rare, accessible example of the bottomland hardwood and cypress sloughs that were once common in the upper Tombigbee River region of northeast Mississippi. White’s Slough supports a wide diversity of native animal and plant species including white-tail deer, beaver, wood ducks, great blue herons, persimmon, bald cypress and swamp white oak.  

Robbie Fisher, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Mississippi, said “The Nature Conservancy is very excited to partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at White’s Slough. So often our projects are in remote areas far from cities and towns, but in this case we have the opportunity to work on a beautiful, diverse natural area that lies within the heart of a town. We look forward to expanding our partnership to include others in the local community in this project.”

Opportunities for study and volunteer participation may include removal of invasive plant species; clean up of refuse dumped in the area; biological inventories of trees, flowering plants and birds; building low-impact trails and a parking area to improve access; placement of interpretive signage; and enhancement and restoration of surface hydrology and connectivity to the Tombigbee River.

Corps of Engineers Tenn-Tom Waterway Operations Project Manager Rick Saucer said “We are extremely pleased to work with The Nature Conservancy in the Partnership for White’s Slough. The Conservancy is a great organization, and we look forward to this relationship. We are very fortunate to be the owners of this high quality habitat and are excited about the opportunities to make it more accessible for the community to enjoy.”

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.