11/12/2009
Public access period for maintenance on public duck blinds, waterfowl hunting openings and access routes will close at midnight, Sunday, Nov. 15.

The clearing of ice storm debris from the Little River main channel was not eligible for FEMA funding assistance. The AGFC had scheduled the clearing of the channel as part of a routine maintenance project this summer independent of any FEMA work. Unfortunately, persistent wet conditions allowed the clean-up of only a small portion of the channel. It is estimated 150-200 large trees remain along the channel creating numerous blockages between the Little River Island and Mill Lake Access. This will present a major hindrance to boat traffic and all waterfowl hunters are urged to use extreme caution if using this access route. It is highly unlikely the clearing of the channel can be finished until next summer after the area is dewatered.  

10/15/2009
Contract work for the removal of ice storm debris on the Dave Donaldson Black River WMA is nearing completion. Recent heavy rainfall has limited access for cleanup equipment across much of the area. The remaining work crews will be directed by the area staff to begin final clean-up of critical areas and residual debris which might impact water management activities. All contractor activities will be phased out over the next week to ten days.

On Monday, October 19, the public will be permitted to access all area compartments to begin cleaning up public hunting holes and maintaining public duck blinds. During this authorized maintenance period, all rules and restrictions of Administrative Order No. 09-01 signed by Scott Henderson, Director, on September 15, 2009, must be strictly adhered to. The public duck blind and public hunting hole maintenance period will run through sunset on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, except no maintenance activities will be allowed on Nov. 7-9 during the Muzzleloader Permit Deer Hunt. In the event flood prone region closure criteria cancels the Muzzleloader Permit Deer Hunt, public maintenance activities will be permitted Nov. 7-9. All participants in the authorized maintenance period must remain aware some contractor activities will be ongoing for the first half of the maintenance period. Do not park ATVs, trailers, boats or materials in locations which might restrict contractor access. All participants in the authorized maintenance period should exercise appropriate safety measures while accessing or working on the area. Levee tops and roadways have varying degrees of damage due to contractor activities and will be rutted and slick. Most of these levees and roadways will not be fully repaired until next summer due to the extremely wet ground conditions. All participants in the authorized maintenance period should be very observant of any remaining hanging limbs and leaning trees along their access route or adjacent to their work area. These hanging limbs and leaning trees pose a serious danger if reasonable precautions are not used.

Current water level and flow rates are too high to permit the installation of stop-logs in most water control structures. The area staff will be closely monitoring gauge reading and area water levels so all water control structures can be boarded-up at the next available opportunity. If additional rainfall does not keep existing water levels high, the area staff expects to have all structures completely closed within the next two weeks.  

Public Accessible Clean-up Areas

10/08/2009
Until further notice, public access for cleanup purposes is restricted to cross hatched areas on the map and the main channels of Black River, Little River and the adjacent sloughs designated on the map below under the Non-Federal Emergency Management Agency Eligible Map heading. Until FEMA contractor crews have completed work in other sections of the management area, the main channels of the Black River, Little River and the connected sloughs can only be accessed through the primary boat launching ramps designated in the map below. Access to the connected sloughs must be by the main river channels only. No land access is permitted other than in the designated hatched areas on the maps below.

Public Accessible Clean-up Areas

Hatched areas eligible for public access clean-up effective 10/10/2009.

09/17/2009
This map shows the areas designated by FEMA that are eligible for clean-up assistance. On Sept. 15, eight contractor crews were scheduled to begin work in the Little River Island area, four crews in the Reyno area and two crews in the Winchester area. Additional crews are expected to arrive later in the week, once these crews have worked a few days and their progress evaluated.

 
Federal Emergency Management Agency Eligible Map

This map shows the areas of DDBR that are open to public access, beginning Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, to begin clearing debris from natural waterways that are not eligible for clean-up assistance from FEMA. Public clean-up efforts will be restricted to the areas shown on this map until FEMA crews have completed all of their activities in a specific area. Access to the main channels of Black River and Little River is restricted to the designated boat ramps shown in the Public Accessible Clean-up Area map above. Access to the adjacent, connected sloughs is restricted to boat access only from the main river channels. As areas are ready to open to additional public clean-up efforts, sections will be highlighted or otherwise noted on this map. All restrictions and procedures contained within the Administrative Order permitting the public clean-up activities must be followed. Click here to view Administrative Order No. 09-01. No hunting seasons will be closed.

 
Non-Federal Emergency Management Agency Eligible Map