O'Keefe Wildlife Management Area sits in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley along the Tallahatchie River, an area of regional significance for waterfowl winging their way along the Mississippi Flyway. As part of the O'Keefe WMA Wetlands Enhancement Project, Ducks Unlimited and its partners restored and enhanced a total of 1,535 acres of moist-soil units, flooded agricultural habitats and forested wetlands.

Project improvements included the installation of several water-control structures, construction of terrace levees and installation of diesel pumps and a water distribution system to enable better water-level management in the area.

The O'Keefe WMA project provides valuable foraging habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl, including mallards, gadwall, green-winged teal, wood ducks and American wigeon.

Hunters also benefit from this project, as O'Keefe provides public hunting opportunities in one of the most waterfowl-rich areas of the country. The WMA is an integral part of introducing youth to public lands, moist-soil management and other elements of waterfowl and wetlands ecology through annual site tours during the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Park's Youth Wetlands and Waterfowl Conservation Camp. Ducks Unlimited is a partner on this MDWFP camp.

This project was funded in part by a North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant.

Partners: Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; North American Wetlands Conservation Council; Wetlands America Trust; and Ducks Unlimited