State Forestry, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife to dedicate second phase of Big Rivers WMA and State Forest

The Kentucky Division of Forestry and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will officially dedicate Phase Two of the Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area and State Forest near Sturgis on Wednesday, Oct. 23.

    Representatives from both agencies will join state legi

slators, local government officials, sportsmen and women, funding partners and others for the ceremony at 11 a.m. (Central). The event will be held at The Lookout, a location on the 4,241-acre property which offers a breathtaking view overlooking rich river bottomlands, woodlands and several miles of the Ohio River.

    The agencies acquired this outstanding property at the confluence of the Ohio and Tradewater rivers earlier this month with the help of public and private partners. It will open soon to hunters, anglers, hikers, boaters, wildlife watchers and more, and will be permanently protected for conservation use.

    The acquisition from The Nature Conservancy completes the second of a two-phase project. The Kentucky Division of Forestry and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife dedicated Phase One - a 2,571-acre tract in neighboring Union County - in May 2012. The addition of the Phase Two property in Crittenden County brings the Big Rivers WMA and State Forest total acreage to 6,812 acres.

    The $12.6 million purchase of the second phase was made without tapping into the license and permit fees paid by hunters and anglers, noted Deputy Commissioner Benjy Kinman of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

    "This is an example of state and private organizations working together to leverage funds for a significant and historic land acquisition," he said.

    Big Rivers WMA and State Forest also will be managed for the protection of watershed and water quality, the security and recovery of endangered, threatened and rare species, and the preservation of existing cultural and geological treasures.

    The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, The Forestland Group, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund, U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, Indiana Bat Conservation Fund and the Stream Mitigation Fund were instrumental in acquiring the property for permanent protection.

    "The Big Rivers project required extraordinary efforts between private, public and non-profit businesses, agencies and non-profit organizations," said Terry Cook, director of the Kentucky Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. "Current and future generations will forever benefit from the combined vision that has allowed for this significant conservation win."

    Cook said Big Rivers will forever be a destination for those who cherish and enjoy Kentucky's landscapes.

    "The Division of Forestry is excited to add this property to its network of state forests," said State Forestry Director Leah MacSwords. "Partnering with the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources not only allowed the state to obtain the property but it will continue to benefit the commonwealth by pooling our resources in the management of the Big Rivers property."

    The Division of Forestry, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and their partners invite the public to join them as they officially open this incredible area to outdoor enthusiasts.

    From U.S. 60 in Sturgis, take KY 365 (South Monroe Street) west for about 3.2 miles. Turn right onto Bells Mine Road and continue for another three miles. Look for the signs and agency personnel to reach the ceremony location.

    "We're proud to open a property of this size to the public," Kinman said. "It shows that when public, private and non-profit agencies work together, everybody wins."