Big Sandy, Gin Creek, Lake Barkley WMAs Now Being Planted; Camden and West Sandy WMAs Still Underwater

JACKSON, Tenn. --- Heavy rains this spring have resulted in extreme flooding that is effecting crop production on several West Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). 

 “Kentucky Lake Wildlife Management Area crews are making every effort to plant waterfowl food in the WMAs,” stated TWRA Waterfowl Biologist Dan Fuqua. “We have been fortunate enough to start planting crops on Big Sandy, Gin Creek and Lake Barkley WMAs and if we do not encounter any problems corn should be in the ground by the end of the week.  

“Unfortunately, Camden and West Sandy WMAs are still flooded”, said Fuqua. “The pumps are on, but there is still about seven feet of water to pump out of these WMAs.” 

 According to Fuqua, the pumping process takes approximately four weeks to get the water off the waterfowl food areas of the WMAs. It takes an additional two weeks of drying time before TWRA can begin planting food plots.

TWRA plans to plant millet on areas of Camden WMA that get dry enough to plant by the end of July. The best course of action for the fields in West Sandy WMA will be determined after the water is pumped off and the area evaluated. The flooding at Camden WMA also caused major damage to the levee.

 “Most of the gravel on the levee roads was washed away and there are several holes on the inside of the levee,” said Fuqua. “TVA normally maintains the levee, but due to the Kingston fly ash disaster all of its funds have been shifted to that project. TWRA will attempt to patch the holes on the inside of the levee, but the roads will remain closed except for duck blind construction this fall.”