The Red River National Wildlife Refuge Act was signed into law on October 13, 2001. According to legislation, the refuge shall consist of approximately 50,000 acres of Federal lands and water along that section of the Red River between Colfax, Louisiana and Arkansas state line, a distance of approximately 120 miles. Currently the Service has acquired approximatley 6,000 acres of the proposed 50,000 acres.

The four focus areas to purchase land for the refuge are:

Lower Cane River

(Natchitoches Parish)

Spanish Lake Lowlands

(Natchitoches Parish)

Bayou Pierre Floodplain

(Desoto and Red River Parishes)

Wardview

(Caddo and Bossier Parishes)