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William B. Clark Conservation Area

clark boardwalk
Boardwalk
© Byron Jorjorian

Why You Should Visit
The Wolf River is a complex ecosystem containing extensive forested wetlands and rich alluvial soils. The river is 86 miles long and represents an excellent example of the once vast floodplain forest ecosystem of the Mississippi River.

Eighty percent of the original 24 million acres of forested wetlands in the Mississippi River alluvial floodplain have already been cleared or drained. The William B. Clark Conservation Area contains approximately 500 acres of bottomland hardwood forest in the Wolf River floodplain.

Location
Fayette county, just east of Memphis, Tennessee

Hours
Open year-round, dawn to dusk

Conditions
Award-winning boardwalk and a kiosk are in place. Summer is very hot. 

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Check the local weather forecast and dress accordingly. Hat and drinking water are recommended. During warm weather light color and light-weight clothing is suggested. Repellent, binoculars and field guide(s) are also worth bringing.

Directions
From Memphis

  • Travel east on Route 57 to the town of Rossville in Fayette County.
  • Turn left on Route 194 in town.
  • Pass over the bridge over the Wolf River, and turn immediately to the right into a parking area and canoe put-in upon crossing.
  • The preserve spans east from that access point.

What to See:

1) Wetlands: You are in a transitional area between two floodplain ecosystems: a bottomland hardwood forest and a tupelo swamp. The seasonal flooding that occurs in these wetlands serves many functions, including diversifying the range of habitats, renewing nutrients in the soil, and filtering pollutants out of the water.

2) Dead Trees: Whether falling or still standing, dead trees are an integral part of the floodplain ecosystem. They provide important habitat for fish, birds, mammals, plants, and insects. So the next time you see a dead tree, remember that it’s really just beginning a new kind of life!

3) Snakes: Snakes are quite common in wetland ecosystems. They are also among the most misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, only 4 of Tennessee’s 32 snake species are venomous. As a result, many people fear and try to kill snakes when they are often less dangerous when left alone.

4) Early Days: The regions early settlers used rivers like the Wolf as aquatic highways, reliable sources of food, and convenient sites for villages and trading centers. Early inhabitants of the area built large earthen mounds that still stand in many places along the Mississippi River.

5) Vegetation: In looking around you will notice both cypress and tupelo trees. Note the difference in the trees: tupelo have a swollen base but no visible roots, while cypress usually have a network of aerial roots called "knees". The understory is dominated by Virginia willow, which turns purple-red in the fall. Yellow pond lilies are also quite common, and provide a source of food for beavers and muskrat.

6) Beavers: Beaver dams regulate flowing water and often create vast wetland systems. These wetland areas help prevent stream bank erosion, improve water quality by trapping sediment, and provide safe havens for young fish and amphibians

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
The preserve’s forest communities have developed in response to many years of natural flooding and the absence of timber harvesting in recent years. This region of the Wolf River represents an exceptionally diverse ecosystem that contains important habitat for birds, mammals, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. In addition to providing habitat for many species, the William B. Clark Conservation Area serves as an important area for improving water quality, recycling nutrients, and moderating flood peaks of the Wolf River during periods of extensive rainfall.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The heart of the preserve was donated to The Nature Conservancy of Tennessee in 1993 by Mr. William "Buck" Clark Jr. in honor of his father. Since 1993, The Nature Conservancy has acquired other areas in the Wolf River watershed. In 2000 a boardwalk was completed.