Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for James A. Schmidt Boardwalk and Trail Saturday May 30, 2015 at Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge

Department of Interior/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex
61389 Hwy 434/ Lacombe, LA 70445
Telephone 985-882-2000/FAX 985-882-9133
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For Immediate Release May 20, 2015

For more information contact:
David Stoughton
david_stoughton@fws.gov
(985) 882-2025

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges will host the dedication of the recently completed recreational trail and boardwalk in honor of James (Jim) A. Schmit. Jim has worked tirelessly as volunteer in support of the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuges Complex. The funding for the materials used to complete this project was made possible by a Louisiana Recreational Trails Program grant through the Federal Highway Administration that Jim wrote and helped to facilitate. Jim has wholeheartedly supported, leveraged, and mentored a dedicated volunteer force that was instrumental in the completion of this project.

The half-mile looping trail on Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge leads visitors through a transition of habitats from cypress swamp to bottomland hardwood forest. Visitors can stop along the trail to admire the picturesque scenery or try to reel in a big fish off the newly installed fishing pier.

The trail is located at the Pearl River Turnaround at Exit 11 off of I-59. To get there, take I-59 to the Pearl River Turnaround Exit 11, and turn right. Backtrack on the frontage road about a mile, and the entrance is on the left. Please call (985) 882-2025 for more information.The ribbon cutting is open to the public and will take place Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 11am.

The Friends of Louisiana Wildlife Refuges is a non-profit organization formed in 1996 to support conservation and education projects at the Southeast Louisiana Refuges Complex. With Jims help they have secured many grants for refuge projects, and spearheaded the opening of the visitor center at the Lacombe headquarters site. The Friends also sponsor the Annual Youth Fishing Event at Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge and the popular Wild Things festival each October in Lacombe. More information about the Friends can be found at www.flwr.org.

For more information contact Supervisory Park Ranger David Stoughton at 985-882-2025 or david_stoughton@fws.gov