The refuge supports good populations of wintering waterfowl. The non-migratory Mississippi sandhill crane was described as a separate subspecies in 1972 and was listed as endangered on the first E. S. list with passage of 1973 ES Act. Major management programs include prescribed fire, mechanical and hand-removal of trees, hydrological restoration, release of captive cranes, predator control, food plots for cranes, public education, and a comprehensive monitoring program of the crane population. Fire management program supports interagency suppression in wildland-urban interface. The first major land transfer from The Nature Conservancy to the FWS happened here.
Management objectives are primarily for waterfowl and neotropical migrants.
A intensive burning program is carried out each year on the upland pine areas of the refuge, with a average of 3,000 acres being burned each year. Much of the habitat is subject to flooding on an annual basis. The refuge has a number of bayous that slowly drain flood waters leaving shallow swamps and oxbow lakes which support stands of tupelo gum, cypress, buttonbush, and other species tolerant to extremely wet habitats. The upland areas or ridges often crest at no more than one foot above swamp areas and contain nutall, willow and water oaks and other species while overcup oak, bitter pecan and ash dominate the transition zone from swamp to upland. Additional habitat types consist of reforested and agricultural areas.