Little River Conservation Area - map

Driving Directions

4 miles east of Kennett on Highway 412.

Highlights

This area contains cropland and wetlands. Facilities/features: boat ramp, Combs Lake (150 acres), disabled-accessible fishing dock, and 6 fishing jetties.

About This Area

Little River Conservation Area is located in Dunklin and Pemiscot counties, 5 miles east of Kennett on Highway 412.

Purchased by the Conservation Department in 1993 from Charles D. Adams, Little River Conservation Area is located within the Mississippi Delta region, which is associated with Sharkey soils. The vegetation that originally dominated this area consisted of oak, gum, and cypress. The area also contained some prairie zones which would have been dominated by cane, Virginia wild rye, ricecut grass, and sedges.

Little River CA contains the 150-acre Jerry P. Combs Lake, as well as floodway ditch numbers 1, 66, 81, 251, and 259. The area also contains 103 acres of reforested bottomland hardwood, 477 acres of marshes, and 306 acres in use as agricultural fields.

Before they became extinct, millions of passenger pigeons passed through this area as they migrated north and south. Least terns and black terns can be seen every year feeding at Combs Lake.

11 wetland units have been developed with levees and water control structures which allow these areas to be managed for the benefit of wading birds and waterfowl during the spring and fall. In addition, the 103 acres of reforested bottomland hardwoods have been leveed to be managed as a green tree reservoir.

Combs Lake has 6 fishing jetties, 1 concrete fishing platform, 1 covered, floating fishing dock, and 1 boat ramp (two lane) with handicap parking. The main area is a 50-car parking lot which is located at the west side of Combs Lake.

Disabled-accessible ramps lead from the parking lot to the fishing docks and platform. There is also a pavillion with picnic tables, as well as men's and women's privies, which are located at the parking lot.

General Information

Region: Southeast

Counties: Pemiscot,Dunklin

For more information call: 573-290-5730

Status: Owned by MDC

Additional Information:

Activities

Activity (Activity Explanations)	Comments (Population Definition)
Bird Watching	Most common birds to expect to see are spring and fall shorebird, wading birds, waterfowl and raptor migrations. Other bird species that can be expected are dickcissel, bobolink, and other grassland bird species can been seen on Little River Conservation Area.
Fishing - Bass	Good population. Jerry P. Combs Lake
Fishing - Catfish	Good population. Jerry P. Combs Lake
Fishing - Crappie	Good population. Jerry P. Combs Lake
Fishing - Other	Fair population. Carp in floodway ditch
Fishing - Sunfish	Good population. High numbers of bluegill and green sunfish that are mostly less than 6" long.
Hiking	No designated trails
Hunting-Dove	Good population. Non-toxic shot only
Hunting-Quail	Fair population. Non-toxic shot only
Hunting-Rabbit	Good population. Non-toxic shot only
Hunting-Waterfowl	Fair population. Check Area information boards for special regulations that apply to waterfowl hunting.

 

Conservation Department Facilities

Facility Item	Name	Count	Comments
Boat Ramp - Lake - Concreteaccessible		1
Dock - Boat/Courtesyaccessible		1
Dock - Fishingaccessible		1
Fish Cleaning Stationaccessible		1	Fish cleaning station is located at the covered, floating fishing dock.
Fishing Jetty/Platformaccessible		7	ADA accessible fishing platform located at the main parking lot. The additional six jetties are located around the lake.
Parking Lotaccessible		3
Privy/Restroomaccessible		2	These are located on the main parking lot.

 

Features

Feature Item	Name	Count	Size	Comments
Fishing Lake or Pond	Jerry P. Combs Lake	1	150.00 acres	150 acres
Stream - Permanent	Floodway Ditches	1	2.00 miles	Access to ditches is only by foot. 2 miles of frontage.

 

Land Cover Types

Land Type	Acres	Comments
Wetland	430.00
Crop Land	418.98
Lakes/Ponds	150.00
Grassland (non-prairie)	20.00
Total Area Acres:	1018.98