The Cache River, when combined with the lower White River
ecosystem in eastern Arkansas, represents the largest remaining
tract of contiguous bottomland hardwood forest in North America.
From its beginnings in southern Missouri, the Cache becomes a
cypress-lined, natural wonder in Jackson County. Slowly winding
its way southward, the river and surroundings become part of
state and federal wildlife preserves. At the northern end,
southwest of McCrory, the Rex Hancock/Black Swamp Wildlife
Management Area covers more than 6,000 acres of prime wetlands
under the protection of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
The Dagmar Wildlife Management Area, west of Brinkley, covers an
additional 8,000 acres of bottomlands. The largest refuge along
the river is the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, which
covers 55,000 acres in four counties. It should be noted that
the Cache River Natural Area is set aside for endangered species
within the Rex Hancock/Black Swamp WMA and is co-managed by the
Arkansas Natural Heritage