Above: The Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana was established by FDR on November 19, 1935 with Executive Order 7229. Not long after its establishment, WPA workers descended on the area and began making improvements, such as the observation tower you see in the background. Photo from the National Archives.
Above: WPA workers building the refuge manager's home, ca. 1937. Photo from the National Archives.
Above: The new station--courtesy of WPA workers--for the U.S. Biological Survey personnel overseeing the Delta National Wildlife Refuge, 1937. Photo from the National Archives.
Above: WPA workers navigating the narrow waterways of the refuge. Their work included fencing, dredging, dynamiting clogged waterways, and constructing dams designed to restrict the flow of silt into the refuge (it was found that excess silt was destroying the natural food items of birds and waterfowl). Photo from the National Archives.
Above: Shearwaters flying at the refuge. The main purpose of the Delta National Wildlife Refuge was to provide several species of birds and waterfowl sanctuary from hunters, who were taking too many. Of course, this protection had the secondary effect of protecting future hunters, who would not be able to enjoy their sport if there were no birds or waterfowl left (many species of birds have gone extinct in America for lack of conservation). This hunter vs. waterfowl dynamic was humorously pointed out in a July 11, 1937 edition of The Sunday Item-Tribune newspaper (New Orleans), where it was reported that ducks stayed in the refuge during the day and then ventured outside the refuge at night when hunting was no longer permitted in those areas either ("48,000 Acre Game Preserve Being Built At Mouth Of River: 200 Workers Clear Huge Bird Refuge"). Note: Regulated hunting is allowed in many wildlife refuges. Photo from the National Archives.
Above: WPA workers at the refuge would sometimes live on work boats. These boats moved along the Mississippi River as needed. At right is a mail boat. Photo from the National Archives.
Above: The description for this photograph reads: "Chow time on the quarter boats. Cook Leo Sylvester and his second cook turn out the flap-jacks for the hungry men at breakfast. Chief Steward Dominick Grisoli looks on from the doorway. Delta Refuge - La." Photo from the National Archives.
Above: WPA workers enjoying a meal on one of the work boats. They were described as "jobless young men [although, as we can see, there were older men too] with no prospect of work" ("48,000 Acre Game Preserve Being Built At Mouth Of River: 200 Workers Clear Huge Bird Refuge," The Sunday Item-Tribune (New Orleans), July 11, 1937). Isn't it amazing that men discarded by the larger society and economy helped create something that Americans still enjoy today? (see the screen grab below for a list of activities you can enjoy at national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries). Photo from the National Archives.
Above: A WPA worker taking a shower on one of the work boats. Imagine how happy an unemployed person would be, to go from a feeling of societal rejection to a meaningful job on a work boat, creating a wildlife refuge, enjoying the camaraderie of fellow workers, and getting a paycheck. It was noted that the WPA workers "fell in love with their work" at the refuge (see newspaper article cited in the caption of the previous photo). What a wonderful story of opportunity, humanity, and the restoration of an individual's sense of self-worth - all through government (i.e., We the People) action. That was the New Deal. Photo from the National Archives.
Above: WPA workers had access to healthcare at the refuge. The description for this photo reads: "Nurse Clara Finnessey aiding a patient of the WPA workers' camp, La. Delta Refuge." Photo from the National Archives.
Above: Enrollees of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Company 766, seen here stationed at Camp BF-4, Kramer, North Dakota, ca. 1937. Members of this company helped develop the Lower Souris Wildlife Refuge (today called "J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge"). The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services explains that "To restore waterfowl habitat on the Refuge, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built a series of low dikes and water control structures along the river. As the waters of the Souris River slowly inundated the valley, aquatic plants were planted to enhance marsh development. The original water control structures still remain at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge. They have been improved and expanded over the years to better manage the water levels and wildlife habitat" ("About Us," J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, accessed June 10, 2026). Photo from: Civilian Conservation Corps, Official Annual, North Dakota District, Seventh Corps Area (Direct Advertising Company, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1937), used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.
Above: This map of wildlife refuges created under FDR comes from Douglas Brinkley's book Rightful Heritage: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Land of America (Harper Collins Publishers, 2016). In the book, Brinkley tells the story of FDR's contribution to the conservation of America's natural resources. Image scanned from a personal copy and used here for educational and non-commercial purposes.
Above: These are activities that Americans enjoy at national refuges and fish hatcheries today, thanks in significant part to FDR, WPA, CCC, and the New Deal more generally. Screen grab from "Outdoor Recreation," U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, June 10, 2016.
FDR's Wildlife Refuges
FDR created 140 national wildlife refuges (see Brinkley's book, Appendix B, pp. 600-609) - about a quarter of the 570 refuges Americans have today. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service notes that WPA and CCC workers improved and developed "more than 50 national wildlife refuges."
These refuges--along with the thousands of other New Deal-created or improved parks, forests, and wooded areas (national, state, and local)--are great reminders of the New Deal's commitment to conservation.
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