D'Arbonne National Wildlife Refuge in northern Louisiana spans both sides of Bayou D'Arbonne near the Ouachita River on the western edge of the Mississippi River alluvial valley. Established in 1975, it protects bottomland hardwood forests and provides winter habitat for migratory waterfowl. Its bayous, creeks, sloughs, oxbow lakes, cypress swamps, and upland forests support wildlife including American alligators, Rafinesque's big-eared bats, bald eagles, and red-cockaded woodpeckers. The refuge also plays an important role in the Ouachita River basin, as seasonal flooding can cover much of the area and these wetland forests help absorb overflow, reduce downstream flood damage, filter pollutants, and recharge aquifers.