PROJECT FOCUS AREAS
HABITAT CONSERVATION & OUTDOOR RECREATION
The Old Cove is a 300-acre area in west-central Webster County consisting of deep ravines between high bluffs and ridges. The cove is a sunken area that drops nearly 150 feet below the surrounding ridges, creating a canyon-like landscape rare in Mississippi.
A cove, usually associated with the Appalachian Mountains, is a small valley between two ridges closed on one or both ends. Cove forests, typically deciduous, are usually rich in plants and animals.
The trail will open soon!
Walking Trail
Wildlife Mississippi owns and manages the site. A walking trail through The Old Cove has been cleared, and interpretive signs will be installed. The best access is along the south rim of the cove from a cabin to the east or the gravel road.
Species Diversity
Several surveys have been conducted to document species diversity at The Old Cove, and researchers continue to survey the area.
The mature hardwoods and rock outcroppings found in The Old Cove, along with seepages and streams, create a unique ecosystem that supports a diversity of flora and fauna resembling that of the Appalachian Mountains.
Big leaf magnolia at the Old Cove
Photo by James L. Cummins
James L. Cummins at The Old Cove, 2002
Photo by Wildlife Mississippi
Southern Lady’s Slipper
Photo by Wildlife Mississippi
Several rare or uncommon plant and animal species are found there. Rare plants include maple leaf viburnum, southern lady’s slipper, and star vine. The Southern red salamander, a species of concern in Mississippi, has been found there, too.
The continual protection of The Old Cove will prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, and conserve vulnerable habitats and the species they support.
