Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge, National wildlife refuge in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States

Grand Cote National Wildlife Refuge is a 6,000-acre refuge in Avoyelles Parish near Marksville, Louisiana, established in 1989 under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Its large depressional basin fills with shallow water from winter rains and backwater flooding. Habitat breaks down into 420 acres of forest, 2,485 acres of reforestation, 2,040 acres of cropland, 830 acres of moist soil and 300 acres of permanent water, on poorly drained, nutrient-rich floodplain clays.

The area was once Mississippi River bottomland hardwood forest but was converted to agricultural fields in the 1970s. It gained refuge status in 1989 to restore and protect the natural ecosystem.

The refuge's French name, Grand Côte, refers to the elevated ridge that borders the low basin. The site lies near Marksville in Avoyelles Parish, and its shallow flooded fields are managed from August through March for waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds.

Habitat management floods shallow areas for waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds from August through March, so that period offers the most to see. The refuge lies about 7.6 km east of Marksville, in Avoyelles Parish. Expect poorly drained clay soils and a large depressional basin that holds winter rain and backwater; waterproof footwear helps.

The refuge's shallow flooded rice and moist soil fields are managed with special emphasis on northern pintails, which favour native moist soil plants. The 830 acres of moist soil and 2,040 acres of cropland are flooded from August through March for waterfowl, shorebirds and wading birds.