The Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Drive will be closed to all vehicles from July 8-13. The Refuge is serving as the national test site for environmentally safe products that may potentially be used to control dust on gravel roads. Currently, all National Wildlife Refuges are under a moratorium on using dust control products other than water.  Because of the importance of this study, the Wildlife Drive is being closed to ensure road preparation and product application is able to be completed without interference. 

Three different products will be applied to long sections of two separate refuge roads (Wildlife Drive and Bennett Lane).  Monitoring will be conducted for one year to document how well the substance controls dust, how long effective control is expected to last, and how re-working the road due to potholes impacts the level of dust control.  The goal is to find the best and/or longest lasting substance that is affordable.  Visitors will see new wood posts along the roads that were put in place for this study and will be removed once the study is complete.

The Refuge Visitor Center will remain open on the normal schedule of Monday through Friday 7:30-4:00, Saturday 9-4, and Sunday 1-5. The Harris Creek Hiking Trails and Refuge Road from the Visitor Center over the low water crossing to the Goode Day Use Area will also remain open. For additional information or updates, contact the Refuge at 903-786-2826.