STUTTGART — Cold and snowy weather since Christmas has helped Arkansas' duck habitat only a little bit.
Snowmelt has increased water levels slightly, making the state more attractive to ducks, but much of state remains drier than in recent seasons.
Cold weather in the Midwest and northern Plains freezes habitats there, driving ducks southward, but the birds are finding the White and Cache river bottoms still much lower than last year. Several reservoirs are also below normal.
The state Game and Fish Commission says water levels could still rise in the next few days, and that low temperatures could freeze shallow water. It said the cold weather could drive waterfowl away from shallow water in frozen agricultural fields toward rivers, reservoirs and oxbow lakes.