Derick Walker tabbed as Natural Resources Manager at Lake Ouachita

MOUNTAIN PINE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District has selected Derick Walker as the new Natural Resources Manager at Lake Ouachita.

As Natural Resources Manager, Walker is responsible for leading the stewardship of more than 40,000 acres of water, 26,000 acres of public land, approximately 690 miles of shoreline and more than 200 islands. He also works closely with local communities, partner agencies, resorts, marinas and leaseholders to support responsible management of Lake Ouachita’s resources and recreational opportunities.

Walker began his career with the Corps in 2004 as a student trainee park ranger at Lake Ouachita through the Student Career Experience Program while attending Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. After earning a Bachelor of Science in recreation and parks management, he accepted a permanent park ranger position at Millwood Lake in the Little Rock District, where he served for four years.

In 2009, Walker returned to the Vicksburg District as a Natural Resources Specialist at DeGray Lake. Three years later, he transferred back to Lake Ouachita to oversee the Visitor Assistance and Recreation Operations Section. In 2016, he was selected as Supervisory Natural Resources Specialist at Lake Ouachita, a role in which he has led the natural resources management staff for the past decade.

In 2019, Walker received the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chief of Engineers Award for Natural Resource Management Employee of the Year. He was recognized at Corps headquarters in Washington for transforming Lake Ouachita’s approach to recreation area rehabilitation, expanding staff training opportunities and implementing improvements that minimized impacts on visitors while increasing operational efficiency.

“I am honored to lead the team as Natural Resources Manager for Lake Ouachita as we continue our mission of protecting the lake’s exceptional natural resources while providing outstanding recreational opportunities for the millions of visitors who enjoy this incredible public resource each year,” Walker said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District is engineering solutions to the nation’s toughest challenges while advancing its commitment to building infrastructure, not paperwork. The district delivers vital missions across a 68,000-square-mile area spanning portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Its area of responsibility includes nine major river basins and approximately 460 miles of mainline Mississippi River levees, supporting flood risk reduction, navigation, environmental stewardship, and resilient infrastructure for the region.