Made up of three separate parcels of land, the wildlife management area is dominated by wetlands, which constitute 59.69% of the surveyed total.

[1] More than one-third of the overall wildlife management area has been listed as a National Natural Landmark (NNL), and the U.S. National Park Service characterizes this portion as "one of the largest wetlands remaining in Kentucky.

"[2] In addition to the core NNL, the National Audubon Society characterizes much of the surrounding Sloughs WMA as reclaimed wetland and hardwood bottomland that after use as agricultural land, "has been returned, as nearly as possible, to its natural condition.

[3] In addition to its ecological value as a continuing place for bird life along major North American migratory paths and flyways, these sloughs near Henderson were a favorite hiking ground in the early 1800s for John James Audubon.

[3] The sloughs were named as a National Natural Landmark in 1974,[2] and were listed as an Important Bird Area of Kentucky in 2006.