New England VERMONT DU KICKS OFF LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN WET BY CHOICE INITIATIVE

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1 GREAT LAKES /ATLANTIC REGIONAL OFFICE New England 2010 Conservation Report Great Lakes / Atlantic Regional Office VERMONT DU KICKS OFF LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN WET BY CHOICE INITIATIVE The open water, near-shore and associated wetland habitats of the Lake Champlain Basin are widely recognized as a historically significant wetland complex for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Over 30 species of ducks, geese and swans depend on this important ecosystem each fall and spring during migration and to a lesser degree for breeding in the spring and summer. Peak waterfowl populations during fall migration periods reach in the tens of thousands as birds gather to feed and rest before heading further south along the Atlantic coast to traditional wintering areas. New York s Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife both recognize the Basin as a key Focus Area in need of restoration and enhancement to support waterfowl population goals identified under the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The Basin is also recognized as a DU Level II priority under the Great Lakes Atlantic Regional Office strategic conservation plan (highest level found in Region). Under the Wet By Choice initiative, DU will initially collaborate with the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife (VTDFW) and the Vermont Agency for Natural Resources (VTANR) and others to promote, fund, implement and monitor wetland restoration on private lands. Wet By Choice signifies that this program is purely voluntary on the landowners part. The primary funding source to implement the initiative is the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) administered through the NRCS. DU, using a grant secured through VTANR s Clean and Clear program, will coordinate landowner outreach to encourage landowner participation and provide technical assistance for wetland restorations through an independent consultant. The USFWS will provide on-site technical assistance and survey and design of restoration sites. The VTDFW will also provide technical assistance to landowners who participate in the program. The Otter Creek effort will target restoration of wetlands and flood plain forests that were converted to agriculture along major tributaries in the sub-basin, such as the Lemon Fair River and Whitney, Hospital, Lewis and Otter Creeks. The Otter Creek sub-basin is one of the most heavily used areas in the entire state by waterfowl and they will benefit greatly from the work done there. Using the Vermont side of the Basin as a model, DU will work with the NYDEC, USFWS, NRCS, private landowners and others to structure a restoration and protection effort that incorporates various existing federal and state programs. Dr. Bob Hoffman, Director of Operations for the GLARO, views waterfowl on a recently restored WRP project along Otter Creek, Rutland County, VT. DU in partnership with NRCS, the USFWS, VTDF&W and the VTANR, are restoring floodplain habitats to improve water quality and wildlife habitats through the Lake Champlain Basin. Ducks Unlimited Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Offi ce 1

2 HABITAT HAPPENINGS MASSACHUSETTS This year nearly 300 acres of emergent wetlands and upland habitats was protected within the Konkapot watershed near Great Barrington, MA. This area is heavily used by breeding wood ducks is spring and other waterfowl during migration. KONKAPOT BROOK WETLAND AND WATERSHED PROTECTION IN MONUMENT VALLEY Ducks Unlimited in partnership with the Great Barrington Land Conservancy (GBLC), Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Berkshire Natural Resources Council, Trustees of Reservations, and private landowners, completed the first Phase of a multi-year project with a goal to protect 200 acres of wetlands for waterfowl and other wildlife in western Massachusetts before it is permanently lost to development. Large, contiguous, wetland complexes are rare in Berkshire County and of those remaining, many have been compromised by development, urban runoff, or other problems like illegal dumping. The project area, however, consists of a six-mile long intact wetland corridor with about 3000 acres of remarkable, unspoiled habitat, already identified as an Important Bird Area by Mass Audubon. Nearby are Beartown State Forest and Monument Mountain Reservation, containing Berkshire hills that are part of the Appalachian system. The Appalachian Trail passes not far away. The area protected this year includes a heron rookery, many beaver dams, and a variety of marshes, wet meadows, and forested wetlands that account for a startling variety of waterfowl and other birds, especially during migration. The project area, which is more than 50% wetland, includes a calcareous basin identified by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife as a focus area because of the amount of breeding waterfowl documented there. Wood turtles, king rails and other threatened species are found in the area adding to the importance of this watershed to wildlife. The Great Barrington Land Conservancy was awarded a small NAWCA grant in 2009 which was matched by DU and other partners to secure over 300 acres of wetland and upland habitat, surpassing the goal this year by 100 aces. PARKER RIVER SALT MARSH DITCH REMEDIATION Salt marshes have been ditched for a variety of reasons since European settlement. Most commonly ditches have been associated with mosquito control and salt haying. Salt hay ditches are generally narrower, shallower and shorter than mosquito control ditches. The purpose of both types of ditches is to remove surface water from the salt marsh and to dry out any area of standing water. For salt haying purposes, this has resulted in a conversion of vegetation to Spartina patens and firmer peat that could more readily support livestock and farm vehicles (wagons etc.). For mosquito control, the intended result has been removal of mosquito breeding areas. Both kinds of ditching, however, have resulted in conversion of vegetation composition, lowered water table, increased oxidation (decomposition) of peat, subsidence (lower elevation) and loss of open water habitat. By re-routing water through created ditches, natural tidal channels have either filled in or incorporated into the ditch network resulting in straighter and deeper channels. The result has been a conversion of natural creek hydrology to one of ditch hydrology. The objective of this project is to restore natural tidal hydrology to 5.7 acres of salt marsh immediately west of the North Pool Impoundment dike on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA. The project site is comprised Many of the salt marshes along the Atlantic coast were ditched to control mosquitoes and to allow harvest of salt hay. DU has partnered with the USFWS to develop new techniques that will speed the filling of these ditches by sediments, control Phragmites and re-vegetate naturally to improve habitats for fish and wildlife. entirely of estuarine emergent marsh dissected by man-made ditches and tidal channels, and for the most part is dominated by Spartina spp. Approximately 4000 linear feet of small salt hay ditches will be remediated through a variety of techniques that enhance natural sedimentation and native plant root growth. Large ditches and natural channels will not be altered at all. This project is the first phase of an overall restoration effort. Our goal is to heal the ditches by increasing sedimentation and plant growth so that the ditches fill in and become contiguous with the surrounding marsh. A second phase of restoration, will be to examine the hydrology of the marsh to determine if it is desirable to create channels based on natural geomorphologic parameters within the project site in order to have more natural tidal flow across the area. 2

3 HABITAT HAPPENINGS SIPPEWISSETT MARSH- FALMOUTH, MA Salt marsh restoration involving the replacement of two undersized culverts on the Great Sippewissett Marsh in Falmouth, MA is under contract. Construction will be scheduled to avoid conflicts with current land uses, but will be completed by the end of In addition, investigations are underway to locate another salt marsh restoration site in the immediate vicinity to substitute for a site that was not approved by regulatory agencies. PHRAGMITES CONTROL EFFORTS- NEWBURY/NEWBURYPORT, MA Invasive populations of Phragmites in the Upper Great Marsh in Newbury and on Woodbridge Island in Newburyport received their second year of treatment using the chemical Rodeo, which was donated to DU by Dow AgriSciences through the Croplife America program. First year control efforts proved highly successful, such that only minimal re-treatment was necessary, allowing additional areas to be treated this year. Plans are underway to conduct controlled burning of treated areas during late winter/early spring to remove dead stems and encourage regrowth of beneficial native marsh plants. MAINE DU PARTNERS WITH PLEASANT RIVER WILDLIFE FOUNDATION TO PROTECT MASON BAY DU and the Pleasant River Wildlife Foundation along with The Nature Conservancy, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, and the Downeast Coastal Conservancy combined resources to match several federal grants to purchase 66 upland acres and 29 acres of wetlands on Southwest Creek at the upper end of Mason Bay in Jonesport, Maine. All of the partners are part of the Heads of the Estuaries Partnership, a collaboration of local land trusts, conservation organizations and governmental agencies working together to protect the important intertidal and nearby freshwater habitats of Maine s southwestern Washington County. The bulk of the funding needed to acquire the Southwest Creek property came from the National Coastal Wetlands Grant Program and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants Program, both administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Gulf of Maine Coastal Program and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife also played key roles in supporting the project. Mason Bay, which straddles the Jonesboro/Jonesport town line, is 1½ miles long and ½ mile wide, with four substantial creeks draining into the bay and nearly 500 acres of salt marshes and tidal mudflats. The bay and its surrounding uplands provide exceptional habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl, shorebirds, bald eagles, woodcock and sea-run brook trout. It s a popular spot for bird watchers who have documented at least 16 species of shorebirds and 17 species of waterfowl using the area. The protected parcel supports large populations of waterfowl. Mason Bay s habitat for over-wintering black ducks is particularly impressive because the bay rarely freezes over, providing the ducks with rare and critical feeding grounds, even in bitter cold winter. In early fall hundreds of migrating shorebirds stage here, fattening up for their annual voyage south. Extensive meadows and forested uplands provide habitat for songbirds, grouse, wild turkeys and raptors as well as deer, moose and bear. The Pleasant River Wildlife Foundation welcomes visitors who come to enjoy the Southwest Creek property for traditional leave-no-trace uses such as hiking, nature observation and hunting. MITCHELL MARSH CONSERVATION EASEMENT Mason Bay is an important staging area for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl, especially Black ducks. Ducks Unlimited teamed up with the Maine Coast Heritage Trust to purchase a conservation easement on 93 acres from the Ingalls family of Tremont Maine, to preserve Mitchell Marsh, a high-quality habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. The Ingalls owns approximately 105 acres and more than two miles of coastal shorefront property in Tremont, ME. The property includes an entire salt marsh, rocky beaches, forests and fields. Mitchell Marsh is a large tidal wetland that has been identified by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as providing high quality habitat for shorebirds. It also provides high quality wintering and foraging habitat for American black ducks and common eiders. A second marsh is located south of a headland separating Mitchell Marsh from Mitchell Cove. This smaller wetland is more open to the ocean and provides good foraging areas. Inland from the shore is a spruce fir forest that has a Ducks Unlimited Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Offi ce 3

4 HABITAT HAPPENINGS diverse understory and provides habitat for local flora and fauna. This forest buffers the marsh from nearby development. The easement will conserve the entire 2 miles of shoreline, including the marsh. Public access will be allowed on a trail, yet to be constructed, north of Mitchell Marsh. The easement requires any new houses to be set well back from the water and adjacent to the existing cottages. Public access north of the marsh will allow people to visit the site while not impacting the landowner s privacy. NEW HAMPSHIRE GREAT BAY RESOURCE PROTECTION PARTNERSHIP PROTECTS ANOTHER SIX PROPERTIES IN 2009 The Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership, made up of state, federal and private organizations, including the USFWS, NH Fish & Game, the Nature Conservancy, DU, The Society for the Protection of NH Forest, NRCS, Audubon Society and the Great bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, had another very successful year in protecting critical wetland and upland habitats within the Great Bay watershed of coastal New Hampshire. This year the Partnership closed on six properties, protecting nearly 250 acres. Since its inception, the GBRPP has protected through conservation easement and fee title purchase, over 5,000 acres of critical waterfowl and other fish and wildlife habitat within the Great Bay estuary. Numerous state and federal grants have contributed to this effort resulting in millions of public/private funds being leveraged for future generations of fish and wildlife and people. UPPER MERRIMACK OXBOW Conserving the Upper Merrimack Oxbow will ensure that it remains available for activities like hiking, snowshoeing, fishing, and hunting. A new project that came to us late in 2009, involves the protection of 294 acres of wetlands and forestlands along the Merrimack River in the Town of Canterbury. This effort is lead by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forest and along with DU includes the National Marine Fisheries Service, NH Fish & Game Department, NH Department of Environmental Services and the Town of Canterbury Conservation Commission. The towns of Concord and Canterbury are experiencing rapid loss of their remaining forest and agricultural lands as growth pressures extend beyond the I-93 corridor. The Upper Merrimack Oxbow parcel has tremendous strategic importance as it adds two miles of riverfront to a 1000-acre chain of recently protected lands upstream and downstream, and enhances the significance of this river corridor. The Oxbow land is well recognized in the region by its stunning river bluffs, and includes a globally rare sand plain habitat, exemplary plant communities twenty six acres of wetlands and habitat for several listed plant and animal species. The property provides highly valued recreational resources and is cherished by hikers, sportsmen and boaters. Once acquired, the land will be turned over to the NH Fish & Game for long-term management. RHODE ISLAND CARDS POND- SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI Construction was recently completed on the habitat restoration efforts at Cards Pond. Restoration involved replacing undersized culverts at three locations, installing new culverts at two locations and cleaning out culverts at one location, as well as excavating a former channel connecting portions of the pond system. The purpose of the restoration work was to enhance water circulation and flushing between East Cards Pond, Cards Pond and Block Island Sound on the occasions when the connection between Cards Pond and the sound is breached. The work is a collaborative effort of Ducks Unlimited, several private landowners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partners Program, and the USFWS Refuge System, which is providing equipment and manpower for the restoration. MUD POND- SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI Permitting is nearly complete for the Mud Pond restoration project, setting the stage for construction activity later this year. This restoration project involves replacing an old concrete culvert beneath Moonstone Beach Road with a modern concrete culvert equipped with a water control structure. The new structure will allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to control water levels in Mud Pond, and prevent the draining of Mud Pond when the adjacent Cards Pond is drained. With this new capability, the USFWS can better manage the open water and emergent marsh habitat for a variety of wildlife. 4

5 CONSERVATION SUMMARY DUCKS UNLIMITED completed featured Note: Project points may represent more than one project. Lake Champlain Initiative Mason Bay Konkapot Watershed Accomplishments to Date 166 completed projects 30,796 acres conserved 15,540 acres of technical assistance $6,803,027 invested MEET YOUR NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATION STAFF Ray Whittemore Director of Conservation Programs Craig Ferris Regional Biologist Ducks Unlimited Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Offi ce 5

6 SUPPORTING THE VISION DU WORKS FOR WATERFOWL THROUGH PUBLIC POLICY A strong biological foundation has always been the cornerstone of Ducks Unlimited s conservation programs since the organization s founding in DU remains true to this foundation as it works to guide development of national policies that benefit waterfowl. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act and legislation involving clean water, climate and energy are among the current priorities for the DU staff in D.C. The Farm Bill, although not set for renewal until 2012, also remains on DU s radar because Farm Bill programs like Conservation Reserve Program and Wetlands Reserve Program have significant implications for waterfowl habitats. The Clean Water Restoration Act passed the Senate Environment and Public Works committee in This was a positive move toward reinstating protections for wetlands important to breeding ducks and small streams connected to many of the nation s drinking water resources. Progress on clean water legislation stalled in the House, but DU remains poised to work with House leadership to ensure waterfowl interests are considered in future bills. At the end of 2009, a bill to enhance the power of NAWCA unanimously passed the House and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. It then went to the Senate floor for a vote and it was signed by the president in March The bill will allow increased investment from Canadian resources to fulfi ll the requirement for private funds to match the federal contribution. To receive DU s latest policy news go to ORG/CIB and subscribe to the Conservation Issues Briefing. North America s Vanishing Wetlands: Facing the Challenge Poets write about it. Conservationists strive to continue it. Sportsmen dream about it. The migration of North America s waterfowl and other birds is one of nature s grandest and most anticipated events. Wetlands make this migration possible. Wetlands also provide the foundation for North America s water supply. We rely on them for clean and abundant water, flood protection and recreation. Wetlands are vital to us all, yet every 10 minutes another acre of wetlands is drained. DU New England Grassroots & Conservation: The minimum conservation goal for each state is to spend the equivalent of 7.5% of total grassroots income raised in that state. This is based on a five-year average. CT MA ME NH RI VT 5-Year Goal 5-Year Actual Ducks Unlimited: Answering the Challenge To answer the challenge to save North America s wetlands, grasslands and waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited has embarked on the Wetlands for Tomorrow campaign, an ambitious continental effort to raise at least $1.7 billion for wetland habitat conservation. Campaign Progress 1/1/04 11/30/09 With a proven track record of partnering with the private sector, government and other conservation organizations for nearly 70 years, Ducks Unlimited has restored and conserved over 12 million acres of crucial habitat that benefits waterfowl, other wildlife and people. Please join us to learn more about Wetlands for Tomorrow and the initiatives to conserve North America s critical wetlands

7 SUPPORTING THE VISION GLARO S CONSERVATION VISION IS THE RECOVERY SUSTAINABLE? Jim Ringelman, Director of Conservation Programs at the Great Plains Regional Offi ce No, not that recovery. The other recovery. The duck recovery. A record setting snowfall across much of the U.S. prairie, coupled with an abnormally wet summer, fi lled wetlands to the brim. It seemed like every pothole was home to one or more breeding duck pairs. Let the good times roll. But will they roll on forever? Ominously, we are still poised to lose 1.66 million acres of grassland in the Prairie Pothole Region when Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expire in 2012, and those potholes that attracted ducks were a real irritant to farmers attempting to plant or harvest their crops. It s ironic that the most favorable conditions for ducks can lead to a backlash against the very resources that create duck prosperity. The great news is that we are making real progress. Since our Rescue the Duck Factory campaign began, DU members have contributed $3.6 million to secure 68,000 acres of grasslands and wetlands. That s a remarkable achievement. As farmers are pinched with smaller profit margins, one response is to put new land into production often at the expense of native prairie or CRP. At DU, we are working hard to offer alternative financial solutions, like easements and farm bill conservation programs. And thanks to a new partnership with Bayer CropScience, when land is destined to grow crops, we are well positioned to promote winter wheat as a duckfriendly alternative. So is the recovery sustainable? The answer is yes, as long as we have members like you! North America s most important waterfowl breeding habitat is being plowed under on a massive scale. Surging global demands for food, federal mandates for corn-based ethanol production and the new Farm Bill are encouraging cultivation of every available acre. Act Now To Help DU Save Vital Prairie Breeding Habitats The Rescue the Duck Factory campaign has become a priority for Ducks Unlimited because of new pressures on landowners within the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR). The funds raised through this campaign will be directed toward perpetual land easements on native grasslands in the PPR, also known as the duck factory. The Opportunity is Now But we are making a difference thanks to supporters like you. So far, we ve rescued over 67,000 acres, but more help is needed. At an average per acre cost of $360, your contribution to this campaign will allow DU to purchase easements in the Prairie Pothole Region that will permanently protect this vital habitat for future generations. The Goal Our vision is wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. With your contribution we can continue to work toward that goal. This prairie acreage is vital to North American waterfowl production and it s crucial that we act now. The decisions we make in the duck factory right now will directly affect waterfowl populations and our waterfowl hunting heritage for future generations. Ducks Unlimited Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional Offi ce 7

8 CONNECTICUT Aerial view of Little River salt marsh that will be restored by reconnecting tidal flow and controlling Phragmites using herbicides. FRIENDS OF DUCKS UNLIMITED LITTLE RIVER FUNDING UPDATE Last year we reported on a new tidal wetland restoration project DU is undertaking with the assistance of the CT DEP Wetland Habitat and Mosquito Management Unit (WHAMM) along the Little River in New Haven County, CT. We are pleased to report this year that we have received a new grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation s Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) to assist in this restoration effort. In September 2009, DU was notified that we had received a grant of $49,000 from the LISFF to supplement our previous grant of $10,000 from the Connecticut Corporate Wetland Restoration Partnership. In addition, Connecticut DU will contribute approximately $2,500 it has received in memorial donations in the names of Kyle Knapp and Thomas Schumaker, two avid waterfowlers and long-time DU members who passed away a few years ago. The Little River marsh is approximately 100 acres of tidal brackish marsh located immediately adjacent to, and west of, I-91 on the North Haven/New Haven border. A railroad right-of-way on the west side of the marsh separates it from the Quinnipiac Marsh, and a solid waste landfill borders the marsh to the south. Until recently, the marsh was entirely dominated by dense stands of Phragmites. CT DEP WHAMM treated much of the area from 1997 through 1999, and some salt marsh vegetation is beginning to reestablish is some areas. At some point in the past, a series of low berms were constructed on portions of the marsh, apparently with the purpose of using the marsh for additional landfill space. The purpose of this project is to remove portions of the berms, and restore portions of the original channels to facilitate more effective tidal inundation of the marsh. NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR: LARRY DAVIS Lawrence Larry Davis was born and brought up on his historic family farm in Connecticut. From his days as a youngster he was taught animal husbandry, farming, conservation and a reverence for the land by his grandfather, John Lawrence Davis, and his father, John Whitman Davis. The Davis family farm forms the southeastern corner of the state of Connecticut and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It dates from the late 1680s and has come down to Larry through many generations preceding him. He and his wife Laurie make their home there and most of the farm has been set aside for posterity as a perpetual farm - not to be developed. Larry learned to hunt and fish very young and carried those interests forward to this very day. He manages a successful wild deer herd on the farm under the philosophy of Quality Deer Management and provides shelter and resting pools for waterfowl and other shore birds. The farm is currently undergoing a joint federal/state Phragmites eradication effort. Larry declares himself to be a simple farm boy but his roots in conservation, respect for the land, and leadership skills testify to his achievements as a conservationist. Larry has served on the Governor s Advisory Board of the State of Connecticut Inland Wetlands Commission and has also served as Chairman of his local Soil and Water Conservation Service. He became involved with Ducks Unlimited a few years ago in helping to revive the Eastern Connecticut fund raising dinner. After serving as a district chairman he became state chair on July 1st Larry especially enjoys hunting waterfowl and spends considerable numbers of winter days pursuing mallards, whistlers and blackducks on the Connecticut shore. He is a very good shot but only his hunting partners know that for sure. Over the past year, Larry has worked tirelessly with his local legislator to reinstate the CT Migratory Bird Stamp to its rightful place as a cornerstone in CT s wetland and wildlife habitat conservation program. Restoring the migratory bird program funding will ensure that approximately $75,000 is available annually in CT for habitat protection and conservation, and will provide valuable non-federal dollars that can be used to leverage federal conservation funds. Congratulations Larry on being selected as this years New England Conservationists of the Year and thanks for all that you do for the ducks! Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North 8 America s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people.