Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 1

Ducks unlimiteD Partners with DeDFw on morris Farm acquisition (Delaware)Ducks unlimited (Du) recently partnered with the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife (DEDFW) and other conservation organizations in an effort to acquire and permanently protect an 809-acre parcel in Delaware’s Kent County. This property, known as Morris Farm, is adjacent to Delaware Bay and the St. Jones River. It is comprised of 348 acres of wetlands, 423 acres of farmland and 38 acres of upland forest. This unique mosaic of habitats, along with the property’s location within the Delaware Bayshore Initiative boundaries, makes it an ideal target for conservation efforts.

Morris Farm is bordered on the north and south by Ted Harvey Wildlife Management Area and is in close proximity to several other state-owned properties. Many of these properties are open to the public and DEDFW has suggested the newly acquired Morris Farm be open to public hunting in some capacity. The successful acquisition of this property will fill a gap in an otherwise contiguous network of more than 4,000 protected acres in the St. Jones River watershed. Large protected tracts such as this provide waterfowl with critical resources necessary to successfully complete their migration. Morris Farm will be owned and managed by DEDFW, ensuring that the property will continue to serve as high-quality habitat for the foreseeable future. Although no definitive plans have been made, DU is hopeful that future opportunities will arise to partner with DEDFW to further restore wetland habitat on Morris Farm.

restoration oF Blackwater Pools 3 anD 5 to commence in sPring 2013 (marylanD)

maryland’s Blackwater national wildlife refuge (nwr) consists of more than 25,000 acres of tidal salt marsh, freshwater wetlands, forest and agricultural fields in the Blackwater River watershed of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This collage of habitats supports a diversity of wildlife, including numerous species of migratory waterfowl. Indeed, more than 35,000 Canada geese and 15,000 ducks utilize this critical wintering area annually. DU has partnered with Blackwater NWR for nearly 20 years and has completed six projects totaling more than 700 acres of enhanced or restored habitat within the refuge. This past success, along with DU’s unique expertise, has led to our current partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore and enhance 57 acres of palustrine emergent wetlands within Pools 3 and 5 at Blackwater NWR. Historically, Pools 3 and 5 have offered some of the most productive habitat for waterfowl and

other wetland-dependent wildlife. However, these impoundments have become increasingly difficult to manage due to a number of factors, including siltation and topography. As a result, managers are currently unable to maintain optimal water levels across the entire area. This restoration will modify the interior topography of the impoundments, reduce the depth of channels surrounding the impoundments and rehabilitate existing berms. The renewed capacity to accurately manage water levels within the impoundments will benefit waterfowl immensely. Additional support for this project was provided by the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Chesapeake Bay Trust, Friends of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Constellation Energy and private donors.

DELAWARE & MARYLANDS tat e c o n S e r vat i o n r e p o r t 2013

View of salt marsh and Delaware Bay looking east from Morris Farm.

A view of Pool 5 demonstrates the current water-level maintenance issues throughout the impoundment.

www.ducks.orgwww.ducks.org2

s u p p o R t i N g t h E v i s i o N

Dickerson legacy wetlanDs restoration comPlete (Delaware)in the early 1990s, the u.s. Fish & wildlife service (usFws) installed several water control structures at Dickerson Farm in Kent County, Del., in order to create numerous shallow-water areas for the benefit of migratory waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife. Although initially successful, over time, many of the water control structures became outdated and were no longer functional. Consequently, land managers were unable to maintain optimal water levels within these areas, resulting in reduced habitat value for waterfowl.

In November 2012 with support from the USFWS, Ducks Unlimited successfully replaced four of the aforementioned water control structures, which enhanced more than 15 acres of wetlands. In addition to the traditional benefits of improved habitat and water quality that accompany wetland restorations, this project will have an even larger impact on the future of Delaware’s natural resources.

The Dickerson family, longtime supporters of the University of Delaware, continually encourages university-affiliated research across the property. The Dickersons have supported several graduate theses and nurtured the spirit of conservation in undergraduate Senior Scholars as well. DU is proud to have been involved with a restoration that will continue to provide educational opportunities and inspire generations of conservationists to come.

Prior to the Dickerson Farm restoration, outdated structures resulted in the inability to control water levels within several shallow-water areas reducing habitat value.

Ducks unlimiteD assists marylanD Dnr with Deal islanD enhancement (marylanD)Du has been contributing to and implementing habitat restoration projects in maryland for more than 25 years. In fact, one of the very first Maryland habitat restoration efforts supported by Ducks Unlimited was the enhancement of the 2,800-acre Deal Island impoundment in the mid-1980s.

The large expanses of wetlands at Deal Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA), including tidal salt marsh, emergent wetland and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) beds, have historically served as vital habitat for migrating waterfowl. Additionally, the public access area has provided waterfowlers from near and far with prime opportunities to harvest game. This combination of benefits for waterfowl and hunters makes Deal Island a prime target for DU conservation efforts. DU, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Maryland Waterfowlers Assocation, Agri-Drain Corporation and others are pooling our capabilities to once again enhance this valuable resource.

In recent years, the Deal Island impoundment has experienced losses of SAV and emergent wetlands, which has resulted in reduced habitat value for waterfowl. Research and monitoring performed by the Maryland DNR suggests these changes are due to numerous

factors, including increased salinity, water levels, wave action and turbidity. Maryland DNR has proposed a three-pronged approach to address these issues: 1) Strategically install four additional water control structures in the impoundment to enhance water control capabilities and thereby reduce wave action, turbidity and salinity; 2) continue to actively manage against invasive plant communities such as phragmites; and 3) actively restore marsh within the impoundment. DU will provide engineering and biological services that will ensure the new water control structures are placed in the most effective locations.

A water control structure separating the Deal Island impoundment from the Manokin River

Ducks Unlimited • Great Lakes/Atlantic Region 3

Dickerson Farm

morris Farm

Blackwater nwr

Deal island wma

c o N s E R v A t i o N s u M M A R Y

meet your miD-atlantic conservation staFF

9 completed projects

67 acres conserved

2,570 acres of technical assistance

$225,088 invested

2012accompliShmentS

completed projects to date (note: points may represent more than one project)

Bernie marczyk

Director of Conservation Programs

Contact:bmarczyk@ducks.org 410.224.6620

jacoB mcPhersonRegional Biologist DE/MD

Contact:jmcpherson@ducks.org 410.224.6620

Ducks unlimiteDp r o j e c t S

completed featured

www.ducks.org4

f R i E N D s o f D u c k s u N L i M i t E D

Ducks unlimited conserves, restores

and manages wetlands and associated habitats for

north america’s waterfowl. these habitats also

benefit other wildlife and people.Annapolis Office: 34 Defense St., Suite 200

Annapolis, MD 21401 • 410.224.6620

2013 FrienD oF Du: Delaware wilD lanDsDu’s ability to achieve our conservation goals by leveraging resources through diverse partnerships has long been a major contributing factor to our success. A prime example is DU’s history of working with various groups to accomplish habitat objectives in Delaware. Although all partnerships are necessary for our continued success, one of particular note is DU’s collaboration with Delaware Wild Lands (DWL). Since 2008, our cooperative efforts have resulted in the restoration of more than 750 acres of waterfowl habitat, and future projects are already in the works.

Delaware Wild Lands has been operating since 1961 with a mission to help preserve, manage and protect open space and natural resources in Delaware. To say this conservation organization has been successful in pursuing that goal would be an understatement. In fact, DWL currently controls more than 19,000 acres and is the largest private landowner in the state. DWL’s continued willingness to work with DU to restore important wetland habitat on their property has resulted in immense benefits to the region’s migratory waterfowl and other wildlife.

DU offers a sincere thank you to DWL for their outstanding commitment to improving the quality of life for people and wildlife alike. Furthermore, DWL staff members, including Executive Director Kate Hackett and Ecologist Peter Martin, among others, are consummate professionals dedicated to protecting and restoring Delaware’s natural resources. DU looks forward to future collaboration with DWL to ensure the success of our complementary missions.

DU conservation staff meet with DWL staff at their 10,000-acre Great Cypress Swamp property. (From left to right: DWL Biologist Andrew Martin, DU Engineer Jade Phillips, DWL Project Manager Ron Haas, DU Director of Conservation Programs Bernie Marczyk, DU Biologist Kurt Anderson, DU Biologist Jake McPherson, DWL Executive Director Kate Hackett and USFWS Biologist Rick McCorkle)

4