Atlantic coast joint venture waterfowl implementation plan
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Conservation Recommendations: The purpose of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is to protect the native diversity of flora and fauna throughout the Connecticut River Watershed. The actions of the refuge include working with all partners within the watershed through a variety of federal and state programs to meet the goals set forth by the refuge. These programs, not limited to the refuge, include land acquisition, managing or regulating public use, control of exotic species, dam removal, and other programs designed to enhance and conserve the rich natural resources of the Connecticut River Valley. References: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1990. Regional wetlands concept plan: Emergency Wetlands Resources Act. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Hadley, MA.
Much of the Lake Champlain Valley is in private ownership. However, the states of Vermont and New York own a number of Wildlife Management Areas and State Parks along the shore of Lake Champlain. Much of the New York side of Lake Champlain forms the eastern boundary of the Adirondack Park extending from approximately Port Kent, New York to the southern tip of the lake, South Bay. Federally-owned properties include the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge, which encompasses the Missisquoi Delta, the largest wetland delta on Lake Champlain. Special Recognition: Lake Champlain was designated a resource of national significance in 1990 by the Lake Champlain Special Designation Act (Public Law 101-596). The Lake Champlain Basin Program was established to help coordinate the activities envisioned by the Act. The diversity of Lake Champlain and the surrounding Adirondack Mountains were designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1989 as part of the United Nations Man and the Biosphere Reserve Program. Biosphere Reserves are “areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.” They are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. Biosphere Reserves serve in some ways as 'living laboratories' for testing and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. Waterfowl: The Lake Champlain Valley provides breeding and, more importantly, staging and migration habitat for thousands of waterfowl. Aerial censuses conducted annually in October by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife consistently reports between 20,000 and 40,000 individuals of thirty or more species. The more numerous species include American Black Duck, Mallard, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, and Common Merganser. Many of the wetlands surrounding the lake contain highly preferred foods such as wild rice and duck potato. In addition, waste grain from the fertile farm fields surrounding Lake Champlain in both Vermont and Quebec, Canada provide ideal feeding habitat for ducks and for migrating Canada Goose (Atlantic Population) and Greater Snow Goose. Table 1. Waterfowl species using the Lake Champlain Focus Area.
Other Migratory Birds: The agricultural landscape interspersed with highly productive wetlands of the Lake Champlain Valley provide habitat for a number of breeding and migratory species. The emergent and forested wetlands of the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge support the largest breeding colonies of Great Blue Heron and Black Tern in Vermont. Other high priority wetland-dependent species breeding in the focus area include American Bittern, Least Bittern, Sora, Virginia Rail, Common Moorhen, and American Woodcock. The uplands of this agricultural landscape are the most important for Vermont’s grassland species (Darmstadt et al. 1997). The focus area supports high priority landbirds such as Upland Sandpiper and Bobolink (Darmstadt et al. 1997, Rosenberg 2000). Farm abandonment and subsequent reforestation is increasing the number and size of forest patches in the Lake Champlain Valley. Species associated with these types of habitats, such as Cerulean Warbler and Wood Thrush, should be considered when planning conservation actions. Threats: The Lake Champlain Valley Focus Area faces a number of threats. Increasing residential development, especially in the northern one-third, and commercial and industrial development lead to habitat loss and degradation of critical wetlands. Lakeside and deltaic wetlands found at the mouths of the major rivers are the most threatened. Water quality is a major issue in Lake Champlain with phosphorous as the most serious threat (Lake Champlain Basin Program 1996). Wastewater treatment and industrial discharge account for most of the point-source phosphorous loading into Lake Champlain. Non-point sources originate from runoff from the intensely developed residential shoreline of the lake and agricultural runoff. This nutrient loading causes algal blooms and rapid growth of plants especially exotic plants such as water chestnut, Eurasian milfoil, and purple loosestrife. Also, zebra mussels and sea lampreys represent a serious threat to the integrity of Lake Champlain. Conservation Recommendations: Disturbance to breeding and migrating birds should be minimized or eliminated, especially to the concentrations of Great Blue Heron and Black Tern. Efforts should be made to control point and non-point source pollution to improve the water quality of Lake Champlain. Control of invasive species is needed to maintain or improve the biodiversity and habitat quality of the lake and the associated wetlands and uplands. Also, effort should be made to support and engage the Lake Champlain Basin Program and its mission to coordinate the development of a comprehensive plan for the Lake Champlain Basin. References: Binhammer, J. 1992. Lake Champlain wetlands acquisition study. Vermont Nature Conservancy, 47pp.
population status, conservation problems, and research needs. Pages 201-209 in P.D. Vickery and P.W. Dunwiddie, eds. Grasslands of Northeastern North America: Ecology and Conservation of Native and Agricultural Landscapes. Massachusetts Audubon Society.
of the Lake Champlain basin. Lake Champlain Management Conference. 92pp. Laughlin, S.B. and D.P. Kibbe, editors. 1985. The atlas of breeding birds of Vermont. University Press of New England, 456pp. Rosenberg, K.V. 2000. The St. Lawrence Plain. Draft Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan. 40 pp.
natural communities of Vermont. University Press of New England, 456pp. 
Focus Area: Lake Memphremagog, Vermont Sub-Focus Areas: None
Area Description: The Lake Memphremagog Focus Area encompasses 313,816 hectares (775,452 acres) and includes the entire county of Orleans and parts of Essex. The eastern border is adjacent to the Connecticut River Focus Area, which extends 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the center of the river. The topography of the focus area varies from gently rolling hills in the valleys and around the lake to a number of peaks reaching over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) on the eastern edge near the Connecticut River. The area is mostly forested with spruce-fir forests dominated by balsam fir and red spruce with black spruce in the wetter areas (Laughlin and Kibbe 1985). At lower elevations, hardwood forests dominate the landscape made up of sugar maple, yellow birch, and beech with hemlock on the steeper slopes (Thompson and Sorenson 2000). Silver maple is dominant in the floodplain forests where they occur. Agriculture is limited and is concentrated around the flatter topography of southern Lake Memphremagog, which has characteristics similar to the Lake Champlain lowlands (Laughlin and Kibbe 1985). The focus area is laced with rivers and creeks. Remote wooded swamps, bogs, and beaver flowages are prevalent over the Lake Memphremagog area. The area is poorly drained over large expanses and generally less productive with more acidic water than Lake Champlain. However, the value of the area lies in the aggregate of the many remote wetlands that have high value for Black Duck and other waterfowl and waterbirds. A few relatively large wetlands occur around the Black and Barton Rivers at South Bay in Lake Memphremagog and along the Clyde River, also near the southern end of the lake. Several large lakes, including Memphremagog, occur in the focus area and include Seymour, Averill, and Caspian Lakes and Lake Willoughby. These areas provide important deep-water habitat for species such as Common Loon. Ownership/Protection: The majority of the focus area is privately owned. However, over 40,480 hectares (100,027 acres) of private forest lands are publicly accessible. The State of Vermont manages six Wildlife Management Areas including the 4,170 hectare (10,374 acres) Bill Sladyk and the 9,190 hectare (22,708 acres)) West Mountain Areas. In addition several state parks and state forests are within the boundaries of the focus area including Groton State Forest, Vermont’s second largest parcel of state-owned land at 10,580 hectares (26,143 acres). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge manages the Nulhegan Basin, a 10,520 hectare (25,995 acres) National Wildlife Refuge adjacent to West Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Special Recognition: Nine wetland sites are recognized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Regional Wetlands Concept Plan as priority wetlands (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1990). These sites include Black River Marsh, Buck Flat Marsh, Hall’s Creek Marsh, John’s River Marsh, Southern Lake Memphremagog Wetlands, Clyde River Marshes, Ferdinand Bog, Nulhegan Pond, and Victory Basin. Waterfowl: The value of this focus area lies in the remote, relatively undisturbed wooded wetlands available to breeding Black Duck. It also provides important habitat needs during migration for a high diversity of species, including several species of diving ducks (e.g., scaup). Table 1. Waterfowl species using the Lake Memphremagog Focus Area.
Other Migratory Birds: A number of other species of migratory birds use the Lake Memphremagog Focus Area. This is an important nesting area for a number of priority species including Common Loon, American Bittern, Spruce Grouse, Veery, American Woodcock, and Olive-sided Flycatcher. High priority warblers include Blackburnian, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Black-throated Blue, Canada, and Chestnut-sided. The focus area includes parts of the breeding range for Bicknell’s Thrush, one the highest priority birds in the northeastern United States Threats: Commercial timber harvesting and production has had a profound impact on the forested landscape in this area. Loss of timber production could result in the conversion to urban development and loss of valuable habitat and increased disturbance. Also, timber harvesting operations can result in degraded habitat quality of wetlands important to breeding and migrating waterfowl. Recreational use of the focus area is extensive. Many of the remote wetlands valuable for breeding Black Duck are subject to disturbance with hikers and other recreational enthusiasts. Second home and camp development on the larger lakes is increasing with a concomitant increase in disturbance to breeding birds. Conservation Recommendations: Although timber harvesting can be detrimental to wetland quality, it is extremely valuable to the local and regional economy. Loss of the economic sustainability of the industry could result in permanent loss of wetlands through development. Long-term maintenance of the forest habitat should be ensured through careful planning (Rosenberg and Hodgman 2000). Disturbance to remote wetlands and water bodies important for waterfowl and waterbird nesting should be minimized, through buffer zones that limit harvest intensity. Further development (shoreline or adjacent) of remote lakes and ponds should be minimized through fee or easement acquisitions of property that provides high quality habitat. References: Laughlin, S.B., and D.P. Kibbe. 1985. The atlas of breeding birds of Vermont. Univ. Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456pp. Rosenberg, K.V., and T.P. Hodgman. 2000. Eastern spruce-hardwood forest: Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan – Draft 1.0. American Bird Conservancy. 48pp. Thompson, E.H., and E.R. Sorenson. 2000. Wetland, woodland, wildland: a guide to the natural communities of Vermont. Univ. Press of New England, Hanover, NH. 456pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1990. Regional wetlands concept plan: Emergency Wetlands Resources Act. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA. 7.2.17 Virginia
Figure 7.18. Virginia waterfowl focus areas.
Focus Area: Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia Sub-Focus Areas: Islands, Eastern Shore-Bayside, Eastern Shore-Seaside
Area Description: The Eastern Shore of Virginia contains a wide diversity of waterfowl habitats. An extensive set of coastal salt marshes and series of undeveloped barrier islands run the length of the Eastern Shore from Maryland to Fishermans’ Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). On the Bayside of the Shore, brackish tidal marshes abound from Saxis Island to Hacks Neck encompass 102,225 hectare (252,601 acres). A series of islands occurs in the Chesapeake Bay along these brackish marshes. The Eastern Shore is primarily a rural agricultural, aquacultural community and includes 149,661 hectare (369,819 acres). Many individuals earn their living from the wetland community, including oystermen, crabbers, clammers, and commercial fishermen. Historically, the Eastern Shore was a hardwood-dominated mosaic of upland and wetland interspersed with freshwater, brackish, and saltwater emergent marshes. The high quality agricultural soil types resulted in the clearing and draining of much of these areas for production. In recent times, an agricultural shift has occurred from row crops to commercial vegetable production, resulting in a loss of foraging habitat for many waterfowl species. Additionally, many individuals have taken to purchasing tracts of former wetlands and restoring these sites to emergent marsh systems, resulting in the concentration of waterfowl on managed wetland habitats. The total area of this focus area is 251,886 hectares (622,420 acres). Ownership/Protection: Several groups are working to protect the valuable habitats on the Eastern Shore. Three National Wildlife Refuges (NWR’s) are located in this focus area. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge NWR is located on the Maryland border, and the Eastern Shore NWR and Fishermans’ Island NWR are located on the extreme southern end of the Shore. The Nature Conservancy owns several of the seaside barrier islands, and owns or holds conservation easements on a number of seaside farms. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries owns four wildlife management areas, two on the bayside and two on the seaside (The GATR tract, Mockhorn Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Saxis WMA and Guard’s Shore WMA) The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation owns one state park and two natural areas and a barrier island (Wreck Island) on the bayside of the eastern shore. Additionally, many individuals have taken to purchasing tracts of former wetlands and restoring these sites to emergent marsh systems, resulting in the concentration of waterfowl on managed wetland habitats. Special Recognition: In 1979, the Eastern Shore was designated as an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations, a site where globally important natural resources have been preserved largely intact through compatible human uses of the landscape. In 1990, the seaside barrier islands and associated beach habitat was designated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Network Site due to the overwhelming amount of habitat and shorebird utilization of the area. |
