Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne recently announced that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved $4.1 million in funding to add more than 4,400 wetland acres to seven national wildlife refuges.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release:

Among the wetlands that will be acquired in national wildlife refuges are 2,027 acres for the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge in St. Bernard and Orleans Parishes, LA. By permanently protecting these coastal wetlands, this addition will conserve critical marsh habitat for migratory waterfowl species including gadwall, northern pintail and mallard in addition to providing storm surge protection to inland areas.

The commission’s approval also secured funding to add feeding, breeding, and resting habitat to six other national wildlife refuges. These approved projects include:

• Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, Georgetown, Marion and Horry Counties, South Carolina - Acquisition of 1,292 acres to protect and manage a diversity of habitats for waterfowl, with a focus on the American black duck; and conserve wetlands and provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreational activities.
• Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Seneca County, New York - Acquisition of 64 acres that provide important feeding and nesting habitat for migrating,
  wintering, and breeding waterfowl such as mallard, canvasback, lesser scaup, and ring-necked ducks.
• Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, Mohawk River and Pondicherry Divisions, Coos County, New Hampshire- Acquisition of 108 and 105 acres, respectively, to conserve and protect important migratory waterfowl habitat, with special consideration to the American black duck.
• Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, Liberty County, Texas- Acquisition of 924 acres to protect important wetland habitats benefiting migrating, over-wintering, and breeding waterfowl including wood duck, mallard, gadwall, American widgeon, green- and blue-winged teal, and lesser scaup.
• Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, Jackson, Prairie, Woodruff and Monroe Counties, Arkansas - Acquisition of 24 acres protecting wintering areas vital to the long-term conservation of migratory waterfowl including mallard, northern pintail, teal, and Canada goose.
• Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Wapato Lake Unit, Washington and Yamhill Counties, Oregon - Acquisition of 15 acres to manage as a migration and wintering area for waterfowl, especially for tundra swans.

Tags:
wildlife, wildlife refuge, conservation, National Wildlife Refuge System, Migratory Bird Conservation Commission