Swan Creek WMA
Wetlands Enhancement Project

Purpose: To enhance 1,200 acres of wetlands habitat on Swan Creek WMA through installation of a 60-inch screw-gate water control structure and construction of levee. The water control structure was installed to facilitate dewatering of the impoundment during spring, thereby allowing managers access to plant agricultural crops for waterfowl. The addition of this project provides greater flexibility in managing water levels, thereby allowing managers to dewater or re-flood the impoundment when needed. This project will retain water in fall and winter, thus providing valuable foraging habitat to migrating and wintering waterfowl near the Tennessee River and will be managed by the Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources. This project is open to public waterfowl hunting.

Location: Approx. 4 miles east of Decatur, AL (Limestone County)

Acres Impacted: 1,200 acres

Habitat Type: Moist-soil Wetlands
Flooded Agricultural Crops
Permanent Fresh Marsh

Partners: Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
Ducks Unlimited, Inc

Timeline: Construction was completed in spring 1993

DU Contact: Craig Hilburn
Manager of Conservation Programs
chilburn@ducks.org