Each year Virginia loses more than 100,000 acres of open space—including 3,000 acres of wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Still, there are many opportunities for Ducks Unlimited (DU) to conserve quality, habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife and to improve water quality throughout the watersheds that drain into the bay.
A Strategic Approach
Priority areas are science-based and illustrate the areas where wetlands and -associated upland habitats can be of the most benefit to waterfowl and have the greatest impact on water quality.
Our priority areas are the best places to conserve and restore habitat for waterfowl production and migration, while simulta- simultaneously improving water quality for - - wildlife and people. The restoration of freshwater and tidal wetlands, riparian buffers and warm season grasses by DU and its partners will reduce agricultural runoff and soil erosion, and will benefit breeding, wintering and migratory habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. In addition, these improvements will support the diverse ecosystem of blue crabs, shrimp, oysters and fish found in the priority areas.
Landowners And Farmers—Help us Make a Difference!
We need your support to improve the landscape. Please help us save and restore critical wetlands and open spaces.
We have an opportunity to reverse these trends. Ducks Unlimited has launched an ambitious program to restore and protect these habitats in Virginia. Ducks Unlimited would like to hear from all interested landowners within our priority areas who wish to improve habitat on their property. DU and its partners can implement various tools on your property, such as:
• Riparian buffer
• Wetland restoration: Aberdeen Farm, Va
• Cattle exclosure: before, a cattle-trodden bank; after, fenced and seeded
• Before restoration: agricultural field, frequently flooded with rainwater; after restoration: healthy wetland habitat
Farm The Best—Conserve The Rest
To learn more about our programs, please contact your local DU conservation staff.
Kurt Dyroff
Manager of Conservation Programs
kdyroff@ducks.org
410.224.6620
Mike Budd
Regional Biologist
mbudd@ducks.org
804.557.3513
Kirk Mantay
Regional Biologist, Eastern Shore
kmantay@ducks.org
410.224.6620
Or follow this link to provide us with some general information about your property and we will contact you:
http://glaromaps.ducks.org/restoration/
Mid-Atlantic Field Office
34 Defense Street
Annapolis, MD 21401
P: 410.224.6620, F: 410.224.2077