For Release: Tuesday, August 4, 2009
DEC Provides Special Opportunity to Visit Wetlands in August
16-Day Window to View Portions of Wildlife Management Areas in St. Lawrence, Jefferson Counties
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced a special opportunity for public use of three wildlife management areas (WMA) in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties from Saturday, Aug. 15 through Sunday, Aug. 30.
During the 16-day period, all of the wetlands in the Perch River WMA (Jefferson County), Upper and Lower Lakes WMA and Wilson Hill WMA (both in St Lawrence County) will be accessible to visitors, with the following exceptions: A) Access to the lower pool dike at Perch River from the Allen Road is restricted due to recent construction and repairs; and B) Access to the area near the New York Power Authority-sponsored construction project on Wilson Hill is unavailable as construction activity continues.
DEC Regional Wildlife Manager Bill Gordon said: "These special areas offer a variety of natural habitats for people to experience and provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Opening these refuge wetland areas to the public for 16 days in August gives visitors an opportunity to connect with nature by participating in recreational pursuits such as hiking, canoeing and bird watching with minimal impacts on wildlife."
This is the 14th year DEC will open the WMA wetlands for expanded public access. For most of the year, these wetlands are off limits to the public to provide feeding and resting areas for migratory waterfowl. The restricted wetland areas are used by, and in some instances are the home of, a number of New York State's endangered, threatened, and rare species including bald eagles, black terns, and northern harriers (marsh hawks), among others. But by late August, the nesting and brooding season is mostly complete and the fall migration period has not yet begun, enabling DEC to allow public access.
Upper & Lower Lakes WMA is located about two miles west of the village of Canton along state Route 68 in St. Lawrence County. This WMA, the largest in the Region, is an 8,770-acre upland/wetland complex between the Grasse and Oswegatchie rivers.
Created in the 1950s during the construction of the St Lawrence-Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project, Wilson Hill WMA is located in Northern St. Lawrence County, approximately six miles west of the village of Massena off state Route 37. Situated along the St. Lawrence River, the 3,434-acre area consists of several large pools of open water marsh, bordered by a combination of dense cattails, brushy wetlands, forest, and upland meadow.
Perch River WMA was established in the late 1940's because of its rich and diverse waterfowl populations. It encompasses 7,800 acres in the towns of Brownville, Orleans, and Pamelia. It can be accessed from state Route 12 and the Vaadi Road.
For additional information, bird lists, and maps, contact DECs Regional Wildlife Office at 315-785-2261 or visit the DEC web page.
