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Northeast
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the 100-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices, 81 ecological services field stations, 14 fish health and technology centers, 133 law enforcement offices, a National Forensics Laboratory and the National Conversation Training Center. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. |
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Verizon Works with Partners in the Great Swamp Watershed |
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The Verizon Center in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, is a good example of a corporate entity taking a keen interest in land stewardship. Image is of an open area currently covered with cool-season grasses. A strip of native warm-season grasses and wildflowers will be planted here. |
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife program at the New Jersey Field Office works with a variety of landowners to help create, restore, and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and improve water quality. Many large corporate properties are found in ecologically sensitive and valuable parts of the watersheds of New Jersey. Corporate landowners through wise land stewardship can enhance the ecological value of their properties for the benefit of surrounding communities. The Verizon Center in Basking Ridge, Somerset County, is a good example of a corporate entity taking a keen interest in land stewardship. In collaboration with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program and the New Jersey Audubon Society, Verizon is restoring habitat on its property for the benefit of insect pollinators, amphibians, reptiles, and migratory birds through a variety of measures such as planting native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers; managing nonnative plant species; erecting nest boxes; digging a vernal pool; and creating turtle nesting habitat. The Verizon Center lies within the Great Swamp Watershed, an area shared by the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in addition, several species listed by the State and / or the federal government as threatened or endangered occur in the watershed.
Link to the joint Verizon, New Jersey Audubon Society, and Partners press release.
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Compacted spoils from a previous pond excavation. A vernal pond will be dug in this area to benefit reproducing amphibians. Strips of attractive wildflowers and native grasses will benefit pollinating insects and migratory birds. |
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A foreground dominated by nonnative species such as fescue grasses, Norway maple, and multiflora rose and a background with the mowed riparian areas. This will be an ideal area for controlling nonnative plants, planting native shrubs, and creating native riparian buffer strips. |
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A buffer area between a driveway and sensitive wetlands. This area will be planted with attractive native shrubs, such as shadbush and viburnums, that benefit foraging, nesting, and resting migratory birds and other wildlife. |
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A buffer area leading into sensitive forested wetlands and turtle habitat. Invasive multiflora rose will be physically removed from this area and sand pits will be created for turtle nesting habitat. |
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| Photographs by Brian Marsh / USFWS / NJFO |
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