| Dukes County, MA c/o Great Meadows NWR 73 Weir Hill Road Sudbury, MA 01776 (978) 443-4661 fw5rw_emnwr@fws.gov |
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Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge is 628 acres in size and is located in Dukes County in the Town of Chilmark, 3 miles south of Martha's Vineyard, MA. The Island is 1.6 miles long east to west, and about 1 mile north to south. Nomans Land Island was used for aerial gunnery by the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1996. The USFWS managed an "overlay" refuge on the Eastern third of the Island under a Joint Management Agreement between the Department of the Interior and Department of the Navy since 1975. Following an extensive surface clearance of ordnance in 1997 and 1998, the Island was transferred to the USFWS to become Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge. It was established " . . . for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds" (Migratory Bird Conservation Act). Nomans Land Island is surrounded entirely by the Atlantic Ocean. About 30% of the island is comprised of wetlands which range from emergent marshes to permanently flooded-open water. There are four artificial ponds (that were impounded many years ago by early settlers), two large freshwater ponds, and a number of smaller ponds dot the Island. Common wetland plants include: Virginia chain fern, cranberry, sphagnum moss, broad-leaved cattail, and common reed. New England Cottontail: Rabbit at risk article - NEW!Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Program - Get Your Kids Involved Today! |
Last updated:
March 8, 2011
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