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In February 2024, Ducks Unlimited (DU) restored wetlands in former agricultural fields along Fowler Beach Road at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. DU was awarded a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund to restore previously drained, former agricultural lands to a shallow-water, moist soil wetland. This wetland will provide habitat for native plants and the wildlife that depend on them.
The project includes minor contour modifications to create micro-topography, constructing a low earthen berm, and plugging an existing ditch. This is a unique opportunity to have a very small disturbance restore a large amount of wetland habitat. “Prime Hook went through an extensive restoration that repaired our coastline and made it more resilient in 2015,” said Refuge Project Leader Kate Toniolo. “While that project restored beachfront and salt marsh salt marsh
Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.
Learn more about salt marsh habitat, this project will restore some freshwater habitat in an appropriate area.”
The overall wetland consists of shallow-water vegetated marsh that is preferred by dabbling ducks, such as Northern Pintails and American Black Ducks. In addition to directly improving wildlife habitat at the restoration site, this project will continue to strengthen migratory connectivity between the Delaware Bayshore and other areas of regional habitat significance for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway.
