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FT #10 -
Wetlands at the Jean Ellen duPont
Shehan Audubon Sanctuary
Leader: Kirk Mantay (kmantay@ducks.org)
Trip departs at 12:15
PM from the circular drive at the rear entrance to the
Wardman Park Hotel
Anticipated return at 8:00 PM
Limited to 16 participants
The Jean Ellen
duPont Shehan Audubon Sanctuary in Bozman, Maryland includes
over 200 acres (80 ha) of grass meadows, 300 acres (121 ha) of woodlands, 8
miles (13 km) of shoreline, and 10 miles (16 km) of walking trails
(http://www.audubon.org/chapter/md/md/centers_JEDS.html). The
Sanctuary is used for scientific research, outdoor
science-based education and wildlife and habitat
conservation. Ducks
Unlimited, along with The Chesapeake Bay Program, the MD-DC
Audubon Society, the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Waterfowl
Festival, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the
Maryland Eastern Shore Resource, Conservation and
Development Council, are working together to restore 25
acres (10 ha) of shallow water and emergent wetlands, 19 acres
(7.7 ha) of
forested buffers, 12 acres (4.9 ha) of wildlife food plots and 7
acres (2.8 ha) of warm-season grass buffers. The restoration
effort is part of a master plan of 13 habitat restoration,
enhancement, and protection projects on a 100-acre (40 ha) portion
of the Wells Point sanctuary.
In addition to the water
quality benefits that the project will provide, the site
will also be used to demonstrate and showcase the
effectiveness of partnerships in Bay restoration. Wetlands
account for only about 4 percent of the 64,000 mi2
(166,000 km2)
Chesapeake bay watershed, but they are vital to the health
and productivity of the Bay and its tributaries. The
wetland restoration project at the Jean Ellen DuPont Shehan
Audubon Sanctuary is part of the Bay Program's current
strategy committing partners to the restoration of 25,000
acres (10,100 ha) of wetlands by 2010. Between 1998 and 2005, 10,463
acres (4,234 ha) of tidal and non-tidal wetlands were established or
reestablished in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and the
District of Columbia. (http://www.chesapeakebay.net/newswetrest102207.htm).
Bring binoculars, hat,
bug repellent and waterproof boots for mud and very shallow
standing water.
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