TRCP partner Ducks Unlimited works with PA agency to use state, federal, and private funds to protect important wetlands, waterfowl habitat

Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the Pennsylvania Game Commission have partnered to protect and restore 126 acres of vital emergent and forested wetland habitat next to the commission’s State Game Lands 151, which spans across Mercer and Lawrence Counties in the northwestern corner of the state.

Known as Celery Swamp, the land was acquired from a private seller and added to SGL 151 thanks to funding from Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and Waterfowl USA. The project is part of a larger initiative focused on protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetland habitats on Pennsylvania public lands. DU, the Game Commission, DCNR, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, French Creek Valley Conservancy, and many other partners have been collaborating on conservation projects in this region of the state for decades.

The 1,438-acre property is located in the Ohio River watershed, 30 miles from Pymatuning Reservoir and 60 miles from Lake Erie – both major stopovers for millions of waterfowl and other migratory birds. SGL 151 is crucial to preserving species of special concern (eastern massasauga snake, American black duck, and American bittern), supporting biodiversity, and safeguarding local communities. By securing and restoring this wetland habitat, DU and the state are reinforcing their commitment to conservation, ensuring long-term ecological benefits for wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

“The results of this restoration effort will support an array of wetland-dependent species and be open to waterfowl hunting and bird watching.“

“Protecting this habitat is essential for sustaining waterfowl populations and conserving Pennsylvania’s diverse wildlife,” said DU Biologist Lisa Clark. “This partnership underscores the importance of collaborative conservation efforts between state and federal agencies and non-government organizations. And this project could not have been completed without generous contributions from the Hohmann Family, EQT Foundation, S. Kent Rockwell Foundation, and the Kuehner Family.”

Celery Swamp is one of many wetland projects in Pennsylvania that have been made possible thanks to strong partnerships and a diversified funding platform that supports habitat conservation and restoration on public lands. State funding was used during the initial phases of this project and unlocked North American Wetlands Act funding to complete construction. To date, DU has collaborated with various partners to conserve over 32,200 acres of critical habitat throughout Pennsylvania.

Wetland loss is common across much of the U.S., and Pennsylvania is no exception. The state has already lost 56 percent (226,197 acres) of its historical wetlands. Many of these habitats were drained for agriculture, infrastructure (e.g., highways and dams), peat mining, and human development, such as homes and businesses.

Celery Swamp was converted for aquaculture use as a fish farm in the 1970s. The wetlands were diked, deepened, and managed through an interconnected series of drainage pipes and a network of ditches. From the ‘70s until the ’90s, the impoundments were managed as open-water ponds for baitfish. When the baitfish production ceased, however, the impoundments were abandoned.

Over the years, extended high water levels within the impoundments created stagnant pools of open water. These pools were unsuitable for traditional emergent vegetation to grow. Instead, the impoundments were colonized by floating emergent and submergent aquatic plants. Stands of spatterdock and other nuisance plant species now overrun some of the impoundments, creating unhealthy monotypic stands and consequently reducing the biodiversity of the wetlands.

However, despite their partial degradation, the wetlands still support a wide variety of breeding, migratory, and wintering birds, including wood ducks, mallards, swamp sparrows, black-crowned night herons, and lesser yellowlegs. The property also contains a nine-acre flooded forest and scrub-shrub impoundment that provides additional habitat diversity to support wetland-dependent wildlife, such as dabbling ducks, turtles, and beavers.

DU and the Pennsylvania Game Commission are now working together to restore Celery Swamp back to its native wetland habitat. This $1 million construction project is currently underway and scheduled to be completed this year. After construction, the commission will manage and maintain the site. Habitat managers will regain the ability to manipulate water levels and create conditions to promote habitat resources for waterfowl and other wildlife. The results of this restoration effort will support an array of wetland-dependent species and be open to outdoor recreational use, such as waterfowl hunting and bird watching.

“The restoration outcomes will benefit visitors and the people that call the region home by improving water quality, reducing flooding, and improving public lands for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy,” Clark said.

Banner image credit: Ducks Unlimited