Convention on Wetlands of International Importance

Identification of Benefits to the Current U.S. Listed Sites Survey Conducted with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and State Natural Resource Agencies Fall 1995 Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Doer the rite Regardless of Ways to Local Wetland Interested in the type of management or land benefit any designation improve publk organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or da, the site awareness and who might he materials in use with other individual in a benefit from outreach? interested in at the site? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of learning more important property? conservation? about Ramsar? Ramsar sites?

Ash Meadows No--National Wildlife Refuge Status None Given. Yes--Refuge None Given. None Given. None Given. FWS--No National Wildlife Status Refuge U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Nevada

Caddo Lake Yes--previous private ownership Commercial Yes-but the A national Yes- Project WET FWS--Yes utilized natural resources. businesses: designation brochure to Scholars Texas restaurants, elevated the publicize Program; Texas Enhancement of plant and wildlife lodges, b&b’s, importance for preservation Parks and communities; increase in recreational bait shops, etc. acquistion of this efforts at all U.S. Wildlife use; Caddo Lake Scholars Program Also benefits to site by TPWD Ramsar sites Department; on site and project WET; TPWD/ townships of and has local Audubon NBS/UNIV research; increase in Jefferson and increased public Society Chapter tourism and interest as outdoor Marshall. use and classroom for area schools. awareness of the unique attributes Texas Parks and Wild Wli/e of this wetland. Deparlnienl Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Does the rite Regardless of Ways to Local Wetland Interested in the type of management or land benefit any designation improve puhiic organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or doer the rite awareness and who might be materials in use with other individual in a benefit from outreach? interested in at the rite? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of learning more important property? conservation? about Ramsar? Ramsar sites?

Horicon Marsh Yes--an additional 435-acre None Given. Yes--however, --Media attention WI Dept Natural Wetland FWS--Maybe impoundment was acquired by DU; the designation to Ramsar and Resources; FWS; Wonderlands Wisconsin increase in public education and has Helped to what it is about insert in state State--Yes awareness, student volunteer interns; heightened --Provide Area Coalition; publication with land expansion for nesting birds public funding for sites Citizens Natural articles on through a NAWCA grant. awareness, for education, Res Association; wetland values, improve mgmt, management, Marsh Haven, natural history, Enhancement of fish opportunities/ and provide restoration etc. Audubon Soc, posters, species water quality, public use and additional --Ramsar Horicon Marsh lists, etc. e&tourism has increased, water research designation will Bird Club, quality study and land expansion will opportunities. help in grant- Ducks Unltd.; enhance habitat for- wildlife. scoring criteria. WI Waterfowl Association. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Cache River- FWS--No National Wildlife Refuge Canoe rentals, Yes Get more IL Dept Nat Res; None Given. FWS--Yes Cypress Creek status hunting groups, conservation IL Nature Wetlands Area etc. organization’s conservancy; State--Yes State--No The designation involved in Citizens Illinois has not been listing property Committee to widely advertised for designation, Save the Cache U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to produce such as Sierra River; Southern Illinios Department additional Club, Audubon, IL Tourism Ducks Unlimited benefits as yet. Wilderness Bureau; Towns The Nature Conservancy Society, etc. of Ullin, Karnak, and Dongola Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Does the site Regardless of Wayr to Local Wetland Interested in the type of management or land benefit any derlgnation improve public organization8 teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or does the rite awareness and who might be materials In use with other individual in a benefit from outreach? interested in at the rite? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of learning more important property? conservation? about Ramsar? Ramrar rites?

Okefenokee Yes--only that the designation has Interpretation Yes--but the None Given. Okefenokee None Given. FWS--No National Wildlife helped to elevate its importance and recreation designation just Wildlife League; Refuge within the NWR system in obtaining programs are strengthened the Okefenokee Bird additional budget funding. Increase gaining, but this present Club; local Florida/Georgia visibility with international visitors increases protection of the Audubon Chp; and the research community. pressure on our refuge. Georgia Nature limited Conservancy resources. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Everglades Modifications to management are South Florida Yes--Park is Site would like Tropical Everglades NPS--No. the National Park generally applicable to Ramsar, but tourism industry, preserved infoonthe Audubon National Park park receives specifically related to National Park fishermen, without specific obligations/ Society; Environmental numerous official Florida Service management practices for commercial reference to the opportunities Everglades Education foreign visitor3 South Florida. boating and dive Ramsar under the Coalition, materials and and delegations operations, gen designation wetlands Friends of the curricula every year. population convention. Everglades through water Training info and resource materials would availability. be of great value. Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Does the site Regardless of Ways to Local Wetland Interested in the type of management or land benefit any designation improve public organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or does the site awareness and who might be materials in use with other individual in a benefit from outreach? interested in at the site? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of learning more important property? conservation? about Ramsar? Ramsar sites?

Cache/Lower The site area is part of on-going None Given. Yes-restoration --Increase the Natural corps of FWS--No White Rivers acquisition and restoration program. of the vegetation public ed and conservancy; Engineers Joint Venture Designation under the Wetlands and hydrology on awareness of AK Natural Watenvays State--Yes Area Convention has increased recognition Refuge tracts and significance of Heritage Experiment and provided greater priority to private lands the Convention. commission; AK station video Arkansas activities associated with the Refuge. through a USDA Means to involve Game and Fish production on Restoration and enhancement program has local community. Commission; their research at activities occurring on the Refuge r --Suggest a Cities of Black Swamp on would likely occur without the sedimentation National Ramsar Brinkley and Cache River. Ramsar designation, however, it and provided award for non- Clarendon helped in budget development. shallow flooded federal efforts wonders of Assisted conservation efforts affecting habitat. Help to affecting sites. Wetlands sustainable use on private lands improve water --Increase local through programs that encourage quality while visibility such as farmers to retain water on their fields providing additional signs. during winter. valuable wildlife habitat. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Catahoula Lake No--State Owned Land Waterfowl Yes--the Lake is Need to promote Catahoula lake LA Nature and FWS and State-- hunters, intensely what it means to Heritage Science Center-- No L ouisiana commercial and managed by designate and Foundation; Wetlands Department of Wildlife recreational State and FWS to what values/good Catahoula Cons Activities Guide and Fisheries fishermen, bird conserve its it can do for a Club; Catahoula watchers functional value site. Lake Festival to fish and Comm; LA Dept wildlife. of Wildlife and Fisheries Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Does the site Regardless of Ways to Local Wetland Interested in the type of management or land benefit any designation improve public organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or does the site l wartness and who might be materials in use with other individual In a benefit from outreach? interested in at the site? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of learning more Important property? conservation? about Ramrar? Ramrar sites?

Pelican Island No--National Wildhfe Refuge status. Fishermen, Yes--Refuge Way to inform City of Aquatic Wild FWS--Yes National Wildlife birders, nature Status local groups Sebastian; Indian Refuge The site was given the international photographers, about conserving River County recognition it deserves through the tourists, ecology wetlands outside Commission Florida designation; however, wetlands and students the refuge mangrove forests that border the boundaries. refuge do not have the same protection.

U.S. Fish ond Wildlife Service

Edwin B. No--National Wildlife Refuge Status None given. Yes--Refuge None Given. NJ Division of WOW-- FWS--No Forsythe Status Fish, Game, & wonders of National Wildlife Wildlife; Middle Wetlands; Refuge U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Township; Project WET Dennis New Jersey Township; Park Commissions of Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean Counties Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Doer the site Regardless of Way8 to Local Wetland Interested in the type of management or land benefit any designation improve puhlk organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or does the rite awareness and who might be materials in use with otbcr individual in a benefit from outreach? interested in at the site? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of kaming more important property? conservation? about Ramrar? Ramrar situ?

Chesapeake Bay No--the designation was helpful but Not specifically Yes--most Need to inform WOW-Wonders FWS--Yes Estuarine not significant in developing by the benefits have organizations of Program; EPA; of Wetlands Complex resources and habitat priorities for designation occurred without the potential to Chesapeake Bay Fed/State Bay program. Ramsar Ramsar use Ramsar Commission; Virginia and designation was helpful to the designation designation for Chesapeake Bay Maryland program development of a leveraging funds Foundation; "chesapeake bay wetlands policy and much like the Alliance for the implementation plan”, and NAWMP and its Chesapeake Bay “Chesapeake bay waterfowl and mgmt joint ventures. plan” approved in ‘89 and ‘90. Yet Ramsar was not decisive in its influence. The plans compliment the purpose of the Convention

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries College of William and Mary and Virginia Institute of Marine Science Virginia Department of Conservation and Natural Res Maryland Department of Natural Resources Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Does the site Regardless of Ways to Local Wetland Interested in the type of management or land benefit any designation improve public organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or does the site awareness and who might be materials in use witb other individual in a benefit from outreach? interested in at the site? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another lrom of learning more important 1 property? I conservation? about Ramsar? Ramsar sites?

Delaware River Yes--educational tours were Birders/fishing Yes--but the Publicize the TNC; Delware EPA Wetland Fws--Yes Estuary System established at many sites with more Cleaner waters, designation economic Wild Lands; DE Fact Sheets emphasis on the importance of larger better fishing, increased public benefits for local Nature Society; Delaware--Yes Delaware and wetlands systems on a global scale for crabbing/hunting awareness for businesses Audubon, The Aquatic New Jersey migratory bird populations; opportunities wetland values through Natural Lands Resource New Jersey--No --An environmental group used the have increased and recreational ecotourism. Trust, New Education U.S. Fish and designation as a tool for acquistion of the boat activity opportunites, and Jersey Dept of Program of the Wildlife Service additional properties to list; and associated it promoted the Outreach and Environmental DE Division of Delaware --The Nature Conservancy secured costs; facilitated conservation of exposure of the Protection; DE Fish and Wildlife Department of funding to protect wetlands under the sales of hunting, additional Convention Dept of Natural has developed a Natural NAWCA (designation helped in fishing and bird wetlands in the values, its Resources and unique and Resources and scoring system) during ‘92 (6,2 15 watching area. Real organization, and Envinronmental extremely Environmental acres), ‘93 (2,300) and in ‘94 equipment; advantage of the objectives to the Control; Citizens effective Control (3,614); benefits for local designation is the public and even United to Protect outreach to Delaware Wild --Delaware and ‘I‘NC use digital point sporting goods emphasis on many the Maurice schools for Lands coverage maps showing locations of stores, lodges international professional River, FWS; DE training teachers The Nature the designed wetlands to be used in and restaurants, importance upon conservation Estuary Program during a six-hour Conservancy state-wide planning efforts. Also boat rentals/ the estuary. So, groups. Use the Ducks Unlimited course on Delaware used by the Corps of Eng in analysis guides. project proposals past successes wetlands, after Nature Society of potential impacts of dredged are more likely to stories of other which the New Jersey materials from a proposed navigation be approved and sites and future teacher has Division of Fish, channel EPA use in identiling supported, which plans for others access to ed kits, Game, and protection priorities in inland area was not with info on bird Wilflife hazardous material spill response previously and fish Natural Lands contingency plan prominent at the identification, --Establishment as a Ramsar site site has become Trust wetland types, Cape May encouraged the development of an a valuable tool. and sources and Aquatic Resouce Education Facility County Park effects of (est by the DE Dept of Natural Res), Commission pollutants. and National Estuarine Res Reserve --Rehabilitation of wetlands in cooperation with industry/power --modification of waler mgmt techniques Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Doer the site Regardless of Ways to Local Wetland ~ Interested in the type of management or land benefit any designation improve public organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or does the site awareness and who might be materials in use with other individual in a benefit from outreach? interested in at the site? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of learning more important property? conservation? about Ramsar? Ramsar sites? L

Connecticut Yes--Designation increased the All visitors and The unique Need for Ramsar CT Dept of Env Project WILD FWS--Yes River Tidal recognition of the inleniational value neighboring geology of the signs for sites Protection; TNC- Aquatic Wetlands of the site by fed and state, local land residents benefit area has helped and an CT chapter; CT Complex trusts, municipalities, and private though improved protect the explanatory fact Audubon Wonders of landowners, and emphasized the aesthetics, flood Ramsar area sheet covering Society; Town of Wetlands Connecticut threats and problems facing the area. retention, and from major the meaning of Old Sybrook, Groups became involved in solving education for development and the designation Deep River Cons Project WET Connecticut the area’s urgent problems--nuisance outdoor destruction, past and the value it Trust; East Department of species and functional wetland classrooms. conservation places on Haddam Land Environmental impairments. Area is recognized not I Have not efforts are wetlands; useful Trust; Middlesex Protection only for migratory birds/end species analyzed the another reason in increasing the Land Trust; The Nature but for anadromous fish, particularly ecotourism these sites still public awareness FWS; other local Conservancy those that spend parts of life cycle in opportunities to exist where all and impact the land trust may East Haddam intl marine waters. While Conte the area. the other major designation. also be Land Trust National Wildlife Refuge is not yet tidal rivers in the Helpful to gather interested. Connecticut involved with any on-site mgmt, US have info about the Audubon designation of Ramsar areas has extensive site and compile Society strengthened the conviction that these development on and publish it in Deep River Land sites should be included. Improved shorelines and at a non-tech Trust mgmt, education, and research within the mouth of the manner for use in Town of Old the ramsar areas. river. local actions. Saybrook --CT and FWS have actively pursued restoration of degraded habitats; research has assisted in identifying current and future restoration projects; ed materials have been produced such as signs and brochures lo inform the public of restoration activities. 1 Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Does the site Regardless of Ways to Local Wetland Interested la the type of management or land benefit any designation Improve public organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or does the site awareness and who might be materials in use wlth other individual in a benefit from outreach? Interested In at the site? lntematlonally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of learning more important property? conservation? about Ramsar? Ramsar sites? L L L

Cheyenne Yes--Designation has increased Benefits for the Yes-site was Need for non- KS Dept of Project Wild State--Maybe if Rottoms awareness of site importance to local and state already managed technical fact Wildlife and not time shorebirds, which resulted in economy through for wildlife sheets to explain Parks; Great consuming. Kansas increased efforts to meet their needs; the renovation; before the purpose of Bend Visitors specifically to selectively control The publicity of designation; Ramsar. and Convention cattail growth the designation however, without Bureau. has brought the designation Designation resulted in receiving significant there would have grants through NAWMP and increase in the been little Wetlands Conservation Council; number of interest in mgmt has shifted from sole waterfowl birdwatchers. securing grants perspective to a mgmt strategy for covering both waterfowl and improvements. shorebirds.

Changes in primary cattails to moist soil plant mgmt; improved mgmt has helped to secure funds from Wetland Conservation Council to undertake multi-million dollar renovation for water delivery system, water mgmt and conservation; more University use for on-site classroom and outside research.

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

10 Site Name Has designation changed or shifted Does the site Regardless 01 Wayr to Local Wetland Interested in the type of management or land benefti any designation improve public organizations teaching cooperating Location use practices? Please explain. group or does the site awareness and who mlght be materials in use wltb otber individual In a benefit from outreach? htterested In at the site? internationally Who owns the designated particular way? another from of learning more bnportant property? conservation? about Ramsar? Ramsar rites?

Izembek Lagoon Yes--Ongoing population monitoring None Given. Yes--Refuge Higher profile Aleutian East FWS region 7 FWS--No National Wildlife procedures have been expanded for Status and more Borough; AK developed a Refuge and State species of low or threathened status; a networking with Dept of Fish and teaching State--Yes Game Area cooperative public use mgmt plan is other sites Game; curricula on anticipated between the FWS and AK similar to Community of wetlands/rivers, Alaska Dept Fish and Game; involvment in Western Cold Bay Teach About education networking to increase Hemisphere Geese and Teach public awareness and appreciation of Shorebird About Seabirds; Pacific brant throughout their range; Reserve Network AK wildlife Research activities to increase mgmt would help give curriculum capabilities for internationally this remote site “Wetlands and important species; the designation has more attention. Wildlife” heightened the level of scrutiny activities order placed on various froms of form from the recreational and commerical use Dept of Fish and currently ongoing or proposed for the Game area.

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