Many wetlands impoundments at the Game Commission's Pymatuning Wildlife Management Area were constructed in the early 1960s, and have served wildlife well for over 45 years.

Today, however, many of them are succumbing to age, and are losing their value as important wildlife habitat. Working together with the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Jerry Bish, Land Manager at Pymatuning, came up with a solution to rehabilitate one of the impoundments.

The dam, locally known as Pond 3, failed completely last June, and Bish and his crew were forced to completely drain the impoundment. Situated in the heart of the Controlled Hunting Area, this impoundment was a key resting area for Canada geese and ducks, and was heavily used by numerous other wetland birds and eagles. Once the habitat was gone, so were the greater and lesser yellowlegs, dunlins, snapping and painted turtles, and others that used the impoundment at some stage of life or time of year.

According to Bish, "In the current fiscal climate, it's impossible to stretch funding far enough, but we simply had to adjust our priorities and fund the reconstruction of this important wetlands. We allocated the necessary funds and ordered the water control structure in June. However, because the manufacturer failed to complete the structure by the end of our fiscal year, the funding expired and the order was cancelled. We were unable to make the purchase in the new fiscal year, so the drained impoundment sat idle."

Bish began looking for outside help to try to assemble the necessary funding. Many conservation groups were approached with no success.

Finally, Bish contacted the Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation. Bish stated "I'm pleased to say that Wildlife for Everyone funded the entire purchase of the 60 - foot long aluminum water control structure. Thanks to them, a project (and its habitat) that was dead on its feet is being completed."

Once the banks become stabilized, the Game Commission will begin to refill the impoundment. Newly re-filled impoundments are regularly used by numerous species, and since this impoundment is partially visible from the road, it should become a planned destination for many birders.

It will take a full year for the vegetation to become established. Afterwards, the water level will be regulated as needed to produce a plant community that provides optimal food and cover for wildlife.

The Wildlife for Everyone Endowment Foundation was established in 2004 to provide permanent private support for wildlife habitat enhancement, wildlife research and education, land preservation, and for the establishment of a Wildlife Research and Education Center.

More information, visit the Wildlife for Everyone Foundation website.

5/18/2007