Gulf of Maine Projects1996 Coastal Habitat Restoration Report
Freshwater impoundmentsSince Acadian settlement in the 1670s, over half of the tidal marshes in the Bay of Fundy have been lost to construction of dikes and conversion of marshes to agricultural land. Land acquisition, water level management, vegetation control, and impoundment construction are conducted as a means of increasing waterfowl numbers and freshwater wetland habitat on unused agricultural lands. These lands may not be reverted to salt marsh due to existing infrastructure and the need for flood protection. Over 100 impoundments, contributing to over 18,000 acres of wetland complexes, fall within the Gulf of Maine Watershed. Virtually all restoration work is conducted by Ducks Unlimited Canada and partners within the Eastern Habitat Joint Venture (EHJV) (Howell et al., 1991). The success of efforts underway by EHJV is based on annual waterfowl numbers for North America. Since the implementation of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), numbers have increased from a low of 55 million birds in 1985 to approximately 90 million today. Goals of the NAWMP are ambitious and with additional resources, EHJV will be able to convert additional unused agricultural lands to wetland habitat and achieve NAWMP goals.
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