Aerial view of Dry Marsh looking north showing the New York State Thruway Interstate 90 bisecting the Refuge. - Photo Credit: Brian Blazey

Montezuma staff improving wetland conditions in the Montezuma NWR’s Dry Marsh. Equipment needs to be supported by timber matting due the soft nature of the wetland bottom, July 2011. - Photo Credit: USFWS

Refuge staff working to restore a portion of the Dry Marsh adjacent to the NYS Thruway (Interstate 90) and the Refuge auto tour route at Montezuma NWR. - Photo Credit: USFWS

“It’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally making really good progress restoring the Dry Marsh at Montezuma NWR”, said Refuge Manager Tom Jasikoff. “We began to open up the cattail stand and excavate muck soils within the Dry Marsh three years ago but then we were hit by a lot of road blocks regarding weather, soil conditions, permits, and funding”, said Maintenance Mechanic Jeffrey Graves. “Working with HEAVY equipment in a wetland is always a challenge but with persistence and a “can-do” approach, we’ve been able to succeed and work through all the kinks”, said Graves.

After pushing hard all summer, the excavation portion of Phase I is complete. The deep wet muck soils have been piled up into “wind rows” to allow them to drain and dewater. The wind rows will serve as temporary roads allowing dump trucks access into the marsh to move the 80,000 remaining cubic yards of muck out of the marsh. The muck will be placed along the Oxbow nature trail site, building up the grade of the land which will be replanted into a mosaic of grassland, shrub land and forest. The elevated ground will provide greater vistas and viewing opportunities for the public.

“It has been a good summer! We excavated 32 acres and came in ahead of schedule. We had estimated it would take 13 weeks and were completed in 11½!”, said Jasikoff. Now comes the difficult task of hauling all that material. This portion of Phase I will begin this fall and continue through the winter and spring of 2012.

The project challenges have gone well beyond the on-the-ground logistics. The original project was in conjunction with the NYS Thruway Interstate 90 and was to include a Scenic Overlook along the Interstate. When the $1.5 million of State funding vanished, so did the $1.2 million in federal matching funds that were to be used on-refuge for the habitat and wildlife drive work.

Thankfully, the Refuge was able to secure a grant this year from the Great Lake Restoration Initiative in the amount of $550,000! “The Great Lakes funding has been a real blessing. Without it, we would not be as far along as we are now”, said Deputy Refuge Manager Bill Stewart.

Over the summer, two additional equipment operators were hired, specialized long front excavators were rented, and a lot of diesel fuel was purchased. Looking down the road, the Refuge was able to convert their own excavator into a long front—with a 55’ reach, purchase additional timber mats to support heavy equipment in the marsh, and purchase a Utility Vehicle (John Deere Gator) to facilitate fueling machines out in the marsh. These investments will make the Refuge more independent and efficient, resulting in greater fiscal responsibility.

The Dry Marsh Project consists of restoring a portion of the Refuge’s 900-acre contiguous stand of cattail known as the Dry Marsh which has been degraded over time through ditching, farming and the construction of the NYS Thruway Interstate 90. “The project’s proximity to the Interstate and the Refuge’s auto tour route will facilitate interpretation. We have plans to construct our own scenic overlook with interpretive signage, a viewing platform and spotting scopes for the benefit of our 150,000 annual visitors”, said Visitor Services Manager Andrea VanBeusichem.

Montezuma NWR is nestled within New York State’s picturesque Finger Lakes Region. The area is rich with water and is a major migratory stop-over for a myriad of waterfowl, shorebirds and neo-tropical migrants. Montezuma NWR is a premier migratory bird refuge within the Atlantic Flyway. The Refuge has been designated as a Focus Area under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, a Bird Conservation Area by the State of New York, and a Globally Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society.

Restoring the hydrology and biological integrity of the Dry Marsh will be a major accomplishment that will greatly improve habitat quality for wildlife and provide greater opportunities for visitors traveling through the refuge to observe birds and other wildlife. We’re taking the message to millions of people traveling through Montezuma NWR on “Main Street New York (NYS Thruway) and the thousands of other people who visit the refuge every year, that Montezuma NWR is a refuge for both wildlife and people”, said Jasikoff.

For more information contact:
Tom Jasikoff
315-568-5987
Tom_Jasikoff@fws.gov