A completed wetland restoration site in Alpena County. A ditch was plugged in order to restore water to a fallow farm field - Photo Credit: Heather Rawlings, USFWS

Two wetlands were constructed during the month of August with the assistance of the Alpena Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program. The sites are on private lands, and PFW funding was matched by the landowners to restore four acres of shallow water wetlands in Alpena County, MI. A wetland was restored at the first site by blocking a ditch and flooding a fallow field. The second site was originally a low-lying forested area that had recently been clear-cut. This site was excavated to create a wetland with a large shallow area conducive to migratory bird feeding and nesting habitat. Both sites are slowly filling with water and should reach full capacity by next spring.

The focus of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program is to improve habitat for federal trust resources (in this case migratory birds) on private lands. It is a voluntary, pro-active program that promotes stewardship of native species. Since the program began in Michigan in 1988, more than 1,900 projects have been completed. Wetland, grassland and stream restoration projects have been the focus for the majority of these projects.