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Maryland Conservation Projects

	STUDENTS AND SHAD SHARE CLASSROOM Shad and students in many Maryland schools shared classrooms for months as part of a creative program that teaches conservation. The students learned about conservation and increased the number of shad in the Chesapeake Bay region thanks to support from Wildlife Forever. Nearly 2,000 students involved in the “Schools in Schools” program released 75,000 shad larvae into rivers and streams in their areas. Teachers and students receive training on rearing the shad. When the shad reached a required growth stage, students transported the developing fish to a pre-designated site and released the larvae into the water. The effort has helped to increase the number of shad that migrate into Chesapeake Bay and back into tributary streams. This project is a great example of Wildlife Forever’s educational mission to teach conservation to the next generation of stewards of our fish and wildlife heritage.
	PROJECT HELPS WATERFOWL RETURN TO CHESAPEAKE BAY Improvements to nearly 400 acres of wetland in the Chester River watershed helped bolster populations of waterfowl using the Atlantic Flyway, thanks to support from Wildlife Forever. The effort included improvements of 43 acres of wetlands, woodlands and open fields. The combination of enhanced wetlands and grass fields are attracting numerous waterfowl species, including Canada geese (an estimated flock of 100,000 winter in the area). Data from recent studies show population increases in at least a dozen waterfowl species and an increase in bald eagle nests.
	150 ACRES OF NEW WETLANDS A total of 150 acres of critical wetlands habitat was created and restored within the Chesapeake Bay watershed in Maryland thanks in part to your support. This project started with the restoration of former wetlands that had been drained for agriculture. Participating private landowners received incentives to allow the creation of shallow non-tidal wetlands on their farmland. The sites are being managed for spring and fall migration as well as wintering habitat for waterfowl. The project has benefited a wide variety of waterfowl including pintails and widgeons. The project sites are being used as demonstration areas to educate and recruit additional private landowners for the restoration program. The project sites continue to be monitored to measure the wildlife species utilizing the new habitat.
	CHESAPEAKE BAY TIDAL WETLANDS REPAIRED Your support was matched one for one to restore non-tidal wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by Ms. Dorothy Lawson. The project was needed because 75% of Maryland’s non-tidal wetlands had been destroyed or severely altered. The new wetlands are being managed for fall and wintering habitat for dabbling ducks, and spring habitat for northward migrating ducks. This project was the first of many similar projects which seek to restore between 30 and 40 acres annually. Wildlife Forever partnered with the Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, Ducks Unlimited, Waterfowl Festival and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete the project. By combining your support with that of our partners Wildlife Forever was able to multiply the results of your donations several times over.