[MASSBIRD] Parker River NWR proposed management plan.

[Susan Hedman]

Gino Ellison asked me to post my letter to  “group me” I had trouble doing that so I am sending it to Massbird. 

I have sent this to the refuge and to local politicians. There are other issues that could be cited, but I was choosing to focus on the destruction of the fresh water impoundments as I feel this is the most critical change proposed by refuge management plan. I also tried to keep the letter relatively brief, so that it would be read. There is more statistical evidence that could be added, but I tried to pare it down to the essential point that we have 266 acres of freshwater wetlands inside 10000+ acres of salt marsh habitat. This freshwater habitat is providing breeding habitat to a range of species that would be lost by it’s conversion to salt marsh. These species deserve protection, and add greatly to the success of Parker River NWR.

Susan Hedman

I am writing to you, because I feel the most recent proposed refuge management plan at Parker River NWR is misguided and will cause a loss in diversity of habitats, and therefore a loss of species. Like many National Wildlife Refuges, when it was created, there were freshwater impoundments made by the government. These impoundments were created with the intention of supporting migrating waterfowl. They continue to do this now and also support breeding birds and migrating shorebirds. Some of the breeding birds that are living in these freshwater impoundments are birds that are listed as conservation concerns. Destroying these freshwater impoundments will destroy the breeding habitat for these birds.

In the new proposed Parker River National Wildlife Refuge management plan there is the goal of converting the freshwater impoundments into saltmarsh habitat. The three freshwater impoundments comprise 266 acres on the refuge. The refuge already has acres of healthy saltmarsh, and is surrounded by the Great Marsh. This description of the Great Marsh AECE is from the Mass.gov site. “More than 10,000 acres of salt marsh makes this the largest salt marsh system north of Long Island in New York.” Another statement directly from the Mass.gov site “Included within the ACEC is the 2900-acre Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, known as an important site on the Atlantic Fly-way Migration route.” The desire to add 266 acres into this already large saltmarsh strikes me as redundant, unnecessary, and short sighted. Protecting freshwater wetlands however seems a far more important goal under these circumstances. Off the refuge, freshwater wetlands face the risk of development. I am aware of the state overriding cities and towns that have denied permits. Not far from the refuge in Newburyport, there is a large industrial area in formerly wet fields. The refuge will never face the risk of development and thus provides numerous waterfowl and other wildlife a serene and safe habitat. 

Visitors come to Parker River NWR for just that and to observe spectacles of nature that are gone from developed towns and cities. These visitors spend money to come to the refuge and often support the wider economy of the adjacent communities. Birders and bird clubs from other states and western Massachusetts make special trips to experience the refuge. The variety of wading birds and shorebirds coming to feed and roost in the freshwater impoundments is astounding. To see the flocks of  Tree Swallows that arrive in the Fall and gather before migrating south in the hundreds of thousands over these pools is a spectacle. This would no longer happen, if it was just part of the vast salt marsh. Diminishing the habitats on the island will decrease birds and wildlife, thus making it a less wonderous place to visit. There are birds that are “state-listed” that live and breed in these 3 impoundments. Breeding bird surveys were done years ago when the refuge first proposed to destroy the freshwater impoundments. These surveys found that a terrific variety of wetland species made Parker River NWR their home and likely bred in these wetlands. I cannot imagine how it would be beneficial to eliminate this specific habitat. It may not be perfect, but it is successful enough to warrant saving it and all the creatures that call it home.

I hope you will consider my arguments in favor of retaining the freshwater impoundments.

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Susan Hedman, Gloucester

"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."  Frank Lloyd Wright

“Green is the prime color of the world and that from which its loveliness arises.” ~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca.