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Land Purchase for Canaan Valley Refuge Protects Significant Wetlands

Davis, WV —November 5, 2004—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has purchased a portion of one of the most ecologically significant properties in West Virginia’s Canaan Valley, according to Marvin Moriarty, Northeast Regional Director for the Service.

The Service in late October acquired 486 acres along the North Branch of the Blackwater River from Middle Ridge Properties, L.L.C. The land will be managed as part of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, said Moriarty.

"I commend the leaders of Middle Ridge Properties for recognizing and appreciating the environmental value of this property," said Stan Skutek, project leader, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. "I credit their commitment to conservation, the Service’s ongoing and invaluable partnership with The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Fund, and the support of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission and the West Virginia Congressional delegation for protecting these nationally significant natural resources."

The Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, supported by revenue from federal duck stamp sales, was the primary source of funding for the purchase. Additional contributions came from gifts in the memory of Caleb and Sally Topping to The Nature Conservancy, a private international conservation group instrumental in facilitating land acquisitions for the Service.

The property supports several waterfowl species, such as American black ducks, mallards and wood ducks, as well as other water birds like belted kingfisher and green heron that nest and forage in the riparian corridor and associated wetlands, said Ken Sturm, refuge biologist.

"This partnership to protect land along the North Branch of the Blackwater River is a key step toward meeting our resource management goals for the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge," said Sturm. "Many birds of national and state conservation concern such as the American woodcock, common snipe, black-billed cuckoo, sedge wren, wood thrush, and Louisiana water thrush nest, forage and breed in the dense wetland shrub habitat, open wetland meadows, and grasslands along the river."

According to The Nature Conservancy, most high elevation Appalachian Mountain wetlands lay over sandstone or peat, which create acidic conditions that reduce the diversity and productivity of species. In contrast, limestone - a much less acidic base – is the foundation of many Canaan Valley wetlands, including those along the North Branch property.

"This property is one of the crown botanical jewels of Canaan Valley," said Rodney Bartgis, state director of The Nature Conservancy. "Overall species diversity and productivity increase dramatically in wetlands near limestone. The Nature Conservancy scientists studying the North Branch wetlands for several years have been amazed at the richness and productivity of the plant communities that they’ve observed."

At least 15 plants listed as species of special concern by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources have been documented in this watershed. Two of these species, Jacob’s ladder and glade spurge, are uncommon throughout their range but occur in relatively large numbers along the North Branch.

The uplands on the property also are important to declining bird species, according to Sturm. "Bobolinks and northern harriers will directly benefit from the protection of the property. Other species likely using this habitat type include meadowlarks, vesper sparrow, savannah sparrow and possibly grasshopper sparrow. Rough-legged hawks have been seen hunting in these areas during winter months," he said.

Canaan is the highest large valley in the eastern United States. The Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge was established on Aug. 11, 1994, for the purpose of protecting the unique plant and animal communities in the nationally significant Blackwater River wetlands. Since that time the refuge has grown in size to include nearly 16,000 of the 24,000 acres within its proposed land acquisition boundary.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

The Nature Conservancy is an international non-profit organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The Conservancy works in all 50 states plus 27 countries throughout the Western Hemisphere, Asia, the Pacific and Australia. It has protected over 100,000 acres in West Virginia, 15 million acres in the United States, and 102 million acres in other countries.