Audubon and Partners Announce Start of Wetland Enhancement Work at Lakeview Wildlife Management Area

(March 31, 2026) New York State Division of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton the Nationwide Audubon Society, and Geese Limitless (DU) right this moment introduced the begin of building on a 50-acre wetland enhancement venture in the Lakeview Wildlife Administration Space (WMA). The venture in the city of Ellisburg, Jefferson County will enhance spawning and nursery habitat for fish such as northern pike, as nicely as new breeding habitat for waterfowl and declining hen species like Sora and the State-endangered Black Tern. Moreover, the work will improve leisure alternatives in the WMA, together with waterfowl searching, hen watching, fishing, and kayaking.

“By strategic channeling and habitat restoration at Lakeview Wildlife Administration Space, DEC, Audubon, and Geese Limitless are restoring pure hydrology, enhancing spawning habitats for fish, and creating various breeding areas for marsh birds and waterfowl,” stated Commissioner Lefton. ”This work demonstrates how restoring ecosystems can increase alternatives for New Yorkers to get pleasure from the outside, and connects to Governor Hochul’s ‘Get Offline, Get Outdoors” marketing campaign designed to enhance psychological and bodily well being by encouraging New Yorkers to step away from their screens in favor of exterior actions.”

The 3,461-acre WMA alongside the jap shoreline of Lake Ontario is half of the largest pure freshwater barrier seashore system in New York State. The space’s various habitat consists of open fields, shrub lands, woodlands, wetlands, and a pure barrier seashore. Lakeview WMA is open to the public year-round, however public use restrictions apply to the delicate barrier seashore system.

DEC partnered with Nationwide Audubon Society and DU to boost a wetland utilizing “channeling and potholing.” This system improves hydrology, depth heterogeneity, interspersion of open water, and habitat connectivity to learn spawning northern pike and different fish, as nicely as breeding habitat for migrating marsh birds and waterfowl in Lakeview WMA. The strategic channeling and potholing restores pure water motion and hydraulic connectivity inside the marsh by utilizing massive gear to interrupt up dense, monoculture cattail stands and create a extra various combine of open water and emergent vegetation.

Andy Hinickle, Senior Supervisor of Wetland Conservation for Audubon Nice Lakes, stated, ”Audubon is proud to as soon as once more companion with the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation and Geese Limitless to boost important breeding and migratory habitat at Lakeview Wildlife Administration Space. Collectively, we are restoring the well being and resilience of this dynamic marsh—making certain it continues to help birds, fish, and wildlife that rely on these ecosystems. With help from the Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative by the Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis, this subsequent part builds on our earlier work with extra refined, science-driven habitat enhancements. By creating gradual depth transitions from cattail mats to open water, we are mimicking pure marsh situations—leading to extra various vegetation, improved foraging habitat for secretive marsh birds, waterfowl, and wading birds, and higher entry for turtles and amphibians. This is what efficient, collaborative conservation appears like—delivering actual, lasting advantages for wildlife and the well being of the Nice Lakes.”

Matthew Wagner, Geese Limitless Regional Biologist for New York and Vermont, stated, “We’re excited to proceed progress at Lakeview Wildlife Administration Space since our final enhancement venture in 2024. The work Geese Limitless and our companions have accomplished at Lakeview WMA, will improve nesting, breeding, and foraging areas for waterfowl and wetland-dependent species. We sit up for persevering with relationships with conservation companions to deal with high quality habitat in these important migration areas.”

Signage has been posted at areas that will likely be affected throughout venture exercise to alert these recreating inside the WMA of areas of restricted entry. When gear is current, the fast areas below building will likely be briefly closed to guests. Building is anticipated to be accomplished in early 2026, climate allowing.

Funding for the venture is offered by the Nice Lakes Restoration Initiative and U.S. Environmental Safety Company by the Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis.