Susquehanna River National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge is located on a small island less than 1.5 acres (6,070.3 m²) in size located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River
in Harford County, Maryland
. It is a satellite Refuge managed by Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
. In the 1920s, the island was used as a fish hatchery to produce such species as shad
.
In the early 1940s, 13363 acres (54.1 km²) of water in the Upper Chesapeake Bay
were closed by Presidential Proclamations to the hunting of migratory waterfowl
. These water areas were designated as the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge. At the time of its establishment, the water areas known as the Susquehanna flats were covered with wild celery
, pond weed
s, redhead grass and other desirable waterfowl foods. Peak waterfowl population numbers included over 500,000 canvasback
and redhead ducks and over 200,000 American wigeon
. These rich areas of aquatic growth began declining in the 1960s due to changes in the water quality and quantity.
Development above the Conowingo Dam
caused more rapid drainage and greater water flow through the dam. Currents in the upper Chesapeake Bay deposited heavy loads of silt in the Susquehanna flats area. What remained of the suitable waterfowl vegetation was destroyed when Hurricane Agnes
moved through in 1972. Today, only a few thousand geese may be found around the refuge during the winter months.
Because of the dramatic decrease in waterfowl numbers and vegetation in the area, the Presidential Proclamations were lifted on September 1, 1978 and the waters were returned to the State of Maryland
. Battery Island remains a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge has a surface area of 3.79 acre
s (0.0153 km² or 1.53 ha
). It is the fourth-smallest refuge in the United States National Wildlife Refuge
system. (The three smaller ones are the Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge
in Minnesota, the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, and the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge
in Wisconsin.)
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
in Harford County, Maryland
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
. It is a satellite Refuge managed by Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1933 as a waterfowl sanctuary for birds migrating along the critical migration highway called the Atlantic Flyway...
. In the 1920s, the island was used as a fish hatchery to produce such species as shad
Shad
The shads or river herrings comprise the genus Alosa, fish related to herring in the family Clupeidae. They are distinct from others in that family by having a deeper body and spawning in rivers. The several species frequent different areas on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea....
.
In the early 1940s, 13363 acres (54.1 km²) of water in the Upper Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
were closed by Presidential Proclamations to the hunting of migratory waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
. These water areas were designated as the Susquehanna National Wildlife Refuge. At the time of its establishment, the water areas known as the Susquehanna flats were covered with wild celery
Celery
Apium graveolens is a plant species in the family Apiaceae commonly known as celery or celeriac , depending on whether the petioles or roots are eaten: celery refers to the former and celeriac to the latter. Apium graveolens grows to 1 m tall...
, pond weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
s, redhead grass and other desirable waterfowl foods. Peak waterfowl population numbers included over 500,000 canvasback
Canvasback
The Canvasback is the largest of the North American diving ducks, that ranges from between long and weighs approximately , with a wingspan of . The canvasback has a distinctive wedge-shaped head and long graceful neck. The adult male has a black bill, a chestnut red head and neck, a black...
and redhead ducks and over 200,000 American wigeon
American Wigeon
The American Wigeon, also American Widgeon or Baldpate, is a species of wigeon in the dabbling duck genus Anas. If this is split up, all wigeons will go into their old genus Mareca again...
. These rich areas of aquatic growth began declining in the 1960s due to changes in the water quality and quantity.
Development above the Conowingo Dam
Conowingo Dam
The Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in the Lower Susquehanna River. The dam, one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the US, is classified as a medium height, masonry gravity type dam...
caused more rapid drainage and greater water flow through the dam. Currents in the upper Chesapeake Bay deposited heavy loads of silt in the Susquehanna flats area. What remained of the suitable waterfowl vegetation was destroyed when Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
moved through in 1972. Today, only a few thousand geese may be found around the refuge during the winter months.
Because of the dramatic decrease in waterfowl numbers and vegetation in the area, the Presidential Proclamations were lifted on September 1, 1978 and the waters were returned to the State of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Battery Island remains a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge has a surface area of 3.79 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s (0.0153 km² or 1.53 ha
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
). It is the fourth-smallest refuge in the United States National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
system. (The three smaller ones are the Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge
Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge
Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is a 0.57 acre National Wildlife Refuge in central Minnesota. The refuge consists solely of two small islands in Mille Lacs Lake, and is the smallest National Wildlife Refuge in the United States. It was created on May 14, 1915 to preserve breeding habitat for...
in Minnesota, the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, and the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge consists of Hog Island , Plum Island , and Pilot Island . The islands are located in Lake Michigan, near Washington Island, off the tip of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula. An Executive Order in 1913 declared Hog Island a protected breeding ground for native birds....
in Wisconsin.)