Dave Odell's license plate stands out more than most. He drives down the highway under the name "wtland," which is exactly what New York's premier wetland specialist cares for.
The Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area is located in southeastern Wayne County and northwestern Cayuga County, near the towns of Savannah and Port Byron. This 7,300-acre area, which also includes the former Howlands Island WMA, is part of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex which also includes the 8,000-acre Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and several privately owned lands.
Dave Odell, the regional wildlife manager for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 8 Office, said the complex originated as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in 1986, which Odell helped author.
"This wetlands complex was New York's flagship focus area in the North American plan," he said.
Odell is a 34-year veteran with DEC and has been involved in this project from the start. In 1991, he helped write the Environmental Impact Statement for the complex and the next year he was assigned on-site manager. In 1995 he was given the responsibility of Regional Wildlife Manager. He continued his oversight of the complex spending at least one day a week at the site. Helping him are one part-time biologist and two seasonal wildlife technicians, though the size of the project continues to increase.
"In the original plan it was estimated that the size of the complex would be around 36,000 acres," he said."But we are shooting for somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 acres that we own and then we will get other land into the complex through easements."
Odell added that more than $2 million spent on the state portion of the complex were obtained from federal grants received from the North American Wetland Conservation Act. Farmland in the complex is also rented while it is waiting to be restored. In lieu of money, renters mow fields, provide seeds and build structures, such as small bridges
Another source of funding comes from the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex which performs fund-raising activities. This is a group of individuals dedicated to the enhancement of the complex. In addition to monetary support, the group participates in wildlife management and habitat restoration activities, promotes public awareness of the complex and provides educational services.
"Two key elements with this complex is the habitat level management and the partnerships involved," Odell explained. "In addition to both the state and federal agencies, several organizations, including the Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Audubon amd local bird clubs and sportsmen's groups have joined into this project in support of wetland and wildlife conservation.
"Our focus now is still on acquisition and restoration of wetlands for waterfowl, but when you purchase property you can not just carve out the wetland, you have to take the surrounding area. Our emphasis may be on restoring habitat for waterfowl, but we are providing habitat for all wildlife. It is what we refer to as landscape level management - managing habitat for all species."
The complex is a diverse mix of wetlands, farms, grasslands and small woodlots. It is a significant migratory bird resting, feeding and staging area in the Atlantic Flyway; more than one million waterfowl pass through the area annually. In addition to many species of shorebirds and songbirds, it is home to endangered and threatened species such as the bald eagle, cerulean warbler, pied-billed grebe and black turn.
The Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area provides several outdoor recreational activities including bird watching, hunting, canoeing, hiking and fishing. Activities on the federal refuge are more restricted than on the state portion. Be sure to check with Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at 315-568-5987 for more information on the federal refuge.
For additional information on the state portion of the complex, call the DEC regional office at 585-226-5380 or the Savannah office at 315-365-2134.
Dave Odell, the regional wildlife manager for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 8 Office, said the complex originated as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan in 1986, which Odell helped author.
"This wetlands complex was New York's flagship focus area in the North American plan," he said.
Odell is a 34-year veteran with DEC and has been involved in this project from the start. In 1991, he helped write the Environmental Impact Statement for the complex and the next year he was assigned on-site manager. In 1995 he was given the responsibility of Regional Wildlife Manager. He continued his oversight of the complex spending at least one day a week at the site. Helping him are one part-time biologist and two seasonal wildlife technicians, though the size of the project continues to increase.
"In the original plan it was estimated that the size of the complex would be around 36,000 acres," he said."But we are shooting for somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 acres that we own and then we will get other land into the complex through easements."
Odell added that more than $2 million spent on the state portion of the complex were obtained from federal grants received from the North American Wetland Conservation Act. Farmland in the complex is also rented while it is waiting to be restored. In lieu of money, renters mow fields, provide seeds and build structures, such as small bridges
Another source of funding comes from the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex which performs fund-raising activities. This is a group of individuals dedicated to the enhancement of the complex. In addition to monetary support, the group participates in wildlife management and habitat restoration activities, promotes public awareness of the complex and provides educational services.
"Two key elements with this complex is the habitat level management and the partnerships involved," Odell explained. "In addition to both the state and federal agencies, several organizations, including the Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Audubon amd local bird clubs and sportsmen's groups have joined into this project in support of wetland and wildlife conservation.
"Our focus now is still on acquisition and restoration of wetlands for waterfowl, but when you purchase property you can not just carve out the wetland, you have to take the surrounding area. Our emphasis may be on restoring habitat for waterfowl, but we are providing habitat for all wildlife. It is what we refer to as landscape level management - managing habitat for all species."
The complex is a diverse mix of wetlands, farms, grasslands and small woodlots. It is a significant migratory bird resting, feeding and staging area in the Atlantic Flyway; more than one million waterfowl pass through the area annually. In addition to many species of shorebirds and songbirds, it is home to endangered and threatened species such as the bald eagle, cerulean warbler, pied-billed grebe and black turn.
The Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area provides several outdoor recreational activities including bird watching, hunting, canoeing, hiking and fishing. Activities on the federal refuge are more restricted than on the state portion. Be sure to check with Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at 315-568-5987 for more information on the federal refuge.
For additional information on the state portion of the complex, call the DEC regional office at 585-226-5380 or the Savannah office at 315-365-2134.