Conservation in Georgia
Georgia is part of the Atlantic Flyway and provides important winter habitat for waterfowl that are produced in the prairies, Great Lakes, and eastern Canada. Georgia’s coastal wetlands provide important habitat several species of diving ducks like lesser scaup, and puddle ducks such as green-winged teal and wigeon. Interior wetlands and beaver ponds associated with major rivers and winter thousands of mallards and wood ducks, while reservoirs provide important habitat for ring-necked ducks, canvasbacks, and wood ducks. DU has worked to conserve over 20,000 acres of wetlands throughout Georgia since 1985. Our goal is to conserve habitat to secure the future of waterfowl in Georgia and throughout North America. Your support of DU will help us achieve that goal.
Georgia Habitat Projects
Southeastern Coastal Plain
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Penholoway Swamp Protected for the Future
ATLANTA, May 1, 2006 – Ducks Unlimited (DU) and partners purchased 4,270 acres of forested wetlands and associated uplands in Wayne County, Ga. The wetlands and wildlife habitat on this property, known as Penholoway Swamp, are now protected forever.
“The protection of Penholoway Swamp is part of a larger cooperative effort to conserve wetlands throughout the Altamaha watershed,” said Dale James, DU regional biologist. “This watershed drains more than 25 percent of the state of Georgia and the wetlands here are important to maintaining water quality in the Altamaha River.”
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Altamaha WMA - Rhetts Island Enhancement Project
The Altamaha WMA is the premier waterfowl management area in Georgia. Located on the coast just south of Darien, it attracts thousands of wintering and migrating waterfowl, and provides excellent habitat for migrating shorebirds and resident wading birds.
Rhett's Island consists of three separate impoundments covering a total of 1,845 acres. Current management focuses on brackish marsh habitat, specifically the production of waterfowl foods such as wigeongrass and bulrush. Water control structures are strategically located to allow water intake from two rivers (Darien and Altamaha) with varying salinity levels. Control structures may be operated independently to provide input from either the more saline or more fresh river depending on management objectives and current conditions...
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