| Susquehanna River National Wildlife Refuge | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
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| Location | Harford County, Maryland,United States |
| Nearest city | Havre de Grace, Maryland |
| Coordinates | 39°29′40″N76°05′00″W / 39.49444°N 76.08333°W /39.49444; -76.08333 |
| Area | 3.79 acres (15,300 m2)[1] |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Susquehanna River National Wildlife Refuge |
Susquehanna River National Wildlife Refuge is located on a small island 3.79 acres (15,300 m2) in size[1] located at the mouth of theSusquehanna River inHarford County, Maryland. It is a satellite refuge managed byBlackwater National Wildlife Refuge. In the 1920s, the island was used as a fish hatchery to produce such species asshad.
In the early 1940s, 13,363 acres (54.08 km2) of water in the UpperChesapeake Bay were closed by Presidential Proclamations to the hunting of migratorywaterfowl. 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 withwild celery,pondweeds,redhead grass and other desirable waterfowl foods. Peak waterfowl population numbers included over 500,000canvasback andredhead ducks and over 200,000American wigeon. These rich areas of aquatic growth began declining in the 1960s due to changes in the water quality and quantity.
Development above theConowingo 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 whenHurricane 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 ofMaryland. Battery Island remains a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge has a surface area of 3.79 acres (0.0153 km2; 1.53 ha).[2]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service.
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