Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Habitat Restoration

COOPERATIVE CONSERVATION CASE STUDY

Upper Delaware Bay Invasive Plant Control

Location: Northeastern/Mid-Atlantic

Project Summary: The Friends of Supawna Meadows NWR are cooperating with partners to control invasive plants on the Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

USFWS

Resource Challenge

The Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge on the upper Delaware Bay in Salem County, NJ, is increasingly threatened by a variety of exotic invasive species. The slightly brackish tidal marsh, a unique and important habitat for a variety of wildlife, is being taken over by the invasive plant, common reed (Phragmites australis). This reed forms large, monotypic stands, crowding out native vegetation and decreasing habitat quality for wildlife. Refuge wetlands are also threatened by the invasive plant, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Refuge forests are being taken over by the invasive plants Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), mile-a-minute weed (Polygonum perfoliatum), and others.

Examples of Key Partners

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Friends of Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Salem Community College, Rowan State University, and others

Results and Accomplishments

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and the Friends of Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge are restoring 200 acres of tidal marsh by controlling the invasive plant, common reed. Vegetation and breeding bird monitoring in the control area is being conducted by Rowan State University Students and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Areas that were previously dominated entirely by common reed, are now carpeted with native plants such as broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia) and walter millet (Echinochloa walteri). In refuge forests, the Friends of Supawna Meadows National Wildlfie Refuge removed all occurrences of the invasive plant, Japanese barberry. They are also working with students from Salem Community College to control multiflora rose and Japanese stiltgrass. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rowan State University, and Salem Community College provide environmental education about native habitat restoration and the negative impacts of invasive plants.

Innovation/Highlight

Rowan University students are monitoring the impacts of common reed control on native vegetation and breeding birds on Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and presenting their findings to their piers. Students visit the refuge every semester to learn about native habitat restoration and the negative impacts of invasive plants.

Project Contact

Linda Chorba Ziemba
Wildlife Biologist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge 197 Lighthouse Road
Pennsville, NJ 08070
(856) 935-1487
fw5rw_smnwr_@fws.gov

Website: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=52571

To request additions or corrections to this case study email the Administrator

Current Conservation Programs