Great Dismal Swamp NWR Focus Area

<font size='3'><p>This area has 60+ priority migratory bird species, several fisheries species of conservation concern, and 1 federally listed species. The area is an important part of the headwaters of the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds and is a state-designated exceptional water, meaning new or increased point source discharges to the waterbody are prohibited. Initial work is being conducted under the Service’s Northeast Region Strategic Plan Fiscal Year 2007-2011, Partners for Fish and Wildlife/Coastal Program. Our goals are to assess the risk level of atmospheric deposition of mercury to trust resources to inform NWR management practices and to protect/restore habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker and priority migratory birds. Our next steps towards these goals are to restore hydrology to 6,000 acres of forested wetlands in the NWR, and evaluate the impact of several major fires on mercury levels in the NWR, including biota and sediment. </p></font>