Description of Special Focus Areas

1a. Great Island Marshes/Black Hall River/Lieutenant River ‑ 2,120
acres: This site includes a barrier beach and extensive salt, brackish
and freshwater tidal marshes. It provides habitat for several rare plant
and animal species, rails, thousands of migrating and wintering
waterfowl including black ducks, several nesting pairs of endangered
piping plovers and wintering bald eagles. This site also provides
important spawning habitat for blueback herring and alewives.

1b. North and South Coves ‑ 50 acres: This shallow brackish open water
habitat provides resting and foraging habitat for hundreds of migrating
pintail and black ducks. It also serves as wintering habitat for several
hundred black ducks.

1c. Ragged Rock Creek ‑ 315 acres: This site provides salt marsh habitat
for hundreds of migrating black ducks, green‑winged teal and mallards
and wintering habitat for hundreds of black ducks and rare species like
the black and king rail.

1d. Ferry Point ‑ 110 acres: This is primarily a brackish tidal marsh
and provides spawning habitat for alewives, and stopover and wintering
habitat for several waterfowl species including the black duck.

1e. Turtle Creek ‑ 120 acres: This site consists of hemlock/mixed
hardwoods, alder swamp, and freshwater tidal marsh. It is a winter roost
site for threatened bald eagles. About 100 acres are already protected
by The Nature Conservancy

1f. Lord Cove ‑ 1,110 acres: This site encompasses an extensive brackish
tidal marsh, freshwater marsh and a small levee of floodplain forest. It
is important for thousands of migrating black ducks and mallards and
lower numbers of wintering black ducks. It is excellent habitat for
king, sora and Virginia rails and a winter roost site for threatened
bald eagles.

1g. Essex Great Meadows ‑ 85 acres: This site is primarily brackish
tidal marsh and several rare plant species occur here. It is also the
site of a winter bald eagle roost.

1h. Pratt and Post Coves ‑ 130 acres: This site encompasses two adjacent
freshwater tidal marshes which are used by hundreds of black ducks,
mallards, teal and wood ducks during migration. Several rare plant
species occur here. The coves also provide important spawning habitat
for alewives.

1i. Joshua Creek ‑ 25 acres: This site is a freshwater tidal marsh and
is used by migrating black ducks, wood ducks and teal. It also provides
spawning habitat for alewives.

1j. Deep River ‑ 70 acres: This site is a freshwater tidal marsh and is
used by hundreds of migrating black ducks, wood ducks and teal. It also
provides spawning habitat for alewives.

1k. Chester Creek ‑ 120 acres: This site is a freshwater tidal marsh and
is used by hundreds of migrating black ducks, wood ducks and teal. It
also provides spawning habitat for blueback herring and alewives.

1l. Whalebone Cove ‑ 180 acres: This is a freshwater tidal marsh which
is used by hundreds of wood ducks and black ducks during migration. A
bald eagle winter roost and two rare plant species occur at the site.
Blueback herring and alewives spawn at this site.

2\. Hamburg Cove/Eightmile River & East Branch ‑ 2,200 acres: This is a
freshwater tidal marsh which is an important foraging and resting site
for diving ducks such as the bufflehead. A bald eagle winter roost and
several rare plant species occur at the site. Blueback herring and
alewives spawn here.

3\. Burnham Brook ‑ 1,300 acres: This is a large contiguous tract of
forested habitat which provides important breeding habitat for forest
interior birds.

4\. Selden Creek ‑ 1,115 acres: This site includes a 600 acre bedrock
island, cove and creek, freshwater tidal marshes and associated
wetlands. It is important for thousands of migrating black ducks, wood
ducks and mallards and hundreds of wintering black ducks. Several rare
plant species occur here. It is a bald eagle winter roost site as well
as an important site for spawning alewives.

5\. Chapman Pond ‑ 850 acres: This site includes a 60 acre freshwater
pond surrounded by low floodplain forest, freshwater tidal marsh and
steep forested slopes. It is important for hundreds of migrating black
ducks, wood ducks and mallards and hundreds of wintering black ducks.
Several rare plant species occur here. It is a bald eagle winter roost
site as well as an important site for spawning alewives.

6\. Salmon Cove ‑ 2,000 acres: This area includes an extensive
freshwater tidal marsh and flat surrounded by forested uplands. It is
important for thousands of migrating black ducks, wood ducks, mallards
and green winged teal and hundreds of wintering black ducks and
mallards. At least two rare plant species occur here. It is a bald eagle
winter roost site as well as an important site for spawning alewives.

7\. Salmon River including tributaries below dams ‑ 965 acres: This
focus area is tidally influenced riverine habitat and is important
spawning habitat for blueback herring and alewives. This is one of
Connecticut\'s two premier Atlantic salmon restoration streams. This
river and its tributaries are used by juvenile salmon for rearing or
nursery habitat. Adult sea‑run salmon will use the river for natural
reproduction.

8\. Pecausett Meadows ‑ 160 acres: This is a freshwater tidal marsh and
used by migrating waterfowl. At least three rare plant and animal
species are recorded from the site.

9\. Round and Boggy Meadows/Mattabesset, Coginchaug Rivers/Wilcox Island
‑ 860 acres: This site includes freshwater tidal marsh and riverine
habitat. It is important habitat for migrating wood ducks, black ducks
and teal nesting wood ducks. American shad, blueback herring and
alewives spawn in these tributaries. Several rare plant species occur at
this site.

10a. Dead Mans Swamp ‑ 920 acres: This site consists of alluvial
floodplain forest and freshwater marsh. Several rare bird species such
as the sora rail, black rail and yellow‑breasted chat have been recorded
from this site. Many species of wading birds and waterfowl use the marsh
while the floodplain forest provides breeding and stopover habitat for
many species of migrant landbirds.

10b. Guildersleeve Island ‑ 80 acres: This site consists of a sandy
island, sand bars, riverine beach and floodplain forest. An endangered
species occurs here.

10c. Wangunk Meadows ‑ 1,155 acres: This site is comprised of floodplain
forest and alluvial marsh. Several rare bird species such as the sora
rail, black rail and yellow‑breasted chat have been recorded from this
site. Many species of wading birds and waterfowl use the marsh while the
floodplain forest provides breeding and stopover habitat for many
species of migrant landbirds.

11a. Meshomasic Highlands ‑ 20,000 acres: This focus area encompasses
extensive forest habitat and overlays hilly terrain with many rock
outcrops. It also includes small marshes, swamps and two cold water
reservoirs. Several rare species occur at this site. It hosts one of the
best remaining populations of the timber rattlesnake in the watershed.
The cold water reservoirs and riparian forest provide habitat for
breeding hooded mergansers. The large expanse of contiguous forest
habitat provides important breeding habitat for many species of migrant
landbirds.

11b. Roaring Brook in Glastonbury ‑ 25 acres: This site comprises
riverine and wooded riparian habitat and provides important spawning
habitat for alewives and blueback herring.

12\. Great Meadows ‑ 4,500 acres: This site is comprised of freshwater
marsh, floodplain forest and agricultural lands. This is an important
wetland for migrating waterfowl. Several rare bird and plant species
occur at the site.

13\. Windsor Meadows/Farmington River Mouth ‑ 1,550 acres: This is an
extensive floodplain forest with some freshwater marsh and agricultural
lands. The forest provides a wintering roost site for bald eagles. The
agricultural fields provide stopover habitat for 1000 to 3000 Canada
geese during migration. Alewives and blueback herring spawn in the
river. Three rare plant and animal species are known to occur at this
site.

14\. Farmington River and West Branch ‑ 490 acres: This site comprises
riverine and wooded riparian habitat. The Farmington River and West
Branch provide important spawning habitat for alewives and blueback
herring. This is one of Connecticut\'s two premier Atlantic salmon
restoration streams. This river and its tributaries are used by juvenile
salmon for rearing or nursery habitat. Adult sea‑run salmon will use the
river for natural reproduction. Several rare plant and animal species
occur within this focus area.

15\. Scantic River ‑ 610 acres: This site includes riverine, wooded and
agricultural riparian habitat. The river is important spawning habitat
for alewives and American shad. It is a major stopover area for
migrating black ducks and provides important nesting habitat for wood
ducks.

16\. Enfield Rapids/Kings Island ‑ 40 acres: This site includes riverine
habitat, a riverine island and wooded riparian habitat. It is the most
important bald eagle wintering site in Connecticut, important stopover
habitat for hundreds of migrating black ducks and mallards. This is
considered the most important main stem spawning area for blueback
herring in the Connecticut River.

17\. Honeypot Road Wetlands ‑ 960 acres: This site consists of a complex
of vernal pools and scrub/shrub wetlands and associated forest and
fields. This site hosts three rare vertebrate and two rare invertebrate
species.

18\. Mt. Tekoa ‑ 5,000 acres: This is primarily a forested upland site
with extensive talus slopes and a pitch pine/ scrub oak community along
rocky ridges. Several rare plant and animal species including the New
England cottontail occur here. This area offers a large block of
contiguous forest and hosts a diversity and abundance of migrant land
birds. It is also along the migratory path of thousands of fall raptor
migrants.

19\. Westfield Sandplain ‑ 400 acres: This is a remnant glacial
sandplain site and one of the few remaining in the watershed. It is a
mix of grassland and pitch pine/scrub oak. Five species of grassland
birds breed at this site. Two rare species also are recorded from this
site.

20\. Westfield River including West Branch and Middle Branch ‑ 750
acres: This focus area includes riverine and riparian habitat and
provides important spawning habitat for blueback herring and American
shad. This river and its tributaries are used by juvenile salmon for
rearing or nursery habitat. Adult sea‑run salmon will use the river for
natural reproduction. It is one of Massachusetts\' premier Atlantic
salmon restoration rivers.

21\. Chicopee River Mouth ‑ 115 acres: This focus area includes riverine
and riparian habitat and provides important spawning habitat for
blueback herring and American shad.

22\. Westover Air Reserve Base, MA ‑ 2,365 acres: This site has the
largest contiguous grassland in the watershed and is inhabited by and
provides habitat for the largest populations of grasshopper sparrows and
upland sandpipers in the watershed. Both species are rare W‑2 species.
Three other grassland bird species also nest at this site.

23\. Quaboag, MA ‑ 2,185 acres: This area comprises a wetland complex
along the Quaboag River. The wetlands are primarily open shallow water
ponds and emergent freshwater marsh. Eleven rare plants, amphibians,
reptiles and birds are recorded from the site. The wetland complex
provides excellent habitat for a variety of waterbirds including rails,
grebes, bitterns and herons.

24\. Mt. Tom/Mill River/Mt. Holyoke Range, MA ‑ 8,200 acres: This area
is primarily forested and consists of two extensive traprock ridges with
scattered small forested wetlands, riverine habitat and freshwater
emergent marsh. The federal endangered dwarf wedge mussel has been
recorded from the Mill River and bald eagles nest here. Over 30 rare
plant and animal species occur at this site. This area offers a large
block of contiguous forest and hosts a diversity and abundance of
migrant land birds. It is also along the migratory path of thousands of
fall raptor migrants.

25\. Grassland Complex ‑ 2,200 acres: This area consists of hayfields,
pasture and various rowcrops. Its importance lies in its potential to
become a large block of contiguous grassland habitat in relative
proximity to the Westover grassland site. With proper management this
area could support significant populations of grassland bird species,
such as upland sandpipers, grasshopper sparrows and savannah sparrows,
and bobolinks.

26\. Hatfield Oxbow ‑ 1,200 acres: This site includes about 500 acres of
freshwater wetlands including an old Connecticut River oxbow. There are
700 acres of agricultural lands (primarily rowcrops) adjacent to the
oxbow and the Connecticut River. The wetlands provide breeding habitat
for wood ducks, foraging habitat for herons, egrets, least bitterns and
important stopover habitat for a variety of waterfowl species. The oxbow
serves as an important nursery area for juvenile American shad and
blueback herring. Two rare plant species occur at this site. The
agricultural lands provide one of the best potential sites for
restoration of grassland habitat and management of several grassland
bird species such as upland sandpipers, grasshopper sparrows, and vesper
sparrows.

27\. Whately Great Swamp ‑ 950 acres: This site is the best remaining
example of the hemlock/red maple swamp community associated with glacial
lake bottom in the Massachusetts Connecticut River valley. Since it is
only seasonally wet, a blend of wetland species such as pin oak, swamp
white oak and black gum occur along with

upland species such as American beech. This site provides a large block
of forest breeding habitat for migrant landbirds.

28\. Mt. Toby ‑ 6,220 acres: This is primarily a large forested site
with trap rock ridges and small wetlands including calcareous fens,
seepage marshes and wooded swamps. About 20 rare plant and animal
species are found within this focus area. The extensive contiguous
forest habitat provides important breeding habitat for a variety of
migrant landbirds.

29a. Connecticut River mainstream, Turners Falls Dam to 116 Bridge to
Sunderland ‑ 80 acres: This site includes riverine and riparian habitat
and several river islands. American shad, blueback herring and shortnose
sturgeon spawn within this stretch of the mainstem. There are two bald
eagle nesting sites and over 30 other rare plant and animal species
found within this focus area. This reach also contains one of the
largest freshwater mussel populations in the river.

29b. Sawmill River to dam above Rt. 63 ‑ 50 acres: This is a stretch of
riverine and riparian habitat and is important spawning habitat for
blueback herring. This river is used by juvenile salmon for rearing or
nursery habitat. Adult sea‑run salmon will use the river for natural
reproduction.

30a. Montague Plains ‑ 2,200 acres: This is the largest and least
fragmented and developed remaining glacial sandplain in the watershed.
It features a unique inland pitch pine/scrub oak plant community with at
least 10 rare plant and invertebrate species. A wetland within the
sandplain is habitat for the endangered northeastern bulrush. This site
also provides a large block of forest habitat for a variety of migrant
landbirds.

30b. Turners Falls Airport ‑ 250 acres: This site is a developed part of
Montague Plains but still has remnants of pitch pine/scrub oak plant
community. Grassland habitat is maintained as part of the airport
maintenance requirements. Four species of grassland birds breed here
including grasshopper sparrows and vesper sparrows.

31\. Deerfield River including most tributaries ‑ 1,205 acres: This is a
stretch of riverine and riparian habitat. Blueback herring and American
shad spawn in the Deerfield River and its tributaries. This river and
its tributaries are used by juvenile Atlantic salmon for rearing or
nursery habitat. Adult sea‑run salmon will use the river for natural
reproduction. It is one of Massachusetts\' premier Atlantic salmon
restoration rivers.

32\. Fall River in Massachusetts ‑ 75 acres: This is a stretch of
riverine and riparian habitat and is important spawning habitat for
blueback herring. It is also potential spawning habitat for Atlantic
Salmon as well as nursery and rearing habitat for juveniles.

33\. Ashuelot River to Surry Mtn. Dam including tributaries below the
first dam ‑ 350 acres: This is a stretch of riverine and riparian
habitat and is important spawning habitat for American shad. It is also
an important area for American eels. Several rare plant and animal
species occur within this focus area.

34a. Retreat Meadows ‑ 55 acres: This is a marsh along the mainstem of
the Connecticut River. It serves as important stopover habitat for
migrating wood ducks, black ducks, mallards, hooded mergansers and a
variety and abundance of shorebirds.

34b. Wantastiquet Mountain ‑ 6,600 acres: This is forested mountainous
habitat with extensive rock outcrops and talus slopes. Four rare plant
and animal species have been recorded at this site. This large
contiguous block of forest provides important breeding habitat for
forest interior migrant landbirds.

35\. West River, including Rock and Winhall tributaries and Wardsboro
Brook ‑ 710 acres: This focus area encompasses a stretch of riverine and
riparian habitat. It provides spawning habitat for blueback herring and
potential spawning habitat for Atlantic salmon. This river and its
tributaries are used by juvenile salmon for rearing or nursery habitat.
Adult sea‑run salmon will use the river for natural reproduction. It is
one of Vermont\'s premier Atlantic salmon restoration rivers. It is an
important river system for a rare mussel. Several rare plants also occur
within this focus area.

36\. Cold River ‑ 80 acres: The Cold River provides nursery and rearing
habitat for juvenile Atlantic salmon as well as potential spawning
habitat for adults.

37\. Williams River to Brockway Mills Dam ‑ 30 acres: The Williams River
provides nursery and rearing habitat for juvenile Atlantic salmon.

38\. Macrosite including mouth of Ompompanoosuc River ‑ 850 acres: This
is a stretch of riverine and riparian habitat along the mainstem of the
Connecticut River. This area currently hosts the best population of
endangered dwarf wedge mussels in the watershed as well as provides
summer foraging habitat for bald eagles All known sites for the
endangered Jesup\'s milk vetch occur within this focus area. Several
species of rare plants and animals are found here. The mouth of the
Ompompanoosuc is used heavily by migrating shorebirds.

39\. White River, including 1st, 2nd, 3rd, West, Tweed and Hancock
tributaries ‑ 1,280 acres: This is a pristine and the only tributary of
the Connecticut River with no dams. It provides nursery and rearing
habitat for juvenile Atlantic Salmon as well as potential spawning
habitat for adults.

40\. Ammonoosuc and Wild Ammonoosuc Rivers ‑ 530 acres: This focus area
provides nursery and rearing habitat for juvenile Atlantic Salmon as
well as potential spawning habitat for adults.

41\. Pondicherry ‑ 1,665 acres: This is a wetland complex of bogs,
streams and ponds surrounded by spruce/fir forest. It is the site of a
great blue heron rookery and important feeding habitat for several other
species of waterbirds. It is also important stopover habitat for wood
ducks, ring‑necked ducks and black ducks.

42\. Victory Basin ‑ 8,950 acres: This is a complex of bogs and other
freshwater wetlands and surrounding boreal forest. It provides good
nesting habitat for hooded mergansers, black, ring‑necked and wood
ducks. Three rare animal species occur here: southern bog lemming,
black‑backed woodpecker and the gray jay. It is a potential
reintroduction site for the spruce grouse and pine martin. This site
provides extensive contiguous forest for breeding migrant landbirds.

43\. Connecticut River mainstem, Murphy Dam downstream to below the
Northumberland Dam ‑ 420 acres: This stretch of riverine habitat is
important nursery and rearing habitat for juvenile Atlantic salmon and
also provides potential spawning habitat for adults.

44\. Paul Stream ‑ 140 acres: This is a pristine brook and provides
excellent habitat for native brook trout. The site also provides nesting
habitat for loons, and wood, black, and mallard ducks. Important
stopover habitat for migrating wood, black and mallard ducks.

45\. Nulhegan Basin ‑ 71,900 acres: This is a complex of bogs, other
freshwater wetlands, and surrounding spruce fir forest. It provides
nesting habitat for loons, hooded mergansers, black, ring‑necked and
wood ducks. At least 13 rare plant and animal species have been recorded
from this site. This site has the best and only viable population of
spruce grouse in the watershed. It also provides extensive contiguous
forest for breeding migrant landbirds.

46\. Mohawk River ‑ 90 acres: This river provides nursery and rearing
habitat for juvenile Atlantic salmon. It also provides high quality
habitat for native brook trout.

47\. Colebrook Hill Farms ‑ 2,000 acres: This is an extensive area of
pasture, hayfields, old fields reverting to shrubs and forest, and small
fens and swamps. This area is the only significant breeding site for
marsh hawks in the watershed but also important breeding habitat for
other grassland birds such as the bobolink. At least 10 rare plants
occur in this area.

48\. Indian Stream ‑ 180 acres: This is a pristine brook and provides
excellent habitat for native brook trout.