September marks the beginning of the fall migration for waterfowl. Waterfowl use on Farmington Bay during peak migration can exceed 200,000 ducks. Many ducks have already left by the time the waterfowl hunting season opens in early October. Tundra swans close out the annual migrating pilgrimage during November and December. By the end of December most bird species have moved southward.
Winter is a quiet time as the wetlands rest and wait for spring to return.
History Farmington Bay WMA was built in 1935. Several agencies and organizations joined forces with the original construction. Utah DWR has managed the area ever since and has purchased and developed additional wetland acreage, increasing the original 3,800 acres to more than 12,000 acres. In the mid 1980s, the lake rose and flooded the entire management area. This unprecidented high water displaced wildlife and damaged dikes, water control structures and wetland vegetation.