MWDI Announces New 2011 Upper Chester River Project

Red Lion Creek (Upper Chester River Project)

Steve Seningen, Project Manager (above Crumpton)
Casey Owings, Project Manager (below Crumpton)

In 2008, MD DNR's Millington WMA Manager, Josh Homyack, and Cliff Brown inspected the upper Chester River in Kent and Queen Anne's Counties for expansion potentials and to determine if remediation of the old Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage wood duck nest boxes - originally installed 12-15 years ago - was pragmatic.

In 2009, Steve Seningen repaired and replaced 10 of these boxes along the upper Chester to initiate the project.

Brittany Hulbert, President of Washington College Ducks Unlimited Chapter, approached MWDI at last year's youth box event at the Chestertown Wildlife Exhibition & Sale seeking to involve her DU Chapter. They have plans to  assist in the installation of new boxes and replacement of old boxes.

Several landowners, including Casey Owings, expressed an interest in supporting the project. Consequently, this year the project will expand by 20 more boxes. Casey has agreed to manage the program component on his side of the Chester below Crumpton in Kent Co. Approximately 10 boxes will be used here to replace and relocate old boxes. The other 10 will be used along the Queen Anne side above Crumpton.

The Upper Bay Chapter of Delta Waterfowl donated 15 boxes to MWDI which have been allocated to this project.  Casey is donating 5 new boxes as well. Steve has donated several predator guards. MWDI will provide several boxes as well as poles, some predator guards and hardware mounting materials as well as some "best practices" guidelines.

As a result of Steve's initiative and Casey's vital support, MWDI expects the project to grow and expand as other landowners step up and volunteer to help manage even more relocated and/or repaired boxes.