The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will host a virtual public information session to provide information and answer questions about the recently completed habitat management plan for Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (WMA), located in the towns of Conquest, Mentz, Montezuma, and Victory in Cayuga County, the town of Seneca Falls in Seneca County, and the towns of Butler and Savannah in Wayne County.  

“DEC is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitats on Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area to benefit declining wildlife species and popular game animals,” said DEC Acting Region 8 Director Tim Walsh. “We look forward to engaging with the public about this habitat management plan and continuing to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation.”

The session is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10, and will begin at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature a 60-minute presentation that discusses the WMA’s history, habitat goals, and planned management actions, followed by a question-and-answer period. This presentation will be recorded and made available to the public after the session. To register for the event, visit DEC’s website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31112.html. 

Northern Montezuma WMA consists of 8,090 acres and is primarily managed to provide long-term protection, restoration, and enhancement of wetland habitats, especially those important to migrating birds. Habitat goals on the WMA include maintaining a diversity of wetland and upland habitats that benefit a wide range of wildlife species, including several rare and declining species. Active management of wetlands will continue, and additional restoration projects are planned. Nearly half the WMA is forested, composed of varied forest types with varying quality. Several forest management actions are planned to diversify forest age structure and address degraded conditions. An increase of grassland is planned to improve habitat values, while still maintaining a significant acreage in active agricultural use. In all habitats, invasive plant control is planned to continue in order to restore degraded habitats and prevent further spread.