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Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area
Description: Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area is located just east of Lake
Champlain. This slow-moving, dammed creek runs roughly northward from Bridport to
just north of Panton, where it joins Otter Creek. The 2,858 acre area is made up of seven
actively managed impoundments which are surrounded by upland habitat composed of
active and inactive farm fields, and oak-hickory forests. Over 200 species of birds are
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known to the area. The WMA is owned by the State and is managed by the Vermont
Fish and Wildlife Department.
Flooded areas are designed to benefit waterfowl; draw-downs are recognized as
benefiting migrating shorebirds however, and occur regularly but not annually. Beginning
in mid-spring, Vermont Fish and Wildlife begins lowering water levels by approximately
six inches per month. In addition, the overall water levels are dependent on rainfall. Some
mudflats and shallow water areas are held until late summer.
Shorebird use of the area is dependent on water levels and amount of exposed mudflats,
which are highly variable and vary from year to year. The Farrell, Stone Dam and
Brilyea sites are known for shorebirds when water levels are ideal, along with the wet
margins of artificial ponds along the south side of Route 17 just east of Dead Creek at the
“goose viewing area.”
Twenty-seven species of shorebirds have been observed at Dead Creek WMA, according
to ISS and area birder observations. The maximum count of birds observed between
1997-20061 is: AGPL(140), KILL (136), LESA (494), LEYE (185), SESA ( 598), and
PESA (80).
Access: Access is restricted in the waterfowl refuge portion of the WMA, however
hunting and fishing are allowed in other well-marked areas. Generally, the WMA is not
gated and is open to the public at all times. Access to the Refuge Headquarters is via
Highway 17 near Addison.
Smaller-scale maps are included below the following text:
Stone Dam Access: From Addison, drive north on Route 22A for approximately four
miles. Turn left onto West Road and follow it for approximately two miles to Stone Dam.
Farrell Access: From Panton, drive south 2.6 miles first along Jersey Street and then onto
Goodrich Corners Road when the main road veers right. Farrell Access will be on the left
and passes through farm fields. Drive this road to the end. If Stone Dam is drawn down,
check the mud flats to the north and walk approximately a half mile south to check mud
flats there.
Brilyea Access: From the intersection of Route 22A and Route 17, drive west on Route
17 for 2.3 miles to the Brilyea Access Road on the left (immediately past the bridge over
Dead Creek). Drive nearly one mile and park in the parking lot on the right. During a
drawdown, shorebirds may be seen in the large dammed impoundment there (West
Branch). Also, walk about 1 mile along a grassy access road southwest from the parking
lot (through a metal gate). Large numbers of shorebirds have been observed in this area.
Stone Dam and Farrell Access and Site:
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Brilyea Access and Site:
Survey Method: Ground surveys conducted as early in the day as possible (peregrines
and merlins are known to disperse the birds). The survey will take between a half day and
a full day, and may involve about 5 miles of walking if Brilyea is drawn down. Brilyea
and Stone Dam, the two principle impoundments, are generally not drawn down at the
same time. It may be easiest to have more than one person surveying the site at any one
time.
Caution: Stone Dam Access area is sometimes used for target practice and as a local
hangout. Cars have been vandalized so it may be best to start the survey early in the day
at this location.
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Selection Bias: There are some inaccessible areas that are used by the birds when the
water levels are quite low but this would be less of a concern than potential movement
(see Measurement Error). It has been estimated that no more than 20% of the birds
present would be inaccessible.
Measurement error: For an experienced birder, most of the birds could be detected.
Local birders emphasize that the site chould be surveyed carefully with particular
attention given to birds roosting or feeding amongst the vegetation and shrub roots.
Birds moving around from one site to another within the area and coming and going midsurvey may also be a source of measurement error. Most of the Dead Creek sites are not
within sight of one another and when water levels are low it would probably take a good
portion of the day to cover all sites. This is a site where simultaneous observations by
multiple observers would help to reduce this potential movement error.
Measurement bias: When the water level is high, few birds are attracted and there are
few birds weaving through the vegetation. When the water is low, many birds are
attracted and although many are obvious, some are inevitably amongst the vegetation. It
has been suggested that while the overall number of birds in vegetation is greater when
the water is lower, the percentage of birds in vegetation might be similar for most water
levels.
The timing of water level drops can influence vegetation growth (e.g. an abrupt drop
might leave nice bare mud flats but a slow drawdown might promote vegetation growth
which in turn would influence detection). This might be a difficult factor to quantify and
might require some sort of consideration (notation by observer) for each survey.
However this is not expected to have a dramatic influence on the survey if the survey is
conducted carefully.
Pilot Studies: Detectability studies required.
Local Contacts: Ted Murin, area birder
Bill Crenshaw, Vermont Fish and Wildlife (Essex District)
Additional Resources:
Vermont Fish and Wildlife, Dead Creek WMA Background and map
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/library/maps/Wildlife%20Management%20Areas/Esse
x%20District/Dead%20Creek%20WMA.pdf
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Unpublished records provided by Ted Murin and Richard Lavallee, area birders; and Bill
Crenshaw, Vermont Fish and Wildlife (personal communication).