McPherson Valley Wetlands
北緯38度28分38秒 西経97度27分02秒 / 北緯38.47722度、西経97.45056度 / 38.47722; -97.45056
| McPherson Valley Wetlands | |
|---|---|
  Map of Kansas | |
| Location | McPherson County, Kansas |
| Nearest city | McPherson, Kansas |
| Coordinates | 38°28′38″N97°27′03″W / 北緯38.47722度、西経97.45083度 / 38.47722; -97.45083 |
| Area | 4,455 acres (1,803 ha) |
| Governing body | State of Kansas |
McPherson Valley Wetlands are a disconnected chain of marshes, wetlands, and shallow lakes in McPherson County, Kansas. Once covering a much larger area, 4,455 acres of the wetlands and surrounding prairie was protected by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism as of 2011.
History and description
The McPherson Valley Wetlands are a large area of scattered natural lakes and wetlands extending from five miles northwest of McPherson, Kansas for 43 miles south to Valley Center. In the late 19th century, the wetlands consisted of 52 shallow marshes comprising more than 9,000 acres of water. The largest marsh was Big Basin, more than 2,000 acres in size. None of the marshes were more than five feet deep and many of them became dry land during the frequent droughts in the area. Two lakes, Lake Inman and Farland Lake, were among the marshes. Lake Inman, more than 100 acres in size, is Kansas's largest natural lake. The lake is in private ownership.[1]
The wetlands were first important for waterfowl hunters who, in the last quarter of the 19th century, killed tens of thousands of ducks and other birds and shipped them by railroad to Kansas City and St. Louis. About 1900, draining of the marshes converted most of the wetlands into farmland. However, most of the land was too low and wet to become good farmland. In 1989, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks began purchasing the former marshland and restoring it to its original condition using levees, canals, and water pumps. As of 2011, 4,455 acres of land had been purchased, including 1,760 acres of 51 wetlands, including Big Basin, Kubin, Little Sinkhole, and Chain of Lakes marshes had been restored or recreated. The state of Kansas continues to purchase land from willing sellers when funds are available.[2]
Before being drained, the McPherson Valley Wetlands were comparable in importance to Cheyenne Bottoms, 60 miles west, for migrating waterfowl. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded in the wetlands, including white-faced ibis, snowy plover, peregrine falcons, and many species of ducks.[3]
1995年には100年ぶりにアメリカシロヅルが湿地帯を訪れた。[ 4 ] 2016年春には17羽のアメリカシロヅルがビッグベイスン湿地を訪れた。[ 5 ] 2017年夏にはベニヘラサギがリトルシンクホール湿地を訪れた。[ 6 ]
レクリエーション
湿地は一年を通して一般に公開されています。水鳥および高地の狩猟鳥類の狩猟は許可証が必要です。狩猟には必ずスチールショットが必要です。水鳥が餌を食べる際に鉛を摂取するのを防ぐため、鉛ショットは禁止されています。バードウォッチングは主要なアクティビティです。キャンプは禁止されています。
マクファーソン湿地は、カンザス州野生生物・公園・観光局に雇用されている州立狩猟管理官によって定期的に巡回されています。管理官は、湿地において州法を執行し、狩猟者の許可証を確認します。
参考文献
- ^「マクファーソンバレー湿地」カンザス州野生生物・公園・観光局http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Region-4/McPherson-Valley-Wetlands、2012年9月20日アクセス
- ^「マクファーソンバレー湿地」カンザス州野生生物・公園・観光局http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Region-4/McPherson-Valley-Wetlands、2012年9月20日アクセス
- ^「マクファーソン渓谷湿地」 http://academic.emporia.edur/aberjame/student/uttinger2/mvw.html、2012年9月20日アクセス
- ^「マクファーソンバレー湿地野生生物保護区」 http://kdwpt.state.ks.us/news/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Region-4/McPherson-Valley-Wetlands、2012年9月20日アクセス
- ^「マクファーソンバレー湿地野生生物保護区」、 http://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/South-Central/McPherson-Valley-Wetlands
- ^ 「アメリカバードウォッチング協会がお届けするバードウォッチングニュース」。
