Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Location in the United States
Location	Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, United States
Area	31,216 acres (126.33 km2)
Established	1997
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge

The Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge is a special place created in 1997. Its main goal is to protect and help all the different kinds of plants, fish, and wildlife. It also protects the natural areas, called ecosystems, where they live.

This refuge covers a huge area of 7.2 million acres. It is part of the Connecticut River watershed. A watershed is all the land where water drains into a specific river. This one includes parts of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

The refuge has many different types of natural homes, called habitats. These include northern forests where birds like thrushes and warblers build their nests. Rivers and streams are home to fish such as shad, salmon, herring, and the rare shortnose sturgeon. There are also important salt marshes, which are wet, grassy areas near the coast. Some marshes have fresh water, and others have brackish water, which is a mix of fresh and salty water.

The refuge works with many people and groups. They teach people about nature and help protect and manage habitats on both public and private lands. They also work to protect even more natural areas.

You can visit the refuge at three special visitor centers. These are in Colebrook, New Hampshire, at the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont, and at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls, Massachusetts.

The refuge is named after Silvio O. Conte. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts for a long time. He cared deeply about the environment and worked hard to protect it.

Exploring the Refuge's Protected Areas

The Silvio O. Conte Refuge is made up of many different parts. These are called "units" (smaller areas) and "divisions" (larger areas). Currently, there are nine units and eight divisions. Each one helps protect a unique part of the Connecticut River watershed.

Connecticut's Refuge Sections

• Deadman's Swamp Unit: This area has 33 acres of wetlands and a sand bar along the river. It is home to a special beetle that is protected by the government. This unit is closed to visitors to keep the wildlife safe.
• Roger Tory Peterson Unit: Located in Old Lyme, Connecticut, this land was once owned by a famous author and nature expert named Roger Tory Peterson.
• Salmon River Division: This division covers 425 acres. It is found where the Salmon River meets the Connecticut River in Haddam, Connecticut.

Massachusetts' Refuge Sections

• Third Island Unit: This is a 4-acre island in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
• Honey Pot Unit: This 21-acre area in Westfield, Massachusetts, has both high ground and wetlands.
• Wissatinnewag Unit: This 21-acre section is across the river from the Great Falls Discovery Center in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
• Mt. Tom Unit: This 141-acre area is on Mount Tom in Holyoke, Massachusetts.
• Mt. Toby Unit: This 30-acre section is at the base of Mount Toby in Sunderland, Massachusetts.
• Fort River Division: This division covers 260 acres and is located in Hadley, Massachusetts.
• Mill River Division: This 249-acre division is found in Northampton, Massachusetts.
• Westfield River Division: This 125-acre area is on Benton Hill Road in Becket, Massachusetts.
• Hatfield Unit: This 19-acre unit is in Hatfield, Massachusetts.
• Dead Branch Division: This division covers 98 acres in Chesterfield, Massachusetts.

New Hampshire's Refuge Sections

• Pondicherry Division: This large division covers 6,405 acres. It is located in Jefferson, Whitefield, and Carroll, New Hampshire.
• Blueberry Swamp Division: This 1,023-acre area is along the Mohawk River in Columbia, New Hampshire.

Vermont's Refuge Sections

• Nulhegan Basin Division: This is a very large division, covering over 26,000 acres. It is located in Brunswick, Ferdinand, Bloomfield, and Lewis. The main office and visitor center for this division are in Brunswick.
• Putney Mountain Unit: This 285-acre unit in Putney and Brookline, Vermont is home to a rare plant called the northeastern bulrush. This plant is protected by the government.

Images for kids

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  Pondicherry Division in New Hampshire