!!! IMMEDIATE, CONTINUED SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THE JOHNSON/DEBAY SWAN RESERVE !!!
By Jackie BossStarting in 1995, there has been a constant on-going struggle to establish and maintain the Johnson/DeBay Swan Reserve.* 1996 The Trumpeter Swan Society began swan and bird surveys.
* 1997 At a public hearing in Mt. Vernon it was proposed as a “Wildlife Reserve.”
* 1997 – 1999 Volunteers from The Trumpeter Swan Society cleaned up the Reserve for safety, removing nails, lumber, debris from storms, etc.
* 1998 The Washington Duck Hunters, now the Washington Waterfowl Association, prepared a draft Management Plan for the hunt area just east of the official Reserve.
* 1999 John Garrett of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) formed the official Stewardship Group for the Reserve and the hunt area. Organizations included in the Stewardship Group were The Trumpeter Swan Society, the Skagit Audubon Society, Pilchuck Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (no longer in existence), Washington Waterfowl Association, and Ducks Unlimited. Field trips for the public resulted in suggestions for site development, including nature trails for the viewing of more than swans and geese. As a result numerous organizations and individuals have worked hard toward creating this safe haven, for not only swans and geese, but also for other native wildlife.
* 2000 Stewardship Group Work Parties built parking areas for both the Reserve and the hunt area. Ponds were built on the hunt side.
* 2001 A dedication for the Johnson/DeBay Swan Reserve was held. In attendance were not only many local and state political leaders, private citizens and WDFW staff, but also thousands of swans, ducks, eagles, hawks, and other birds.
* 2007 Audubon Washington proposed the Reserve to be an Important Bird Area (IBA).
* 2008 Martha Jordan of The Trumpeter Swan Society was notified that there was an issue with the Johnson/DeBay Swan Reserve north boundary. Later at a meeting with Region 4 WDFG staff, it was agreed that preserving the north boundary of the Johnson DeBay Swan Reserve was the best option for the Reserve and wildlife. This information did not get to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.
* Fall of 2009 The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission decides that the north boundary of the Johnson DeBay Swan Reserve can be preserved.But the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission needs to know of the public support for restoring the original boundary.

A Request Message from MARTHA JORDAN Of The Trumpeter Swan SocietyThe Commission will open the boundary topic to a brief hearing at their November Commission meeting, Saturday Nov 7 at about 9:30 a.m.
..... We and others have an opportunity to speak at this hearing as well. The Trumpeter Swan Society will have Paul Fischbach representing us.It is imperative that Skagit Audubon members and others you know in the community send letters to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission: e-mail or fax will be fine, in support of the Swan Reserve boundary as described in the latest boundary revision. I know you may have sent a letter from Skagit Audubon (Skagit Audubon Society has sent a letter), but we also need individuals to support this as well.I have toured the Reserve yesterday and today with John Garrett and a WDFW engineer looking at trail and viewing platform placement as well as boundary stuff. What an even more amazing place for watchable wildlife than I remembered. The swans are the focus, but we need to push for getting this place available for other use from April 1 to Oct 1 (outside of waterfowl/swan season). There are ponds, ravines, riparian river and slough, uplands and more.Letters can be simple: a paragraph that says:
* The Johnson/DeBay Swan Reserve is an important area for public viewing of swans. I enjoy it each year for the spectacle that happens with swans, ducks and the variety of raptors and other birds each winter.
* The Johnson/DeBay Swan Reserve provides protection for the riparian corridor for wildlife
* The Johnson/DeBay Swan Reserve provides protection of swan ingress and egress routes, which are vital to the health of the Reserve.
* Please (or ‘We urge’ or ‘We recommend’, etc) that the Fish and Wildlife Commission keep the original boundary line and support the integrity and intent of this wildlife area.
*    Sign your name.Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov
Fax: 360-902-2448