Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 115 Part 1.djvu/916

 115 STAT. 894 PUBLIC LAW 107-91—DEC. 21, 2001 Public Law 107-91 107th Congress Dec. 21, 2001 {H.R. 1230] Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act 16 USC 668dd note. An Act To provide for the establishment of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in the State of Michigan, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Detroit River International Wild- Hfe Refuge Establishment Act". SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) The Detroit River, one of North America's greatest rivers, was created some 14,000 years ago during the retreat of the Wisconsin Glacier. (2) The present river channel, established when falling water levels permitted erosion of the Lake Plain and moraines, is a connecting channel linking the Upper and Lower Great Lakes, as well as linking the United States to Canada. (3) The Lower Detroit River ecosystem is diverse with a number of distinct channels, numerous shoals that support dense stands of aquatic plants, and many islands. These nationally and internationaly significant habitats and ecological features attract as many as 29 species of waterfowl and 65 kinds offish. (4) The Detroit River is a major migration corridor for fish, butterflies, raptors, and other birds, in addition to waterfowl. Over 300 species of birds have been documented in the Detroit-Windsor area, of which about 150 species breed in the immediate area. (5) Because the Great Lakes are situated at the intersection of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, the Detroit River is an important waterfowl migration corridor. 3,000,000 ducks, geese, swans, and coots migrate annually through the Great Lakes region. (6) The import£mce of this corridor is recognized in the Canada-United States North American Waterfowl Management Plan that has identified the Detroit River as part of one of 34 Waterfowl Habitat Areas of Major Concern in the United States and Canada. (7) Some 300,000 diving ducks stop in the Lower Detroit River on their fall migration from Canada to the east and south each yeaoc to rest and feed in beds of water celery found in the region.

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