A 120 acre wetland will be created on property owned by the Leatherstocking Corp. and local landowners.

The 1.6 million dollar effort will be funded by The US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Sponsored by Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, the legislation in the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 enables the Army Corps of Engineers to, "...conduct a study and develop a strategy for using wetland restoration, soil and water conservation practices, and non-structural measures to reduce flood damage, improve water quality and create wildlife habitat."

Program manager from the US Army Corps of Engineers Amy Guise said the project will be completed in 2005.

"Over the past year, cooperation and partnering has grown," Guise said.

The improvements in water quality and habitat restoration stemming from the project will have a great effect, Guise said. She commented on Boehlert's devotion to the environment and said the project would not be possible without his unending support and leadership.

Erin Crotty, the commissioner of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, credited Governor George Pataki as "the state's best environmentalist."

"Restoring wetlands is one of the most important things we can do," Crotty said. "We thank the Clark Foundation and the academic community at the Biological Field Station for their efforts."

She said Boehlert's leadership and vision on environmental issues transcends Cooperstown, the state and the nation.

"Why do we do all this?" she asked. "It's simple. To improve the quality of life for the people who live here."

The president of Ducks Unlimited, Dr. Robert Hoffman, said that 10.4 million acres have been conserved on the continent so far.

"Partnerships hold the key to success for environmental efforts," Hoffman said.

Boehlert agreed with this sentiment. He said that Ducks Unlimited is a "magnificent organization," and agreed with Crotty that Pataki has shown that economic development and environmental concerns should go hand in hand.

"The project will have many benefits," Boehlert said. "Eco-tourism can be introduced, and the aesthetic value of the area will be improved overall."

David Stilwell of the US Fish and Wildlife Service said now it's a matter of "touching the dirt and making it happen."

"Initiatives result from great efforts of collaboration," he said.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service will be conducting a wetland data collection effort.

To refine constructed wetland designs and assess environmental benefits, the organization will be partnered with Ducks Unlimited, the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, The Otsego County Water Quality Coordinating Committee and the Biological Field Station to construct and monitor the wetland and the habitat it includes.