New Jersey Fish and Wildlife (NJFW) has partnered with Ducks Unlimited, Inc., (DU) and the New Jersey Waterfowl Stamp Advisory Committee to restore functional hydrology to 70 acres of managed coastal wetlands at Manahawkin Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Stafford Township, Ocean County, New Jersey.

Currently, these wetlands consist of stagnant, lake-like tidal systems devoid of vegetation and degrading adjacent forested wetlands due to their impaired hydrological state. The goal is to restore hydrology by replacing the current infrastructure with properly sized water control structures that will allow NJFW to convert the open-water lakes to shallow coastal emergent and forested wetland habitat that will be resilient to climate change and sea level rise. The resulting habitat will improve conditions for over 30 species of waterfowl that occur in the project area, as well as increase storm surge protection, storm water retention, flood abatement, and ground water recharge.  A state contract vendor will be replacing one culvert and one water control structure within the berm along the impoundments.

The berm area bordering the impoundments at Manahawkin WMA will be temporarily closed to the public on March 15^th, 2026 through April 15^th, 2026 for construction.

Manahawkin WMA Closure Map