Lee Brown Waterfowl Management Area

Lee Brown donated a viewing pond and 24 hectares (60 acres) of agricultural land to the Long Point Region Conservation Authority in 1972. Three years later, he donated an additional 233 hectares (550 acres) of marshland. As a tribute to Lee Brown and his committed effort to preserve and enhance such a unique ecosystem, the Lee Brown Waterfowl Management Area was established in 1975. Today, LPRCA manages this thriving ecosystem to maintain wetland habitat suitable for water management purposes and to propagate native waterfowl and other marsh species.

The Lee Brown Waterfowl Management Area now consists of the following five parcels of upland and marsh, totaling 324 hectares (800 acres), west of Port Rowan and Port Royal:

• • Lee Brown Marsh – 247 ha (610 acres)
  • Walker property – 15 ha (37 acres)
  • Robinson property – 24 ha (59 acres)
  • Cockburn property – 11 ha (27 acres)
  • Boyd property – 27 ha (67 acres)

The marshes of the Lee Brown Waterfowl Management Area are part of the Big Creek/Long Point Marsh System, a region of particular importance for migratory waterfowl and other bird species. The importance of the area is underscored by its designation as a Wetland of International Significance under the Ramsar Convention. The Waterfowl Management Area is also a buffer zone to the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve, designated by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1986. Similarly, the Big Creek marsh area is recognized by the Government of Ontario as a provincially significant Class 1 wetland.

Viewing Area

To preserve the vital wetland habitat and ensure the wellbeing of the natural area, public access to the Lee Brown Waterfowl Management Area is limited to the viewing area on Lakeshore Road. From the viewing platform, a wide variety of waterfowl species can bee seen, especially during the spring and fall migration. The viewing area also features an information kiosk with displays on the history of the marsh and its local natural features.

Hunting

For information on hunting in the Lee Brown Waterfowl Management Area, visit the hunting information page.