The primary purposes of Utica Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are for wildlife management, wildlife habitat management, and wildlife-dependent recreation. This WMA is a unique urban wetland. The mixture of cattail wetlands, wet meadows, open water pools, and flooded willows create a diverse marsh habitat that harbors a tremendous variety of plants and animals, especially birds. Like most of the state's Wildlife Management Areas, Utica Marsh WMA is managed by DEC's Division of Fish and Wildlife for wildlife conservation and wildlife-associated recreation (hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, and photography). Funding to maintain and manage this site is provided by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration or "Pittman-Robertson" Act, which is acquired through excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, and archery equipment. In the late 1970s, the City of Utica awarded DEC 50 acres of river flood plain with the condition that the state begin buying additional land here and managing this wetland area. Now the WMA contains 213 acres, an observation tower, a wildlife viewing site, and several hiking trails. One important partner of Utica Marsh WMA is the Utica Marsh Council, Inc (leaves DEC website). The volunteer members organize a marsh cleanup on the first Saturday in May. This major outreach event to city residents involves them in caring for the marsh. The Council is a big promoter of the Utica Marsh as an educational field laboratory and through their efforts, school and college classes from throughout the Mohawk Valley visit the marsh to learn about wetland ecology. Visit their website to learn more about the marsh. Other important friends and partners of the Utica Marsh WMA are Former Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, Audubon New York, NYS Department of Transportation, Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Utica.