The National Forest Foundation (NFF) and energy company Williams are proud to announce the completion of a major restoration project on the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, crews recently completed the restoration and rehabilitation of three primary water control structures at Buzzard Swamp on the Allegheny.

Buzzard Swamp is a 1,122-acre site that provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on the Allegheny. The swamp was created in the 1960s through the installation of a series of dams that impounded existing wetlands to create small ponds and potholes. The mix of wetlands, ponds, upland forests and meadows provides ideal habitat for waterfowl, songbirds, raptors, bats, and aquatic organisms. Bald eagles, bobolinks, mourning warblers, and osprey can be viewed at Buzzard Swamp. Eleven miles of non-motorized trails provide hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers with unique access to this captivating area.

The entire area is designated as a Watchable Wildlife Area and an Important Birding Area, attracting visitors from around the region for its important role as a stop-over site on the Atlantic Flyway waterfowl migration route. During the spring migration, between 20 and 25 species of waterfowl can be seen in the swamp, including wood ducks, hooded mergansers, American coots, buffleheads, and blue and green-winged teals. The ponds also support small and largemouth bass, perch, catfish, crappie and bluegill. Additionally, the area is an important habitat for coyotes, black bear, beaver, rabbit, and other forest creatures.

Decades of use had degraded the original water control structures, which were still in use. Through the generous contribution of Williams’ charitable foundation, the NFF was able to work with the Forest Service and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to replace the three most important control structures and ensure that Buzzard Swamp continues to provide critical habitat for birds, mammals, fish, and other creatures for decades to come.

“We are so pleased to be able to work with the National Forest Foundation to complete this important restoration project on the Allegheny National Forest,” said Alison Anthony, President of the Williams Foundation. “It is important to Williams that we partner with our communities to leave a healthy environment for future generations,” Anthony continued. “This project revitalizes a much-loved area of the Allegheny National Forest for the next half-century or more.”

Bill Possiel, president of the NFF, added, “This project addresses critical needs on the Allegheny National Forest. We are grateful for the contributions that Williams made to perpetuate this important habitat and ensure that the next generation can enjoy this treasured spot on the Allegheny National Forest.”

To complete the project, crews first drained the ponds to gain access to the control structures. They then removed and replaced the structures themselves and repaired additional infrastructure as required. While planning and preparations took many months, on-the-ground work began in mid-November and was completed this spring.

About Williams (NYSE: WMB)

Williams has operated in Pennsylvania for more than 50 years and began its natural gas gathering, processing and transportation operations in the Marcellus Shale in 2009. The company employs more than 700 people in the Northeast U.S.

Williams is one of the leading energy infrastructure companies in North America. It owns interests in or operates 15,000 miles of interstate gas pipelines, 1,000 miles of NGL transportation pipelines, and more than 10,000 miles of oil and gas gathering pipelines. The company's facilities have daily gas processing capacity of 6.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas, NGL production of more than 200,000 barrels per day and domestic olefins production capacity of 1.35 billion pounds of ethylene and 90 million pounds of propylene per year. Williams owns approximately 64 percent of Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ), one of the largest diversified energy master limited partnerships. Williams Partners owns most of Williams' interstate gas pipeline and domestic midstream assets. Williams also owns Canadian operations and certain domestic olefins pipelines assets, as well as a significant investment in Access Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: ACMP), a midstream natural gas services provider. For more information, visit www.williams.com, where the company routinely posts important information.