WETLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT (acre) CODE 644 · as 35 parts per thousand (ppt) for a very short term, but spawning is affected at 12-15 ppt. Newly hatched young die at 15 ppt

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NRCS, LOUISIANAJUNE 2002

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD

WETLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT(acre)

CODE 644

DEFINITION

Retaining, developing or managing habitat forwetland wildlife.

PURPOSE

To maintain, develop or improve habitat forwaterfowl, fur-bearers or other wetland associatedflora and fauna.

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES On or adjacent to wetlands, rivers, lakes and otherwater bodies where wetland associated wildlifehabitat can be managed. This practice applies tonatural wetlands and water bodies as well as wetlandsthat may have been previously restored (657),enhanced (659), created (658). CRITERIA Identify species, management goals and objectives.For the desired species, identify the types, amountand distribution of habitat elements and themanagement actions necessary to achieve themanagement objectives. Native plants will be used whenever possible. The landowner shall obtain all necessary local, stateand federal permits that apply. To reduce annual levee maintenance costs, muskrat(Ondatra zibethicus), beaver (Castor candensis),nutria (Myocastor coypus) and other rodentpopulations should be legally controlled.

Crawfish (Procambarus species) The life cycle of crawfish can be manipulated to fit avariety of management requirements and can beintegrated into an agricultural crop rotation. Thereare two basic types of crawfish ponds: permanent androtational. Permanent ponds are described by havinga continuous management scheme applied year afteryear. Rotational refers to the practice of rotating theannual sequence of crops grown in the pond orrotating the physical location of the pond to anotherfield. Permanent Crawfish Ponds – The three principaltypes of permanent pond include single crop ponds,naturally vegetated ponds and wooded ponds. Thefollowing crawfish culture cycle is applicable to eachof the three pond types.

April-May – Stock 50-60 pounds of adult crawfish per acre (new ponds only)

May-June - Drain pond over 2-4 week period June-August – Plant crawfish forage crop or

manage natural vegetation October - Re-flood pond (based on air

temperature) November-May/June – Harvest crawfish May/June - Drain pond and repeat cycle without restocking crawfish

Single Crop Crawfish Pond These ponds are constructed and managed solely forthe purpose of cultivating crawfish. During thesummer (May-August), a forage crop is allowed togrow. Crawfish can be harvested in single cropponds one to two months longer than rotationalsystems because there is no overlap with planting,

Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. Toobtain the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources Conservation

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draining and harvesting schedules of other crops.Pond design is often optimized to improve productionby using baffle levees and re-circulation systems.

Naturally Vegetated Ponds

This term refers to marsh impoundments andagricultural lands that are managed to encourage thegrowth of naturally occurring vegetation. These aretypically constructed in wetland areas containing highamounts of organic matter in the soil. This oftenlowers water quality, decreasing crawfish production.Although these ponds may be managed exclusivelyfor crawfish, production is often sporadic. Wooded Ponds

These ponds are typically built on heavy clay soils inforested (cypress-tupelo swamp) areas. Production islimited by the inability to manage water effectively.Wooded ponds have poor stands of vegetated forageand water temperatures tend to be lower because ofshading. Leaf litter provides the bulk of forage, butrapid leaf fall can cause poor water quality. Waterflow and crawfish harvest are difficult because treeshinder water movement and obstruct boat access.Some positive aspects of wooded ponds include lowinitial start-up costs and the potential for waterfowlhunting. Rotational Crawfish Ponds - The most commoncrawfish-agronomic crop rotations are rice-crawfish-rice, rice-crawfish-soybeans, rice-crawfish-fallow andfield rotation. In the rice-crawfish-rice rotation, riceand crawfish are double cropped annually. In therice-crawfish-soybeans rotation, farmers have theopportunity to produce an additional grain cropduring the rotation. In the rice-crawfish-fallowrotation, farmers can leave the field fallow for thecontrol of weeds and crawfish overpopulation. In thefield rotation culture system, crawfish and anagronomic crop are rotated in the same field for acertain number of years.

Rice-Crawfish-Rice Ponds

Rice fields offer the most readily adaptable area forexpanding crawfish culture. Rice farmers are capableof using the same land, equipment, pumps and farmlabor already in place. After the grain is harvested,the remaining stubble is fertilized, flooded andallowed to re-grow (ratoon). This ratoon crop servesas a forage base for crawfish. Total production issometimes decreased because rice culture practicestake precedence over crawfish production. Problemsinclude conflicts regarding pesticide use and poorwater circulation. Ponds are usually drained early(March 1 – April 1) to replant rice. This greatlyshortens the crawfish harvest season and the potentialcrawfish yield.

March-April – Plant rice June - At permanent rice flood (rice

8-10 inches high), stock 50 to 60 pounds of adult crawfish per acre.

August – Drain pond and harvest rice (later in north Louisiana)

October - Re-flood rice field November-April – Harvest crawfish March-April - Drain pond and replant rice Rice–Crawfish-Soybeans This rotation allows for the production of three cropsin two years. It also has the advantage of a longercrawfish harvest season than the rice-crawfish-ricerotation. Pesticide use is an important managementconsideration.

March-April– Plant rice June - Stock 50 to 60 pounds of

adult crawfish per acre at permanent flood

August – Drain field and harvest rice October - Re-flood rice field November-May – Harvest crawfish Late May-June - Drain pond and replant

soybeans October-November – Harvest soybeans November-March – Re-flood pond and

harvest crawfish March –April – Plant rice (restocking

crawfish is probably necessary)

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Rice-Crawfish-Fallow This rotation allows the farmer to leave the landfallow for a certain period. This is a commonpractice in the rice-producing region in southwestLouisiana. This fallow period allows the farmer tobreak the cycle of certain weeds and also prevents theoverpopulation of crawfish.

March-April– Plant rice June - Stock 50 to 60 pounds of

adult crawfish per acre at permanent flood

August – Drain field and harvest rice October - Re-flood rice field November-June/July – Harvest crawfish July - Drain pond August-March – Fallow March-April – Plant rice Field Rotation

After several years in production, rotational pondsmay develop stunted crawfish populations from overpopulation. One method of overcoming this problemis to rotate the location in which the crawfish aregrown. Once a stunting problem has been verified,mature crawfish from the affected pond may be usedto stock a new pond that will be used in a crawfish-agronomic rotation. The affected pond is simply leftdry during the normal part of the cycle that crawfishwould be harvested. By reducing the density ofreproducing females, stunting is reduced. Pond Location Crawfish ponds should be located in flat, open areas,and the soils should have sufficient amounts of clay tosupport the burrowing and hold water. Pond Construction Perimeter levees should have a core trench cleared ofdebris to prevent seepage. The minimum perimeterlevee base should be in accordance with NRCSstandards and specifications on Dikes (356) toprevent leakage from burrowing activities. Typically,a levee system should be designed to contain 8-12inches in rotational ponds and 18-22 inches inpermanent ponds to cultivate crawfish. The landshould have no more than a six-inch fall between

perimeter levees. Otherwise, the area should beleveled or divided into two or more ponds. Pondswith steep elevation differences restrict watermanagement and reduce harvest efficiency. Interiorditches reduce circulation and areas away from thechannel may be low in dissolved oxygen. Thisreduces the effective production area and makescomplete drainage difficult. Any areas difficult todrain may serve as refuge for predatory fish. Interioror baffle levees are constructed to guide waterthrough the pond for proper aeration and to assist inmaintaining water quality. Baffle levees should beapproximately six feet wide at the base. They shouldextend a minimum of six inches above the water levelafter substantial settling. Baffle levees should bespaced 150 to 300 feet apart to facilitate watercirculation. Core trenches in baffle levees are notnecessary. Land-water interface afforded by levees isimportant for the burrows used by crawfishbroodstock. A re-circulation canal outside theperimeter levee, and a re-lift pump or paddlewheelaerator will aid in water circulation and minimizewater discharge. Ponds designed to re-circulate water are important inareas where the quality of the surface water supplyfluctuates or where well water must be pumped fromgreat depths. Drains should be matched with thepond size, pumping capacity and projected rainfall.Ponds must allow vehicle access in wet and dryconditions and allow efficient use of harvestingequipment. Refer to NRCS standards andspecifications on Dikes (356), Water ControlStructures (587) and Access Road (560). Water Supply Surface and subsurface water are acceptable forcrawfish farming. Wells provide predator free water,but have limited discharge capacity, higher pumpingcosts and must be oxygenated. Well water oftencontains soluble iron and hydrogen sulfide that mustbe removed before the water enters the pond. Surfacewater is desirable if it is pollution free and fish can bescreened out.

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Water Quantity A pumping capacity of 70 to 100 gallons per minuteper surface acre is recommended for intensivemanagement. This rate is needed to exchange all thewater in the pond over a four to five day period. Re-circulating and/or flushing the pond with fresh,oxygenated water maintains satisfactory waterquality. Water Quality Dissolved oxygen is an important water qualityparameter in crawfish production. Temperature has amajor effect on oxygen level in ponds. Warm watercannot hold as much oxygen as cold water. Highertemperatures also increase biological activity, whichconsumes oxygen. Low dissolved oxygen is a criticalproblem in crawfish production, especially during thefirst two to six weeks after initial flood-up. Dissolvedoxygen should be maintained above three parts permillion (ppm). Dissolved oxygen should be measuredregularly, especially during warm, cloudy weather.Dissolved oxygen is lowest in the morning so this iswhen it should be checked. The water pH should range from 6.5-7.5 at dawn, andboth total hardness and alkalinity should rangebetween 50-250 ppm as calcium carbonate.Agricultural limestone can be incorporated into thepond bottom to increase these parameters if needed. Un-ionized ammonia and nitrate are toxic to crawfishat concentrations exceeding 2 and 4 ppm respectively.Concentrations this high are not likely to occur incrawfish ponds because production intensity is lowand ammonia is rapidly taken up by aquatic plants.Iron and hydrogen sulfide are toxic to crawfish atconcentrations often found in subsurface well water;however, the two compounds are lowered to non-harmful concentrations when well water isoxygenated. Where iron and hydrogen sulfideconcentrations are high, it may be necessary to placea flume ditch between the well and crawfish pond toallow the iron to precipitate out.

Crawfish producers in coastal regions should alsomonitor tidal influenced surface water during droughtperiods. Adult crawfish can tolerate salinity as highas 35 parts per thousand (ppt) for a very short term,but spawning is affected at 12-15 ppt. Newly hatchedyoung die at 15 ppt. Salinity also affects the type ofvegetation grown for forage. Re-Circulation Aerated water must be transported through the pondto reach the crawfish to achieve maximum survival,growth and yield. Water should be guided throughthe pond by a series of small, internal baffle levees,which direct the flow of water throughout all areas ofthe pond (Figure 1). Mechanical paddle-wheeledtype aerators, ¼ to 1/3 horsepower per surface acre canbe used to aerate and circulate the crawfish pondwater with more cost effectiveness than waterreplacement by pumping.

e

6” drainpipe

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Fipolev

Figure 1 drainpipe

external leve


baff

lele

vee

Circulation pump

ater supply ditch

Supply pump

baff

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vee

baff

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vee

gure 1. Construction plan for a crawfishnd showing a perimeter levee and baffleees with recirculation capabilities.

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Forages Although some type of vegetation must be utilized forforage, the main role of green vegetation is to furnishthe material for decay, which becomes detritus. Asorganic matter (vegetation) decomposes, bacteria,other microorganisms and small animals(invertebrates) aid in decomposition. Theseorganisms increase the nutritional quality of thevegetative forage. Crawfish production requires thatthe forage provide materials to the underwater foodweb throughout the growing season. Prematuredepletion of the vegetative forage can be a limitingfactor for crawfish production. Vegetative foragemust continually and consistently provide adequateamounts of material to the detritual system for theduration of the nine-month production season. Twobasic forage systems are used for crawfishproduction. They are 1) the use of planted andcultivated forage crops and 2) the use of voluntarynatural vegetation. Planted and Cultivated Forages Cultivated forages provide a controlled detrital basedsystem that results in good crawfish yields. Plantinga cultivated agronomic crop is the most dependablemethod at providing suitable crawfish forage. Itallows the farmer to control the type and amount ofavailable forage. Forage density is more predictablewith an agronomic crop because cultural practices arewell established. The preferred forage to plant forcrawfish is rice (Oryza sativa). Rice is grown forforage in most crawfish ponds in Louisiana. Rice hasless of a negative impact on water quality thanterrestrial plants because of its semi-aquatic natureand resistance to lodging. Rice can be planted forgrain production with the post-harvest residue(stubble) and re-growth (ratoon) serving as crawfishforage, or it can be planted solely as crawfish forage.Even when rice is not grown for grain, it is necessaryto provide fertilizer to assure growth anddevelopment. Sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum sp.) should be usedonly in ponds where forage is to be planted in latesummer solely for crawfish. Because of its growthpotential, target-planting dates should be early

August through early September. Planting should notbe postponed too long since cooler weather and shortdays of early fall may inhibit plant establishmentgrowth. Early plantings will result in tall, matureplants at flooding. If planted early, vegetation shouldbe cut to one or two inch stubble in early to mid-August to allow for re-growth. The harvestedsorghum-sudangrass can be baled and left in thepond. Also, if planted too early, sorghum-sudangrassis likely to reach physiological maturity before flood-up and can be detrimental to water quality whenplants lodge or large numbers of leaves slough offinto the water. Fertilizers can significantly increasegrowth and vegetative biomass of sorghum-sudangrass. In some fertile soils, no additionalfertilizer will be necessary. Fertilizer applicationshould be based on soil test results. The sorghumhybrids are typically sensitive to low soil pH, but noproblem has been observed with soils that average apH as low as 5.5. Natural Vegetation When flooded, voluntary terrestrial vegetation usuallydecomposes rapidly. This reduces water quality andprovides short-lived detrital sources. Aquatic andsemi-aquatic plants such as alligatorweed(Alternanthera philoxeroides) and smartweeds(Polygonium sp.) are superior to terrestrial vegetationbecause they continue to live when flooded. But, liketerrestrial grasses, the aquatic plants may not supplysufficient food to sustain high crawfish yields.Alligatorweed may cover an entire pond, providinghigh biomass, but crawfish production isunpredictable because much of the plant material isabove the water and not available to the food web. Three major disadvantages of using naturalvegetation are:

(1) Stand density varies with location, timeof the year and is unpredictable fromone year to the next,

(2) Cultural practices for natural plantspecies are not well understood and

(3) Many natural plants are considerednoxious and are unwanted whereagronomic crops will be grown insubsequent years.

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Two major advantages of using natural vegetationinclude:

(1) There are no costs associated withplanting

(2) and there can be reduced pumping costsin some instances with alligatorweedponds.

Pesticides Crawfish are very sensitive to most chemicals and asa result of careless application, production can beeliminated in a short period. Always be safe and readthe label of any chemical or compound before using itin or near crawfish ponds. Stocking New ponds should be stocked with red swampcrawfish (Procambarus clarkii) broodstock beginningApril 15th, at the rate of 50-60 pounds of seasonallymature crawfish per acre. Stocking later can be moredifficult because the supply of broodstock is lesscertain. Mature brood crawfish should be stockedwithin two to three hours after capture. Avoid usingcrawfish that have been in cool storage becausemortality can be high. Broodstock should betransported in a covered vehicle to avoid exposure towind and sunlight. Stocking other species such aswhite river crawfish (Procambarus zonangulus) isstrongly discouraged due to lack of demand andmanagement limitations. The sex ratio should beclose to 50% males and 50% females. Size of thebroodstock has no impact on the size of the youngcrawfish produced. When crawfish ponds are initiallystudied in the spring, the ovaries (located in the head)of females should be observed to determine theirstage of maturity. Ideally, about 20% of the femalesshould have tan to darker colored eggs. Crawfishshould be stocked in ponds adjacent to baffle orperimeter levees. When stocking a new pond withoutforage, encourage burrowing by spreading hay alongthe edge of the pond to provide cover for burrowingand escaping from predators. After an acclimationperiod of one to two weeks, drain water slowly overthree to four weeks to stimulate the crawfish toburrow. There are usually adequate mature crawfishremaining after a production season to supplyjuveniles for the next season. Restocking is usuallynot necessary in permanent ponds or when thephysical location of the pond does not change.

Timing of Flood-Up Ponds should not be flooded until the daytime highair temperatures average in the low 80oF range andnighttime lows average 65o-70oF. Flooding green riceor sorghum sudangrass before October 1 may bepossible if close attention to oxygen levels isobserved and corrective actions (recirculation) istaken when necessary. An early flood in harvestedrice fields or naturally vegetated ponds with terrestrialgrasses is very risky because the amount of organicmatter present. It is better to flood a little later withthe possibility of late crawfish than flooding early andlosing the young crawfish because of low oxygenconditions. It is not necessary to put the full amount of water in apond (8-12 inches in rice/crawfish rotational ponds or18-22 inches in permanent ponds) during the initialflood-up unless birds or other predators are aproblem. Four to six inches of water is usuallysufficient. Less water in the pond reduces pumpingand there is less water to aerate and replace. Also,less vegetation is exposed to the water column,reducing the amount of decomposition. About 7-10days after the initial flood, if indicated by low oxygendeterminations, it may be necessary to flush orreplace the pond water. To flush a pond, drain itdown to three inches before pumping unless predatorsare a problem. The fresh aerated water will flowthrough the pond, pushing the bad water out theoverflow. Results are better if the ponds areconstructed with interior baffle levees. Ponds shouldbe flooded every 7-10 days or as indicated necessaryby low oxygen levels until temperatures fall below65oF and oxygen levels stabilize. When oxygenlevels increase with cooler air, the water level shouldbe gradually brought up to full depth generally byearly to mid December. Trap Density and Spacing The number of traps set per acre (density) andspacing between traps are important factors toconsider before harvesting. Research indicated that20-25 traps per acre are the optimum number forefficient harvesting in ponds with a moderate to highstanding crop of harvestable crawfish. To achievethis density, the distance between rows should beabout 40 feet and distance between traps should be

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about 50 feet. The distance between traps is criticalto the efficiency at which traps can be baited andemptied. Trapping Frequency Traps are baited and emptied three to six days perweek, depending on the catch, price structure forcrawfish and market demand. Most baiting regimesare based on a 12-hour or 24-hour trap set. A 12-hour set entails baiting late in the afternoon andemptying the traps the next morning. A 24-hour setentails baiting one day and emptying and re-baitingthe trap 24 hours later. Fewer crawfish escape fromthe traps on a 12-hour set and more crawfish arecaught, but more labor and bait costs are involved.Daily crawfish catch is cyclic and influenced by manyfactors including water temperature, water quality,weather, forage type and quality, crawfish growth,recruitment patterns, trap design, baits and harvestingintensity. The major factor influencing catch isdensity of harvestable crawfish in the pond. Dailycatch rates typically range from ¼ to 3 pounds pertrap per day. Premium prices offered for late fall toearly winter crawfish have caused many farmers to tryto manage for an early harvest. Some crawfish pondswill be ready to fish as early as mid-November. Atthis time, catches are usually small (1/4 to 1 poundper trap), and are made up of holdover adults, largejuveniles that did not mature in the previous year andthe rapidly growing juveniles. There is usually a gapbetween the catch of holdover crawfish and thejuveniles. Before harvesting early, consider eggdevelopment, population density, pounds per trapharvested, cost of harvesting and the current price perpound. De-Watering (Draining) Ponds No specific date is considered the perfect time todrain a crawfish pond. There are a number of factorsto consider before draining. The existing crawfishpopulation should be evaluated before making a finaldecision to drain. In a normal situation, drainingand/or releasing the water could begin when at least20% of the female crawfish shows signs of eggdevelopment. Ponds should be drained over a 10 to14 day period for older, established ponds. Twoimportant issues when draining a pond include: 1)making sure 20% of the females are in the tan orbrown eggs stage or burrowing is beginning, and 2) to

drain off the water slowly 1 to 1½ inches per dayexcept where crawfish are stunted. Draining acrawfish pond early (March) to plant a rice crop oftenforces immature crawfish to burrow into the levees.This could delay next year’s harvest. Waiting untillate (May-June) to drain a pond will allow a higherpercentage of crawfish to reach maturity and ensurethat a larger number of crawfish will burrow. If thedecision is made to cease harvesting, and the pondpopulation is dominated by immature young, adifferent draining scheme should be used. In thissituation, drop the water level quickly to 8-10 inches,then hold until the water temperature increases.Dropping the water and allowing the watertemperature to rise will induce the crawfish to maturequickly and begin burrowing activity. Post Season Care In summer, minor levee work around a crawfish pondcan be performed. Ten to twelve inches of loose soilcan be added to the top of the burrows withoutcausing serious crawfish mortalities, but the less soiladded, the better. When levee work is necessary, if atall possible, use soil from outside the pond. Thefewer disturbances to the interior portion of the leveewhere crawfish burrow, the better the crawfishsurvival rate. Preparing a seedbed in a crawfish pondto plant forage can be done with little or no effect oncrawfish that have already burrowed. Land levelingor major levee repair will increase crawfish mortality.Severe compacting of soil by heavy equipment maynot allow crawfish to escape burrows and will resultin death. In these cases, 10-15 pounds of maturebroodstock should be added to the pond after levelingor major repair. WATER FOWL Migratory Ducks Louisiana winters a large portion of the ducksutilizing the Mississippi Flyway. These ducksbasically can be divided into two major groups –diving ducks and dabbling ducks.

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Diving Ducks Examples of diving ducks include: redhead (Aythyaamericana), canvasback (Aythya valisineria), ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris), greater scaup (Aythyamarila), and lesser scaup (Aythya affinis). Commongoldeneye (Bucephala clangula), bufflehead(Bucephala albeola), ruddy duck (Oxyurajamaicensis), and scoters (Melanitta sp.) aredeepwater ducks which are often labeled divingducks. Diving ducks cannot walk well on land. Theygenerally dive to feed off the bottom or on submergedplants and run along the surface of the water tobecome airborne. They usually congregate in largeflats and frequent lakes, rivers, coastal estuaries andlarge impoundments. Diving ducks consumeapproximately ten percent of their body weight infood daily, meeting their nutritional requirements byeating a variety of aquatic invertebrates, plants andseeds. Although wintering diving ducks in Louisianado utilize shallow water areas, large, somewhatdeeper impoundments with adequate water qualityproviding vast plant life are needed. This factorlimits management capabilities, however, reducingerosion, sedimentation, pollution and overallprotection of water quality and conservation of theselarge wintering habitats will provide requirementsneeded by these species. Dabbling Ducks Dabbling ducks, also called puddle ducks, includemallards (Anas platyrhynchos), black ducks (Anasrubripes), gadwall (Anas strepera), northern pintail(Anas acuta), green-winged teal (Anas crecca), blue-winged teal (Anas discors), cinnamon teal (Anascyanoptera), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), andAmerican wigeon (Anas americana). Dabbling duckscan walk well on land. They “tip” to feed rather thandive, and can take off vertically from land or water.Their preferred feeding habitats are flooded (6-12inches) agricultural lands, forested areas, marsh andriverine wetlands. Dabbling ducks eat about tenpercent of their body weight in food each day. Theycommonly feed on small grains (i.e., rice, corn,soybeans, etc.) in addition to utilizing seeds and otherparts from a variety of vegetation and aquaticinvertebrates.

Habitat for migratory dabbling ducks can be created,restored, and/or enhanced by providing essentialwintering life requirements (water, food and security).Refer to NRCS standards and specification onShallow Water Management for Wildlife (646). Agricultural Lands Rice fields are among the most economical areas toflood for waterfowl because the existing levees andwater control structures can be utilized. Howevercorn, soybean and grain sorghum residue along withrice stubble can be flooded for wintering habitat. Thewaste grain and decomposing vegetative matter,which increases invertebrates, provides waterfowlfoods. Rice stubble can be lightly disked, rolled orwater buffaloed prior to flooding. The procedure ofmanipulating rice stubble prior to flooding aids indecomposition, which increases invertebratepopulations and makes shallow water areas morevisible. Agricultural fields should be flooded slowlyas soon as possible after harvest coinciding with thearrival of early migratory waterfowl. Flooded areasshould be at least three acres in size and as far aspossible from human disturbance. At least tenpercent of the area should be flooded in earlySeptember (or as soon as harvest is complete) to adepth of 2-6 inches. Water levels should then begradually increased rather than immediatelyinundating the entire area. By increasing water levelsin four to six-inch increments, new areas are floodedand additional food sources gradually becomeavailable. This procedure conserves food for later inwinter and provides a range of water depths, whichbenefit a wider array of waterfowl and other wetlanddependent wildlife species. Fields should becompletely flooded by December 15th. If controlledflooding is not available, agricultural fields should bemade to hold water (close structure) as soon asharvest is complete. Flood-up should be maintaineduntil the following year just prior to seedbedpreparation. When de-watering the area, it should becompleted gradually (increments of less than six-inches) to concentrate invertebrate food resources.

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Moist Soil Areas (Natural Vegetation) Dabbling ducks often concentrate on wet areas wherenatural foods are abundant. Foods that attractwaterfowl are produced regularly on exposedmudflats after a controlled drawdown or when surfacewater disappears from natural wetlands in spring orsummer. Naturally occurring seeds from plantsassociated with wetlands regularly survive floodingseveral months or even years, whereas grains such ascorn, Japanese millet, domestic rice and soybeansdeteriorate rapidly when flooded continuously for 90days or more. Viable seeds of wetland plants readilygerminate in moist habitats when favorable conditionsoccur. This is usually when moisture is at or slightlybelow field capacity. An important factor thatdetermines the species composition of moist-soilplants that pioneer on exposed mudflats is thecomposition of seeds in the soil at the site. Most soilscontain ample seeds to produce dense stands ofdesirable moist soil plants native to the site. Twoimportant factors that determine plant responses tomoist-soil manipulation are 1) the timing of annualdraw downs and 2) the stage of succession (thenumber of years since the area was disturbed bydisking, plowing, controlled burning, etc.). Mid tolate-season drawdowns generally favor millets(Echinochloa and Leptochloa species) and preferredgrasses (Panicum sp.). Total seed production,however, is generally greater when impoundments aredrained early to mid-season. Early drawdowns occurwithin the first forty-five days of the growing season,mid-season drawdowns occur within the second forty-five days of the growing season and late seasondrawdown occur within the remainder of the growingseason. While slow drawdowns typically producediverse vegetative cover, fast (less than two weeks)drawdowns are more likely to result in a stand ofsimilar vegetation. To maximize benefits, unitsshould be drained at varying times and rates ifpossible. For maximum seed production, native plantcommunities must be maintained in an earlysuccessional stage. The percentage of non-foodproducing plant species generally tends to increase ineach consecutive year the area is not disturbed. Soildisturbance greatly affects the response of nativeplants to different management techniques.Impoundments should be treated at two to three yearintervals to set back succession and control theinvasion of undesirable plants. Vegetative successionmanipulations should not be more frequent than everytwo years unless problems with undesirable plantsbegin. Manipulations every year have the potential to

reduce beneficial food plant communities as does thelack of manipulation over several years, allowing thearea to move toward a climax state. Plants such ascocklebur (Xanthium sp.), coffeeweed (Sesbania sp.),cattail (Typha sp.), willow (Salix sp.), Chinese tallowtree (Sapium sebiferum) and other hardwood tree orshrub saplings can out-compete desirable plants. Ifundesirable plants invade fifty percent or more of themanaged area, control by either approved herbicides,disking, shredding, flooding and/or prescribedburning is warranted. Forested Areas Lowland hardwood forested areas have been leveedand equipped with water control structures tofacilitate flooding to make foods such as acorns,pecans, other seeds and invertebrates available towaterfowl. These areas are often called green-treereservoirs because flooding occurs during thedormant season. Trees are intended to survive theperiod of dormant flooding and when floodwaters arewithdrawn, they continue to develop foliage andsurvive the growing season. Long term productivityhas often been compromised as a result ofmodifications in the natural flooding regime. Earlyand prolonged flooding to greater depths during thedormant season and flooding into the growing seasonare associated with vegetation changes, lack ofregeneration, decreased mast production, tree diseaseand mortality. Maintaining productivity andproducing quality habitat require mimicking naturalwater regimes. This often requires either short-termshallow flooding, or in some years, no flooding at all.Tree vigor and age are known to influence seedproduction. Most red oak species begin to produceacorns at 20 to 25 years and production tends to falloff during the latter stages of a tree’s life. Lowlandforests typically have a variety of woody species thatare adapted to different flooding regimes. Each ofthese species has different level of tolerance to thetiming, depth and duration of flooding. Areascontaining species such as bald cypress (Taxodiumdistichum), overcup oak (Quercus lyrata), Nuttall oak(Quercus nuttallii) and water hickory (Caryaaquatica ) tolerate deeper and longer floodingduration than species such as water oak (Quercusnigra), sugarberry (Celtis laevigata) and willow oak(Quercus phellos). Waterfowl that exploit lowlandhardwood forest have diverse requirements forsurvival, and these forested systems provide many lifecycle requirements. Waterfowl are well adapted to

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respond to fluctuating water where they consumefoods that are constantly changing in abundance andavailability. No single food source or wetland typeprovide all the resources required by waterfowl asthey progress through the natural annual cycle ofbiological events. Forested wetland areas should be aportion of the wetland complex that provides diversefood resources in order to provide maximum benefitto waterfowl. Food Plantings Within moist soil areas, forested wetland openings,shallow water areas or mudflats, areas can be plantedto cultivated domestic crops or native plant fooditems. A reliable source of water is necessary for thispractice. Areas to be planted should be at least threeacres in size except in forested openings where ½acre is acceptable. Slopes should be one percent orless. Most plantings will require de-watering forgermination. On freshwater sites, which can becompletely de-watered during the growing season,browntop millet (Panicum ramosum), dove proso(Panicum miliaceum), Japanese millet (Echinochloafrumentacea), corn (Zea mays), chufa (Cyperusesculentus), smartweed (Polygonium sp.) and/or deltaduck potato (Sagittaria latifolia) can be established.In existing intermediate and brackish water ponds,wigeon grass (Ruppia maritima) can be transportedand transplanted. Wigeon grass grows well whenwater is fairly cool in early spring and fall. Also, foruse in brackish marshes, Saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpusrobustus) can be established. Seeds should becollected in the fall, stored dry at room temperatureand planted in the spring. Tubers also can be dug andtransplanted like delta duck potato. The area shouldbe partially flooded (1 to 2 inches per day) byOctober 15 and completely flooded by December 15.Keep flooded until time to prepare the seedbed forthe following year’s plantings. Also beware ofcurrent migratory bird baiting regulations whenplanting or manipulating waterfowl foods if the areawill be hunted.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) Wood ducks nest in woodland areas along lakes,rivers and vegetated wetland areas. During the wintermonths, wood ducks inhabit bottomland hardwoodwetlands, beaver ponds, river outflows, backwatersand other inland freshwater, forested wetland areas.High quality wood duck habitat is intricately linked topreservation and management of overly maturehardwood timber along river and perennial streamcorridors and the availability of suitable nesting sitesand brood rearing habitat. Food The early diet of ducklings largely consists of insects,aquatic invertebrates, small fish and other highprotein animal matter. After six weeks of age, theyoung switch to plant foods until their diet consists ofapproximately ninety percent vegetative materials,primarily aquatic plants such as algae(Chlamydomonas sp., Phacus sp., Cosmarium sp,etc.), watershield (Brasenia schreberi) and duckweed(Lemna minor). Adult wood ducks feed on a varietyof nuts and fruits, aquatic plants and seeds, andaquatic insects and other aquatic invertebrates.Insects and aquatic invertebrates are particularlyimportant food items of adult hens during egg layingin spring. Acorns and other forest mast are importantfall and winter foods. Seeds of native sweet pecan(Carya illinoesis), cypress, hickory, (Carya sp.)sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), buttonbush(Cephalanthus occidentalis), domestic and wild rice,soybeans, corn and sorghum are also commonfall/winter foods. Wood ducks feed primarily inshallow water areas, but will also forage on the forestfloor for seeds, acorns and nuts. Protecting, restoringand enhancing floodplain timber and riparian habitatsand eliminating competition for food items fromlivestock within these habitats is needed to providefood requirements for wood ducks. Refer to NRCSStandards and Specifications on Tree and ShrubEstablishment (612), Forest Stand Improvement(666), Riparian Forest Buffer (391) and LivestockExclusion (472).

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Nesting Cover Wood ducks nest in natural tree cavities andmanufactured nest boxes. Nesting pairs typicallyselect cavities in deciduous woodland areas in closeproximity to rivers, bayous, wetlands and othersuitable aquatic habitat used for brood rearing.Cavities located 30 feet or more above the ground arepreferred, but the height can vary from near groundlevel to 65 feet. Suitable natural cavity dimensionstypically have an entrance hole diameter of at least 4inches, an inside diameter of approximately 6-8inches and a depth of at least 24 inches. Optimalnesting habitat contains up to five suitable cavitiesper acre in close proximity to brood rearing habitat.However, because of the lack of suitable cavities foruse by nesting wood ducks, these conditionsfrequently require that 50-60 natural cavities per acreexist. Due to short timber rotations and lack ofoverly mature hardwoods, these conditions rarelyexist. This illustrates the need of providing suitableartificial nesting boxes to augment the availability ofnatural cavities. Nest boxes should be constructed ofweather resistant wood such as cypress or cedar. Thewood can be painted, stained or treated with lightcolors, but only on the outside surface. Dark colors,metal or plastic nest boxes often absorb excessiveheat on warm spring days, which can be detrimentalto wood duck reproduction. The entrance hole shouldhave a four-inch diameter or be an oval that is threeinches high and four inches wide. Figure 2 providesan example of one type of nest box design. A three-inch wide strip of ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth shouldbe fastened to the inside of the box under the entranceto function as a ladder for the hen and newly hatchedducklings. The cut edges of this cloth should befolded back before insertion to avoid injury to theducklings in their climb from the nest to the entrancehole. A three-inch layer of coarse sawdust should beplaced at the bottom of the box to serve as nestingmaterial and help prevent the eggs from rollingaround. At least four small drainage holes should belocated at the bottom of the nest box. The lid or oneside of the box should be removable to facilitatemonitoring and cleaning.

All wood duck boxes should be fitted with agalvanized sheet metal predator guard (Figure 3)

Sawdust

12”

9 1/

2”

Side View

10”

15”

8”

FrontView

Figure 2. Wood ducknesting box design

Floor

Roof

Side

Side 15”

15”

15”

16”

16”

6”

16”

15”

8”

10”

Back

Front

1 inch roughlumber

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to prevent snakes, raccoons, squirrels, opossums andother predators from negatively impacting nestingsuccess. Because of the secretive nature of nestingwood ducks, individual nest boxes should be placedin relatively secluded areas within timber standswhere natural cavities would typically occur. Nestboxes can be placed either on land or over water. Iflocated over water, they should be placed at least fourfeet above the high water level and the entrance holeshould face the open water rather than the shoreline.Because of the ease of access by predators,installation of nest boxes directly on trees should beavoided. Nest boxes placed on land should belocated from 30 to 150 feet away from the shoreline.Boxes placed directly on the shoreline appear to bemore likely frequented by nest predators. Since thehen must lead her ducklings to water soon after theyhatch, the area between the nest box and the water’sedge should be free of any major obstacles such asroads or fencing. This area should contain cover suchas buttonbush, swamp privet (Forestieraaccuminata), etc., that affords duck movement withprotection from predators. Nest boxes placed onpoles over water are generally more easily monitoredthan those placed in trees. Whether the box is placedover water or land, the entrance should be clear ofobstructions to provide easy access for the ducks. InLouisiana, nesting may begin in February, so nestboxes should be cleaned, maintained and put in placeby December of each year.

A

Side view cut away toshow mounting block

Drill pilothole fornailing blockto post

Use 3 woodenmounting blocks

36” m

inim

um

abo

ve w

ate

r

¼” round hestove boltsmetal screw

Figure 3. Standard cone-shaped predator guardBelow is a layout for cutting three predator guards from a 3 ft X8 ft sheet of 26-guage galvanized metal. When installing theguard, overlap the cut edge to the dotted line. To facilitatecutting, follow the sequence of numbers. Make circular cuts incounterclockwise direction. To make initial cut on line A-B,make a slot at A with a wood chisel, use tinsnips, and wearleather gloves.

A

B

9

7

4

1

3

6

108

5

27”

18” R

18”

60o

8’

2

5” hole fits 4” post6” hole fits 5” post

7 ¼” hole fits 6” post

B

Nail guardin place


To minimize access to nest boxes bypredators, metal predator guards shouldbe installed on all wood duck boxsupport poles.

ad ors

3’

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While the normal brood size for wood ducks is 10 to15, nests have been found to contain 30 eggs or more.These extra eggs are the result of intraspecific broodparasitism or “dump nesting”. Dump nesting occurswhen a female, frequently a first year breeder, followsanother hen to nest sites during the egg-laying period.The visiting bird is stimulated to lay her eggs in thenest of the other hen. In the wild, this impulse is keptin check because wood ducks normally nest inisolated locations. Artificial nesting structures areoften mistakenly erected close together and/or inhighly visible locations. This creates a situationwhere dump nesting is common and overallreproductive success decreases. Because of this, it iscritical to locate nest boxes in isolated locationsmimicing naturally occuring tree cavities. Although itmay take nesting pairs longer to locate these types ofnest boxes, nesting success should be high whenfound. Also, nest boxes should be placed 600 feetapart and should not be visible to one another. Oncea nest box program has been started, a regular annualinspection should be made during early winter(December) and/or well after the nesting season hasended in late summer. Old egg shells, wasp nests,any unhatched eggs, etc., should be removed andgeneral repairs to the box and the predator guardshould be done. Nesting litter (coarse sawdust)should be replaced at least every other year.Disturbance of the hen during nesting season(February through June) may cause her to abandonthe nest. It is a violation of federal migratory birdstatutes to destroy or disturb the nests or eggs ofmigratory birds. Brood-Rearing Cover Wood duck broods require shallow water for foragingon invertebrates and aquatic plants that contain someprotective cover from predators. A ratio of fifty toseventy-five percent cover to fifty to seventy-fivepercent open water is preferred as brood rearing (andbreeding) habitat. Cover may be provided by trees orshrubs overhanging the water, flooded woodyvegetation and herbaceous emergent vegetation.Ideal shrub cover is provided by mature shrubs thatprovide a dense canopy about two feet above thewater surface. Buttonbush is an important species inthe majority of Louisiana, due to the brushy growthform, providing brood cover, and its prolific seedproduction, used heavily by foraging adults. Relianceon permanent, deeper water bodies for brood habitatshould be avoided to minimize duckling mortality

from aquatic predators such as snapping turtles andlarge fish. Adult molting cover requirements aregenerally met by suitable brood rearing habitat.Permanent water, cover and food are the key elementsof molting habitat. Winter Cover In Louisiana, areas where resident and migratorywood ducks winter are similar to brood-rearinghabitat. Bottomland hardwood wetlands and quietriver backwaters and streams with an abundance offlooded timber, shrubs and woody debris providewintering habitats. Winter persistent herbaceousemergent vegetation that has shrubby form (i.e.,cattail, softrush (Juncus sp.), cutgrass (Zizeniropismiliacea), etc. may also provide adequate wintercover. Security provided by overhead woody cover isthe key element of good wood duck roosting habitat. Interspersion of Habitats In order for successful wood duck reproduction andsurvival to occur, all the habitat components must beavailable in relative proximity to one another. Sincewood ducks are highly mobile during winter, the mostcritical aspect of habitat interspersion, or the mix ofdifferent habitat types, is the proximity of brood-rearing habitat to nesting habitat in the spring. Thehighest quality nesting habitat is of little use if thenearest brood-rearing habitat is more than a mileaway. Also, the best brood-rearing habitat will notsupport wood duck broods if there is no nestinghabitat in the vicinity. The best habitats consist of acomplex of forested wetland habitat that include somenon-flooded hardwood forests, green-tree reservoirs,rivers, oxbows, riparian corridors, beaver ponds,shrub-scrub and dense emergent herbaceous wetlands.Because wood ducks are able to nest some distancefrom brood-rearing habitat, no reasonable estimate ofminimum nesting habitat size exists. In addition, nogood estimates for minimum wintering habitat areaare available due to the high mobility of winteringbirds. However at least ten acres of wetland or otheraquatic habitat in a contiguous unit, or, in isolatedparcels separated by no more than 100 feet of upland,is needed in close proximity to nesting habitat tosupport brood-rearing.

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Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) The mottled duck is unique in that it is the only ducknorth of Mexico that does not migrate. It may move100 miles or more along the coast, but it is likely tospend summer and winter on the same marsh.Because it inhabits the same habitat throughout theyear, its fate rests in the hands of those responsiblefor the existence and quality of the coastal wetlands. Wintering Habitat Mottled duck wintering habitat needs are similar tothe many migratory dabbling ducks that annuallyutilize Louisiana’s gulf coastal wetlands.Improvements and management criteria listed forthese species can be utilized to benefit the winteringrequirements of the mottled duck. Nesting Habitat Being a resident of the Louisiana coastal marsh andprairie area, habitats and requirements with otherdabbling duck species cease with the pairing ofmottled ducks in February, but coincide with otherwaterbirds such as fulvous tree ducks (Dendrocyguabicolor) and members of the Rail (Rallidae) family.The peak nesting period is March, April and May. InFebruary and March, mated pairs of mottled ducksexplore fallow rice fields, grassy meadows andcordgrass ridges along the edge of the marsh lookingfor suitable nest sites. Mottled duck nests are foundin varying habitat situation, but by far the mostcommonly used habitat type is an association ofmarshhay cordgrass (Spartina patens) and gulfcordgrass (Spartina spartinae) dominant over othergrasses. Areas with highest nest densities are welldrained cordgrass ridges located immediatelyadjacent to permanently wet marsh. Other productivenest habitats include rice fields, cattle pastures andother prairie sites dominated with smutgrass(Sporobolus indicus), paspalums and bluestems(Andropogon sp.). Improved pastures featuringcoastal bermuda offer little to mottled duckproduction.

Brood-rearing Habitat Food, shallow water and escape cover areprerequisites for adequate brood-rearing habitat.Mottled ducks nesting in cattle pastures and riceproduction areas rely on overgrown ditches. Denselyvegetated flume ditches or small ponds supportvertabrate and inverbrate life along with grasses andother aquatic plants. Mottled ducks nesting nearcoastal marsh utilize nutria/muskrat “eat-out” pondsor marsh that was opened previously by fire that leftscattered patches of cordgrasses in shallow open-water. Salinity does not appear to be a limitingfactor in mottled duck production. Habitat Management The most serious problem facing mottled ducks is thedwindling and deteriorating habitat. This iscompounded by periodic dry weather conditions tofurther reduce surface water across the prairie andmarsh range. Practices which maintain, conserve andpreserve a healthy coastal marsh environment areparamount. Marsh and prairie habitats should beprotected against any extensive drainage, conversionor other deteriorating measures. Also, furbearers andalligators should be controlled through legal means.Racoons, skunks, mink and alligators are effectivepredators of mottled ducks and pose seriouspopulation impacts when allowed to thrive at orabove carrying capacity. Migratory Geese Louisiana winters a significant portion of the geeseutilizing the Mississippi Flyway. This includes blueand white morphs of the snow goose (Chencaerulescens), the white-fronted goose (Anseralbifrons), and to a lesser extent, the Ross’ goose(Chen rossii) and the Canada goose (Brantacanadensis). Habitat for migratory geese can be created, restoredand/or enhanced much the same as for migratorydabbling ducks, however geese tend to require largeropen areas and commonly tolerate dry or onlyshallowly flooded habitats.

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Agricultural Lands Large open rice fields, soybean fields and pasturesprovide much of the needed security geese require.Although grain is utilized, geese are primarilygrazers. All geese eat tender shoots, leaves, roots andtubers of plants. Commonly utilized agriculturalplants include rice, rice sprouts, annual rye, ryegrass,wheat and clovers. The establishment of these plantsshould coincide with the first arrival of geese,typically by late October. Although there is nominimum size field utilized by geese, the larger thebetter. With excellent vision, geese utilize wide openspaces for security. Tall vegetation within fields isalso undesirable. Burning of cropland and rankvegetation within fields promotes new growth andincreases visibility. Burns should be conductedapproximately three weeks prior to arrival and shouldbe conducted if enough acreage is available. Beaware of current migratory bird baiting regulationswhen planting or manipulating waterfowl foods if thearea will be hunted. Marsh Much of the same activities which enhanceagricultural lands for geese will enhance marsh. Theburning of fresh, intermediate and brackish marshfrom September to February favors the production oftender young shoots and clears the ground of heavyrank vegetation so that geese have access to roots,tubers and new growth of marsh vegetation. Burningsets back vegetative succession and encouragesbeneficial plants such as Olney bulrush (Scirpusolneyi), leafy three-square (Scirpus maritimus) andAmerican bulrush (Scirpus americanus). Prescribedburns should be made two to three weeks before theirarrival. A series of these burns two to three weeksapart can be spread over the winter months to keeptender vegetation available. Although geese commonly utilize dry habitats, thepresence of fresh water is needed daily. Shallow (twoinches or less) floods on portions of the feedinghabitat or open water in association with feedinghabitat enhance the area for use.

Non-Game Birds Louisiana is home to a wide variety of wetlanddependent non-game bird species. Depending on thespecies, habitat recommendations could besignificantly different. Habitat requirements for onespecies may actually conflict with life requirements ofanother species. For example, the concept ofincreasing biological diversity by increasing theamount of transitional areas between habitats (edge-effect) has long been thought to provide richness infood, cover and other life requirements, especially forgame species. However, some wildlife species (i.e.,forest interior birds) appear to exhibit lowreproduction success where edge habitats appear toconcentrate the negative effects of nest predators. Shorebirds are a morphologically diverse group thatexplore the shallowest end of the wetland complex.During migrations, shorebirds are associatedprimarily with shallowly flooded coastal, freshwaterwetlands or intertidal mudflats with over seventypercent using water depths of less than four inches.Providing quality habitat for shorebirds requirescorrectly identifying relationships among speciesrequirements, the time required to meet these needsand the availabilty of foods. Practices benefittingshorebirds should focus on developing a food basethat will be continuously available. Sensitivity todisturbances caused by human activities should alsobe considered for all avian groups. Minor changes inwater depth, timing and duration of drawdowns orreflooding within a wetland complex can providebeneficial habitat for several species. For specificrecommendations pertaining to managing habitat for atarget non-game species, contact a NRCS wildlifebiologist. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) The common snipe is a migratory shorebird that isabundant in the fall, winter and spring in Louisiana.Snipe begin arriving in late August and may reside inLouisiana as late as June. Snipe frequent wetcropland fields, pastures, marshes, grassy meadowsand lake shores. Snipe require open areas utilizingvision and distance for security. Tall vegetation isavoided. Snipe use their bill to probe wet soils forinvertebrates usually associated with decomposingvegetative material. Earthworms, insect larva andcrustaceans make up the bulk of the snipe diet.

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Agricultural Lands Fields should be flat, low and of watertight soils(clay). Approximately ten acres is the minimumneeded to consistently provide habitat requirementsfor snipe. A water control system (low levee andstructure) is needed to establish a low flood(saturation to two inches) and enable the field to bedrained to access with farm implements. Disk ricestubble or other crop residue, or chop nativevegetation prior to flooding. Begin flooding fields inlate August and early September and graduallyincrease flooding until the entire area is flooded byDecember 15th. This procedure conserves food forlater in winter and provides a range of habitatconditions beneficial to several shorebirds, wadingbirds and wetland dependent wildlife species. Ifcontrolled flooding is not available, structures shouldbe closed as soon as possible in late summer/earlyfall. De-watering the area should also be donegradually, as late as possible in the spring, just priorto seedbed preparation. American Woodcock (Philohela minor) The American woodcock is somewhat common overthe majority of the Louisiana landscape, except thecoastal marshes, from mid-October to early February.Although a shorebird, the woodcock inhabits densewoodlands by day and feeds in fields at night. Woodcock prefer areas of thick vegetation whichoffer little ground cover but dense overhead cover.The sparse ground cover allows this bird to movefreely and probe wet soils for earthworms while theoverhead cover provides protection from predators.Nocturnal field habitat comes in many forms –harvested soybean fields, sugarcane fields, pasturesand in the pine dominated coastal plain - newclearcuts. The characteristics of a good nocturnalfield are similar to those of a good daytime habitat.Adequate moisture and sparse ground cover are themost important requirements. Providing fields inclose proximity to daytime habitat can enhancewoodcock habitat. Prescribed burning can be used tocreate good nocturnal fields for woodcock. Burningremoves layers of grass and dead vegetation whileretaining scattered stalks and patches of cover thatcan provide desirable vertical structure. A low lyingfield containing scattered areas of saturated orshallowly ponded water throughout winter is the bestsite for nocturnal habitat. Wet fields dominated by

broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus) and/or goldenrod (Solidago sp.) provide excellent nocturnal habitatwhen prescribed burned. Mowing and controlledgrazing can also be used to create nocturnal habitat.Portions of wet fields should be kept closely mowedor grazed throughout the winter months. Dwindlingand deteriorating diurnal habitat is a problem facingwoodcock populations. Practices which establish,maintain and conserve their hardwood overheadcover is essential especially adjacent to wet areas.Adequate woodland habitat should be protectedagainst conversion or deteriorating measures Threatened and Endangered Wetland Species There are several plants, invertebrate species,reptiles, birds, mammals and ecosystems associatedwith wetland habitats that have significantly declined.Careful consideration should be given toward theimpacts to threatened and endangered species andecosystems during the planning process.Management recommendations are specific tolimiting factors associated with the species orecosystem. To obtain planning information regardinghabitat improvements for threatened or endangeredspecies contact a NRCS wildlife biologist. Wetland Habitat Preservation and Maintenance Retention of existing wetland wildlife habitat bylimiting agronomic, forestry, husbandry, urbanization,land use conversions, and negatively impactingdisturbances and by applying necessary measureswhich thwart degradation is considered wetlandwildlife habitat preservation and maintenance. Forexample, if a livestock producer is grazing onehundred fifty cattle on a marsh and reduces the herdby the necessary amount to improve the conditionsfor wildlife, this is considered maintaining andpreserving wetland wildlife habitat. Preservation andmaintenance of wetland wildlife habitat is intended tocontinue to provide all existing habitat requirements.Neither the quality of the habitat nor the populationneed to acertain predetermined levels. Theconservation plan must contain managementmeasures specific to how the habitat will bemaintained and preserved. The practice isacccomplished when:

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1) The existing hydrology is maintained through limiting drainage, or operation and maintenance of water control structures to mimic the necessary conditions.

2) The area is not planned for intensive range or woodland management that would compromise the integrity of the habitat. However, limited use by domestic livestock, timber removal or the use of prescribed burning that does not significantly change the existing vegetative community, may be needed to maintain the existing beneficial habitat conditions.

CONSIDERATIONS

Consider the effects of movement of dissolvedsubstances on groundwater and on downstreamsurface waters. Consider effects of hazardousmaterials expected or known to occur on the site onwildlife or human use related to wildlife.

Consider effects of management actions oncompliance with state and federal hunting regulation(e.g., baiting).

Consider effects of management on non-target fishand wildlife species and Threatened and EndangeredSpecies.

Consider effects of livestock grazing on run-off,infiltration and wetland vegetation.

Consider using artificial nesting nesting structuresthat are designed for the region.

Consider using the management practice adjacent toexisting wetlands and other water bodies.

Consider the impact of elevated wildlife uses onadjacent lands (e.g., crop depredation).

Consider effects of volumes and rates of runoff,infiltration, evaporation and transpiration on thewater budget.

Consider effects on downstream flows or aquifers thatwould effect other water uses or users.

Consider adjacent wetlands or water bodies thatcontribute to wetand system complexity and diversity,decrease habitat fragmentation and maximize use ofthe site by wetland associated wildlife.

Consider effects on movement of sediment andsoluble and sediment-attached substances carried byrunoff and/or wind.

PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Document how habitat needs will be provided for thedesired kinds of wildlife: required depth of waterduring the different seasons; types and sizes ofstructures required; desired native plant species andthe means of establishing and maintaining them.Specific information may be provided usingappropriate job sheets or written documentation in theconservation plan.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

A plan for operation and maintenance at a minimumshould include monitoring and management ofstructural and vegetative measures and should alsoconsider:

Haying and livestock grazing lands will be developedso as to allow the establishment, development andmanagement of wetland and associated wetlandvegetation for the intended purpose.

If livestock are used to manage the wetlandvegetation, grazing will be accomplished per thePrescribed Grazing (528A) conservation practicestandard. Livestock will be grazed according to aplanned grazing schedule.

Biological control of undesirable plant species andpests (e.g., using predator or parasitic species) shallbe implemented where available and feasible.

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A. 1993. M. K. Laubhan, L. H. Fredrickson.Integrated Wetland Management: Concepts andOpportunities. Specialn Session G. WetlandManagement for Shorebirds and Other Species.Reprinted from Transactions of the 58the NorthAmerican Wildlife and Natural RsourcesConferences.

B. 1988. Stutzonbaker, E. D. The Mottled Duck,Its Life History, Ecology and Management.Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Austin,Texas.

C. 1993. Ducks Unlimited, Inc. MississippiCooperative Extension Service. Arkansas Gameand Fish Commission. Waterfowl HabitatManagement Handbook for the LowerMississippi River Valley. Publication 1864.

D. 1951. Martin, A. C., Zim, H. S., Nelson, A. L., American Wildlife and Plants – A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits. Dover Publications, Inc., New York.

E. 1977. Halls, L. K., Southern Fruit-ProducingWoody Plants Used by Wildlife, SouthernForest Experiment Station, Forest Service,USDA.

F. 1988. Duncan, W. H., Duncan, M. B.,Trees ofSouthern United States. University of Georgia,Athern, Georgia.

G. 1991. Ball, D. M., Hoveland, C. S., Lacefield,G. D., Southern Forages, Potash & PhosphateInstitute and the Foundation for AgronomicResearch. Williams Printing Complany, Atlanta,Georgia.

H. 1996. Louisiana State University AgriculturalCenter, Louisiana Cooperative ExtensionService. Crawfish Production Manual.Publication 2637.

I. 1988. Fredrickson, L. H., Reid, F. A. 13.3.1Invertabrate Response to Wetland Management,Waterfowl Managemanagement Handbook, Fishand Wildlife Leaflet 13, USDA, USFWS.

J. 1974. Lowery, G. H., Louisiana Birds, LouisianaWildlife and Fisheries Commission, LouisianaState Press, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

K. Wildife Habitat Management Institute. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). Fish and WildlifeHabitat Management Leaflet. USDA-NRCS.

References

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Table 1: Partial List of Native Tree Species Beneficial to Wildlife(Refer to Practice 612)

Hardwood Trees (all bare root unless noted otherwise)Species Planting Rate/Acre Spacing Planting Date Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii) 302 12X12 December-Marchwater oak (Quercus nigra) 302 12X12 December-Marchgreen ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) 302 12X12 December-Marchwillow oak (Quercus phellos) 302 12X12 December-Marchshumard oak (Quercus shumardii) 302 12X12 December-Marchbald cypress (Taxodium distichum) 302 12X12 December-Marchsugarberry (Celtis laevigata ) 302 12X12 December-Marchtupleo gum (Nyssa aquatica) 302 12X12 December-Marchovercup oak (Quercus lyrata) 302 12X12 December-Marchcherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda) 302 12X12 December-Marchcow oak (Quercus michauxii) 302 12X12 December-Marchlaurel oak (Quercus laurifolia) 302 12X12 December-Marchnative sweet pecan (Carya illinoensis)302 12X12 December-Marchbitter pecan (Carya aquatica) 302 12X12 December-Marchpersimmon (Diospyros virginiana) 302 12X12 December-Marchred mulberry (Morus rubra) 302 12X12 December-Marchred maple (Acer rubrum) 302 12X12 December-Marchcedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) 302 12X12 December-MarchAmerican elm (Ulmus americana) 302 12X12 December-Marchsweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 302 12X12 December-March

Evergreen (Coniferous) Trees (all bare root unless noted otherwise)Species Planting Rate/Acre Spacing Planting Date loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) 680 8X8 December-Marchloblolly (seed) 1 lb. Broadcast February-Marchslash pine (Pinus elliottii) 680 8X8 December-March slash pine (seed) 1 lb. Broadcast February-Marchspruce pine (Pinus glabra) 302 12X12 December-March

Table 2: Partial List of Introduced Tree Species Beneficial to Wildlife (Refer to Practice 612)

Trees (all bare root unless noted otherwise)Species Planting Rate/Acre Spacing Planting Datesawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima) 302 12X12 December-Marchpear (Pyrus communis) 302 12X12 December-MarchJapanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki) 302 12X12 December-MarchJapanese plum or loquat (Eriobtrya japonica)302 12X12 December-March

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Table 3: Partial List of Native Shrub Species Beneficial to Wildlife(Refer to Practice 612)

Shrubs (all bare root unless noted otherwise)Species Planting Rate/Acre Spacing Planting Datebuttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)[cuttings] 302 12X12 December-March deciduous holly (Ilex decidua) 302 12X12 December-Marchmayhaw (Crataegus opaca) 302 12X12 December-Marchroughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) 302 12X12 December-March elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) 302 12X12 December-Marchswamp dogwood (Cornus stricta) 302 12X12 December-Marchswamp privet (Forestiera acuminata) 302 12X12 December-March

Table 4: Partial List of Native Grass/Forb/Legume Species Beneficial to Wildlife (these species are typically utilized as diverse mixtures)

(Refer to Practice 327)

Grass/Forb/Legume (all seed [PLS] unless noted otherwise)Species Planting Rate/Acre Planting DateIndiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) 4.5 lbs. December-Mayswitchgrass (Panicum virgatum) 2.0-3.5 lbs. December-MayIllinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illioensis) 13.6 lbs. December-Maysweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa) 2.0 lbs. September-Decemberrattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) 2.0-3.0 lbs. September-Decembereastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) 8.0 lbs. December-Mayplains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) 1.0-2.0 lbs. September-Decemberbeggarweeds (Desmondium sp.) 12.0 lbs. April-JuneVirginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) 15.0-20.0 lbs. September-November

Table 5: Partial List of Native and Introduced Grass/Forb/Legume/ Species Beneficial To Wildlife Through Water Level, Soil and Vegetative Manipulations

delta duck potato (Sagittaria platyphylla) smartweed (Polygonum sp.)coast cockspur (Echinochloa walteri)dwarf spikerush (Eleocharis parvula)American bulrush (Scirpus americanus)leafy three-square (Scirpus maritimus)three cornered grass (Scirpus olneyi)small pondweed (Potamogeton pusillus)bearded sprangletop (Leptochloa fascicularis)sprangletop (Leptochloa attenuata)

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Table 5: (CONTINUED)

sedge (Carex/Cyperus sp.)barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli)red rice (Oryza sativa)fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum)savannah panic grass (Panicum gymnocarpon)broadleaf signalgrass (Brachiaria platyphylla)rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides)wigeon grass (Ruppia maritima)saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus robustus)gulf cordgrass (Spartina spartinae)marshhay cordgrass (Spartina patens)

Table 6: Partial List of Introduced Grass/Forb/Legume/ Species Beneficial to Wildlife(Refer to Practice 327)

Grass/Forb/Legume (all seed [PLS] unless noted otherwise)Species Planting Rate/Acre Planting Dategrain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) 20.0 lbs. April-Junesorghum-sudan (Sorghum sp.) 20.0 lbs. April-Junesoybean (Glycine sp.) 60.0-90.0 lbs. April-Junecow pea (Vigna unguiculata) 50.0 lbs. April-Julyhairy vetch (Vicia villosa) 30.0 lbs. September-Novemberwheat (Triticum aestivum) 90.0 lbs. September-Novemberchufa (Cyperus esculentus) 50.0 lbs. April-Junecorn (Zea mays) 8.0-15.0 lbs. March-Maycrimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) 15.0-25.0 lbs. September-Novemberred clover (Trifolium pratense) 12.0-15.0 lbs. September-Novemberwhite clover (Trifolium repens) 5.0 lbs. October-Novemberarrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum) 10.0 lbs. October-Novembersubterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) 15.0 lbs. October-Novemberoats (Avena sativa) 90-120.0 lbs. September-Novemberrye (Secale cereale) 90.0 lbs. September-Octoberryegrass (Lolium multiforum) 30.0 lbs. September-November

singletary pea (Lathyrus hirsutus) 35.0-40.0 lbs.* September-Novemberalyce clover (Alysicarpus vaginalis) 30.0 lbs. April-Julypearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) 25.0-30.0 lbs. April-JulyJapanese millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) 20.0-25.0 lbs. April-Augustchiwapa millet (Echinochloa frumentacea) 15.0-20.0 lbs. April-Augustdove proso (Panicum miliaceum) 40.0 lbs. April-Maybrowntop millet (Panicum ramosum) 20.0 lbs. March-AugustFlorida beggerweed (Desmodium tortuosum) 12.0 lbs. April-Junerice (Oryza sativa) 90.0 lbs. March-August

* indicates scarified seed

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Table 7: Partial List of Native Vine Species Beneficial to Wildlife(Refer to Practice 342)

Vine Species Spacing/Acre Planting Dategreenbriar (Smilax sp 3X3 December-Marchblackberry (Rubus sp.) 3X3 December-Marchdewberry (Rubus sp.) 3X3 December-Marchrattan (Berchemia scandens) 3X3 December-Marchmuscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) 3X3 December-March

Documents

WETLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT (acre) CODE 644 · as 35 parts per thousand (ppt) for a very short term, but spawning is affected at 12-15 ppt. Newly hatched young die at 15 ppt