Spring Drawdown As A Waterfowl Management Practice In A Floating Fresh Marsh

Spring drawdown was evaluated as a waterfowl management practice in a floating fresh marsh in southcentral Louisiana. Water depths were fluctuated in a shallow marsh impoundment for the study. The impoundment produced more waterfowl food plants than the control area and less water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) , a pest plant in the area. There was a direct relationship between the vegetative coverage and composition of the impounded area and the species of seeds present in the top 5 em of soil within the impounded area. Winter usage of the impoundment by ducks and American coots (Fulica americana) was 9 times and 4 times greater than winter usage of the control area, respectively.