Developing waterfowl habitat on your farm, ranch, or recreational game property is probably one of the most profitable and rewarding types of wildlife habitat development out there. If properly planned and implemented, the fruits of your labor can be experienced in a relatively short period of time, in some cases within the same year. In terms of most other types of wildlife habitat development, that’s a “warp” rate. First, you need to have a basic understanding of waterfowl habitat and feeding requirements.
Quality waterfowl habitat must provide water, food, and shelter. Ducks are divided into two main groups, hobby ducks (hobbyists) and diving ducks (various). Hobbyists include species such as the tailed duck, the blue-winged teal, the green-winged teal, the spotted duck, the hawk, the wigeon, the mallard, and the northern shoveler. These species either drill for food at the surface of the water or bend down to feed just below the surface. The optimal feed depth for hobbyists is 6 “- 12”. Several include species such as redhead, canvas back, ringed neck, lesser and greater scaup, golden eye, and ruddy duck. These species dive below the surface of the water to drill to the bottom or submerged vegetation. Generally, the cost of building large deep reservoirs prevents the development of a habitat for diving ducks. Furthermore, most shallow water reservoirs are also easily used by diving ducks.
Most recreational hunting properties with hydrology that has been altered or modified by agriculture lend themselves well to the development of quality waterfowl habitat. These areas typically have some, if not most, of the infrastructure, such as water supply systems, already in place. Areas that are poorly drained and with a reliable source of water to allow shallow winter flooding are well suited for developing waterfowl habitats. Soils containing clay or silty clay loam soils are best suited because they compact well, creating an airtight seal when flooded with little or no seepage.
The development of waterfowl habitat on most recreational game lands will generally always require the construction of levees and the proper design and placement of water control structures to reproduce natural hydrological regimes. Dams and water control structures should be designed based on topography to maximize the amount of habitat flooded at optimal feeding depths. A detailed topographic survey will help determine the proper location of levees, water supply and discharge systems, and ultimately determine the optimal wetland size.
Longevity and maintenance are the most important considerations when building levees on recreational hunting lands. Permanent levees that are designed to withstand fluctuating weather conditions will ensure the long-term integrity of the levees with minimal maintenance. The largest initial investment in time and money to properly build permanent levees will save time and money in the long run. Only soils with a high clay content should be used for dam construction. All woody and herbaceous vegetation must be removed from the dike right-of-way and the borrow area (area adjacent to the dike where the soil will be taken for the dike) prior to construction. A clean, vegetation-free surface is necessary to ensure that an airtight seal is formed between the soil and the fill material to prevent seepage.
The width and height of the levees depend on the size of the reservoir and specific management objectives. Large reservoirs (> 20 acres) may be subject to severe wave action and erosion and, consequently, may require more substantial levees. Depending on the size of the reservoir, the height of the levees should be constructed with 1 – 2 feet of free board (the height of the levee above the maximum designed water level). The initial fill height of the dam should be 10 percent higher than the finished dam to allow for shrinkage. Dams must be constructed with a minimum crown width of 6 to 8 feet. If levees support vehicular traffic, a minimum crown width of 10 feet should be used. Dams should be constructed with a minimum 4: 1 lateral slope (the width of the dam extends 4 feet from the edge of the crown for each foot of elevation) to provide easy and safe operating conditions for cutting the dike.
One of the most critical components of any managed waterfowl repository on a recreational hunting property is an efficient water control structure. Successful management of waterfowl habitat requires the ability to hold water at precise depths and discharge water in precise increments to make drilling available to waterfowl, to encourage the establishment of preferred food plants, and to control vegetation. Unwanted. Water control structures come in a variety of different designs and are made from a variety of different materials, each with its own advantages and limitations. Frames made of aluminum tend to have a longer life compared to other materials and work well for most applications.
The topography and size of the reservoir will determine the number of water control structures needed. Structures should be placed at the lowest elevation to allow complete removal of water from the reservoir when necessary. Structures must be of adequate size to ensure that they adequately carry runoff from the seized watershed. Consideration should be given to locating structures where they can be easily accessed for management purposes with minimal disturbance to the reservoir.
The flash board or stop register water control structure is probably the most effective and widely used design. Allows precise incremental regulation of water by adding and removing flash plates. Once the appropriate number of flash boards are in place to maintain the desired water level, the structure regulates itself. Excess storm flow above the desired water level is allowed to flow freely over the upper deck and out of the discharge pipe, keeping the reservoir at a constant optimum water level.
There are a multitude of state, federal, and private grant programs available that provide funding for the development and management of waterfowl habitat on recreational hunting properties. By engaging the services of a professional who is knowledgeable in both wildlife and recreational hunting habitat development and management, you can ensure that you take full advantage of these available funding opportunities and that your habitat development project is planned and planned. implements correctly. When properly planned and implemented, developing waterfowl habitat on your farm, ranch, or recreational hunting property can be extremely rewarding, profitable, and substantially increase the value of your property.