Great Plains Regional Office - Ducks Unlimited
June 2006 Habitat Conditions in North-Central U.S.
June was DRY across the Northern Prairies and water levels in many, or in some areas, most wetland habitats receded rapidly or dried. Nevertheless, very good waterfowl production is occurring in northeast North Dakota and northeast South Dakota. Across the expansive Montana plains, eastern Dakotas and in northern Colorado waterfowl production is expected to be fair to mostly good. Though breeding duck pair numbers were down this spring in Minnesota, brood counts indicate that the breeding effort has been successful with above average numbers of broods observed. In the western Dakotas, habitat conditions have deteriorated with the heat and dryness and waterfowl production has been spotty, with some poor production areas but with some areas experiencing good production. Nebraska, Wyoming and the High-Line of Montana are dry and fair waterfowl production is the best to expect from these areas.
North Dakota – June is typically the wettest month in North Dakota but this June was very dry. It was the seventh driest June ever recorded in Bismarck. Wetlands dried rapidly statewide during the month. Eastern parts of the state continue to have the best habitat for waterfowl in the state and production has been good in this area. The central areas of North Dakota are experiencing severe drought conditions and waterfowl production is poor. Conditions in western parts of the state are dry but not as extreme as in the central region and production is spotty but considered fair. Similarly, across northern North Dakota, wetlands have dried but habitat conditions remain fair to good for waterfowl and production has been fair to good. A request has been made to USDA to open all 53 counties in the state for haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program acres.
South Dakota – Northeast South Dakota contains good habitat conditions and waterfowl production has been very good. Generally, across eastern South Dakota habitat and waterfowl production are considered fair to good. Wetlands in western South Dakota have dried rapidly in June, but because of good wetland conditions earlier in the spring, waterfowl production has been good. Similar to North Dakota, the Missouri Coteau in the central area of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions and waterfowl production will be poor from this important duck producing area. Many counties in central South Dakota have asked for approval of emergency haying and grazing of CRP acres.
Montana – The dry weather in June has also impacted Montana wetlands. Across the High-Line, conditions remain dry and waterfowl production will be fair at best. Wetlands in the intermountain valleys continue to hold water and production will be good in these areas. Across the vast eastern plains of the state, wetlands have continued to dry as a result of warm weather and lack of precipitation, but again, as a result of good wetland conditions earlier in the spring, waterfowl production has been good.
Iowa – June has been dry in Iowa and drought conditions have been experienced over a large part of the state. Water levels in wetlands in north-central Iowa have receded during the month but remain in fair to good condition. River tributaries have receded to low water levels in south-central and southeast Iowa and very low levels in southwest Iowa. Oxbows and other wetlands are in fair to poor condition in these areas. Though conditions are drier than normal across southern Iowa, stock ponds continue to provide good Canada goose brood-rearing habitat. Resident Canada goose production is average this year across Iowa. As a result of the dry June weather, duck production is expected to be average for mallards, blue-winged teal and wood ducks.
Minnesota – Minnesota’s waterfowl breeding habitat continued to be fair to good during June. May pond counts were 12% lower than in 2005 and 15% below the long-term average. The duck breeding population was lower this spring than in 2005. Mallard numbers were 33% lower and 28% below the long-term average. Blue-winged teal and wood ducks were also significantly lower. Some of the drop in numbers was contributed to survey timing this year. Field reports indicate a higher than average number of broods this spring throughout the prairie portion of the state. Frequent rain events have kept southern and central areas of the state wet. The northwest and north-central regions of the state have been drier in June but habitat conditions remain good for duck production. If some precipitation continues in these northern areas, the wild rice crop is expected to be average to above average. Waterfowl production is also expected to be average to above average in the northern sector of Minnesota.
Nebraska – The Rainwater Basin region of Nebraska remains dry and in very poor condition. One bright spot, a small, localized area in Franklin and Kearney Counties, received six inches of rain in two days during June and filled many wetlands. The western half of Nebraska has been declared a drought emergency area by the governor. These dry conditions continue to move eastward across the state. The Sandhills and habitat along the Missouri River corridor are in poor to fair condition. The Platte River below Lake McConaughy is drying rapidly. Waterfowl production in Nebraska is expected to be below average this year.
Wyoming – June has been warm and dry over most of Wyoming. Wetlands continued to recede and dry during the month. Habitat conditions for waterfowl production over most of the state are fair at best, and production is expected to be somewhat below average. Intermountain valleys in northern Wyoming have some localized fair to good conditions and production is expected to be good in these few areas.
Colorado – As in the other states of the Northern Great Plains, June was generally dry. Wetlands continued to dry in the southern half of the state and waterfowl production is poor in most locations, including the San Luis Valley. In the intermountain valleys of northern Colorado habitat conditions are better, though the dry June caused wetlands to recede in these areas also. Waterfowl production is expected to be average or slightly above average in the northern sectors of the state.
June 2006 Habitat Conditions in North_1.pdf