Ducks Unlimited’s (DU) wetland management skills are paying off for several waterfowl species that are enjoying improved habitat on property owned by the Beebe Draw Gun Club. DU has been working for two years remove and control an overgrowth of cattail that had rendered the wetlands useless for waterfowl.
Founded as a Duck Club in the early 1920’s, Beebe Draw Gun Club provided exceptional waterfowling adventures for members from the Greeley area. Located between the Milton and Latham reservoirs, the property boasted several shallow lakes and agricultural land fed by seep water. Mallards, teal, pintail, redheads and scaup took advantage of the property’s shallow wetlands
Stands of cattail eliminated all open water, rendering the basins useless to waterfowl. The club’s habitat began to decline as wetland basins filled with silt and deep organic soils, limiting access for agricultural equipment. Eventually, the club abandoned hunting this land all together. Years of neglect added to the problem as previous years’ growth choked the wetland and added to organic soil deposits. Club members removed the cattail through prescribed burns just to have the plants return more vigorously the following year.
Club members asked DU to improve the habitat. DU biologists designed a plan, funded by the club, to improve the land’s water management capability and dry out the soils allowing agricultural equipment to resume production.
“Colorado land comes at a premium price,” said Greg Kernohan, Ducks Unlimited regional biologist in Colorado, “and landowners must find ways to maximize their limited assets.”
Two years ago, DU’s wetland management team entered the wetlands for the first time. Armed with brush saws and brush hogs, the cattail plants started to come down. DU has continued to use mowers, cattle, fire and herbicides to remove and control cattail, airing the deep organic soils and exposing ground to sunlight. Annual plants loaded with food for waterfowl have germinated from the new conditions to provide 14 acres of renewed habitat for birds.
Driven by the original projects’ success, DU and the club combined resources to reclaim an additional two wetlands and nearly 50 seasonal wetland acres. This past spring, several waterfowl species, geese, sandhill cranes, and white-faced ibis enjoyed the enhanced habitats and will do so again in the fall.
Wetland management is a contract service offered by DU in Colorado and is paid for by participating landowners. If you know of a project that could benefit from DU’s wetland expertise, contact Greg Kernohan, regional biologist, at 970-339-5719.