|
Description:
The State of Iowa and the Fish and Wildlife Service have developed large complexes of habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife species. Drained wetlands are restored by plugging ditches or building small water control structures. On the uplands, native grasses, legumes and introduced grasses are seeded to provide dense nesting cover for ducks and other wildlife. Native grasses may be managed by prescribed burning, haying or grazing. Sometimes uplands are leased to farmers for cultivation with the agreement that they will leave part of the crop standing for winter feed and cover for resident game. Although the Wetland Management District encompasses 35 counties, at this date, there are WPAs in 16 counties. Most acquisitions are intended to increase habitat at existing complexes, so it is unlikely that tracts will be acquired in the entire 35 county area. Most WPAs are small, from 100 to 500 acres, but several have grown considerably. Union Hills WPA in Cerro Gordo County is the largest in Iowa at over 2,000 acres. Spring Run, a large complex of state and federal lands in Dickinson County, is the second largest WPA. Dugout Creek WPA in Dickinson County and Lower Morse Lake in Wright County are also among the larger restored tracts in the Iowa Wetland Management District.
|
