again in 1988. The drawdown in 1987 was only partially successful. The existing structures and 

 pump were not adequate to maintain the planned drawdown following several large rainfall events 

 resulting in periodic inundation of all but the northwest part of the management unit. 



The occurrence of submergent and emergent plant species was recorded prior to the 1986 

 drawdown, in October 1986, October 1987, and May 1988. Plant species were recorded at three 

 sites within the management unit (Figure 2). Species observed in the severely eroded open water 

 areas were recorded. Species were not recorded in areas of the management unit supporting 

 emergent vegetation prior to the 1986 drawdown. No attempt was made to quantify the occurrence 

 of species recorded. 



Soil samples were collected from several sites (Figure 2) within the management unit during 

 the summer of 1986. The samples were collected from various depths in the soil profile. 

 Additional samples were collected in April 1988 from the same sites and at the same depths as 

 the 1986 samples. All samples were analyzed at the Louisiana State University Soil Testing 

 Laboratory. Samples were collected to record changes in soluble salts. 



I 



N 



Figure 2. Plant species recording locations (1-3) and soil sample sites (A-G). 



167 



