RECREATIONAL USE OF MANAGEMENT UNITS IN BRACKISH MARSH 



Richard B. Davidson 



Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 



P. 0. Box 585 



Opelousas, LA 70358 



Robert H. Chabreck 



School of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries 



Louisiana State University Agricultural Center 



Baton Rouge, LA 70803 



ABSTRACT 



Recreational use was investigated in two impoundments and a semi-impounded (weir) area in 

 brackish marsh. The study was conducted on Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in southwestern 

 Louisiana, and a visitor survey and creel census were conducted during 1981. The visitor survey 

 disclosed that 165,162 user-hours were spent on the study area in 1981. Primary activities were 

 fishing, crabbing, and castnetting for shrimp. Visitors harvested 77,819 kg of fish and shellfish. 

 Brown and white shrimp made up 57.1% of the harvest. Shrimp were taken only with cast nets 

 and 93.1% were taken from weirs and water control structures in impoundments. Fish taken in 

 greatest abundance were alligator gars (7,247 kg) and redfish (7,569 kg). Of the alligator gars, 

 70.5% were taken from impoundments; 70.6% of the redfish were taken outside the impoundments. 

 Competition for castnetting sites at water control structures often limited recreational opportunities 

 for that activity. Because of the great interest in castnetting for shrimp and the lack of suitable 

 castnetting sites during peak shrimp movement periods, future development should include water 

 control structures and facilities to accommodate this activity. 



INTRODUCTION 



Brackish marsh impoundments are widely used in coastal areas as a mechanism for wildlife 

 habitat improvement. Impoundments are constructed by completely enclosing a marsh area with 

 a levee system. Impoundment construction began on Rockefeller Refuge in 1954, and water 

 control structures were installed in levee systems to provide a means for regulating water depth 

 and salinity (Chabreck 1960). 



Waterfowl use of brackish marsh impoundments has been the subject of several investigations 

 (Chabreck 1960; Baldwin 1967; Chabreck et al. 1974; Morgan et al. 1975). Recreational use, 

 however, has received little attention. As the need for multiple use of land and waters increases, 

 additional information on all potential impoundment uses becomes increasingly important. 



Impoundment management for one species or group of species is often compatible with 

 management of other species. Manipulation of water levels in freshwater marsh impoundments 

 is beneficial to both ducks and crawfish {Procambarus clarkii) (Perry et al. 1970). 



Management of a brackish marsh impoundment for ducks involves permanently flooding the 

 area to a depth of 0.2 to 0.4 m for 3 to 4 years. At the end of the period, the area is temporarily 



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