RESULTS OF AN INTENSIVE MARSH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT 

 LITTLE PECAN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA 



Thomas J. Hess, Jr. 



Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries 



Route 1, Box 19B 



Grand Chenier, LA 70643 



Ronald F. Paille 



U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 



P.O. Box 4305 



Lafayette, LA 70502 



Randal J. Moertle 

 Golden Ranch Farm 



P.O. Box 18 

 Gheens, LA 70355 



and 



Kenneth P. Guidry 



Route 6, Box 864 



Natchitoches, LA 71457 



ABSTRACT 



Little Pecan Wildlife Management Area, located in the lower Mermentau River Basin of 

 Cameron Parish, LA, consists of 4,452 ha of privately owned property dominated by fresh, 

 intermediate, and brackish marsh. Flap-gated, variable-crested water control structures were used 

 to manage 10 semi-impoundments, 3 of which (1,539 ha) also had forced drainage capacity. Cross- 

 sectional area of water control structures was 215% greater than that recommended by current U.S. 

 Soil Conservation Service guidelines. Semi-impounded areas were managed (1975-87) using a 

 multiple resource concept targeted at species of commercial and recreational importance including 

 waterfowl, alligator, furbearers, freshwater finfish, and estuarine finfish and shellfish. Enhancement 

 of wintering waterfowl habitat received top priority. Management techniques consisted primarily 

 of late spring/early summer drawdowns, water level and salinity stabilization, introduction of brackish 

 water, and maintenance of a deep tranasse system throughout each semi-impoundment. 



Drawdown management in semi-impoundments of fresh and intermediate marsh types encouraged 

 the encroachment of jointgrass (Paspalum vaginatwn), giant cutgrass (Zizaniopsis miliaceae), and 

 bullwhip (Scirpus califomicus) into shallow open water areas, resulting in a gain of vegetated 

 emergent wetlands at the expense of shallow open water habitat. Data indicates that management 

 practices increased furbearer harvest, increased waterfowl usage and harvest, and did not adversely 

 affect alligator populations or harvest. Ingress and production of estuarine organisms were 

 -permitted to the extent that increasing salinities did not adversely impact freshwater aquatic 

 vegetation and freshwater finfish. Observations and intermittent sampling indicated that 

 productivity of estuarine organisms within the semi-impounded marshes was relatively high. 



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