Table 3. Target marsh plant species salinity tolerance levels, 

 unpublished 1988 data.) 



(Soil Conservation Service, 



January, a pilot program of bunch planting oystergrass in single rows at 1.5-m intervals was 

 initiated. May 1988 plant survival and tillering data indicate that survival on bayou sandbars was 

 100% and on dead root mats was 90.6% (Table 4). Plant tillering data indicated that bunch 

 plantings on sandbars had a fourfold increase over plantings on root mat. 



In March 1988, a pilot single-sprout transplanting program was initiated on dead root mat. 

 Planting was done in single rows at 0.6-m intervals, and 1,037 linear meters of root mat were 

 planted. Data will be collected on transplant survival in October 1988 and April 1989. The 

 apparent limiting factors of transplant survival to date have been nutria (Myocastor coypus) 

 depredation and boat wave action. 



In June 1988, 9,058 m along the banks of the Grand Bayou Louisiana State University 

 experimental pond levee and an adjacent marsh lake southeast of East Prong will be planted with 

 oystergrass. A 580-m area along the north shore of the lake will be protected with a wave 

 dampening fence to curtail shoreline erosion. Data will be collected to determine the effectiveness 

 of the fencing. If this fencing does not succeed, it is assumed that East Prong and this lake will 

 become one water body. This work will be funded by the Louisiana Geological Society. 



EAST COVE MANAGEMENT CALENDAR 



From 1 January to 15 February 1989, Sabine Refuge personnel will burn the entire Sabine 

 NWR East Cove unit. To accomplish this, a helicopter will drop ping pong balls injected with 

 potassium permanganate and ethylene glycol on all vegetative communities. Burning will be 

 undertaken to encourage the growth of leafy and Olney threesquare grasses and to remove litter. 



315 



