
55 
The area typically has long severe winters and short mild summers. 
Length of growing season averages 125 days although seasons as short as 103 
days have been recorded. Mean January temperature is 7.6° F. while the summer 
high mean of 66. 0° F. occurs in July. Precipitation averages only 13. 89 inches 
annually; however, since 1950, yearly moisture has been well above normal. Last 
year was relatively wet with 19.71 inches being recorded, Greatest monthly 
precipitation usually occurs in July, with 2.92 inches being the long-time average. 
Native vegetation is typical of the shortgrass prairie and is dominated 
by such drought resistent species as blue grama-grass (Bouteloua gracilis), 
spear-grass (Stipa comata), June grass (Koeleria cristata), sagebush (Artemisia 
spp.), and cacti (Opuntia spp.). Brushy species such as snowberry (Symphori- 
carpos spp.), rose (Rosa spp.), and wolf willow (Elaeagnus commutata) provide 
important nesting cover along sidehills and ravines. Important emergent aquatics 
include sedges (Carex spp.), smartweeds (Polygonum spp.), cattail (Typha latifolia), 
spike-rushes (Eleocharis spp.), manna-grasses (Glyceria spp.), and bulrushes 
(Scirpus seers Common submergents are bladderworts (Utricularia spp.), pond- 
weeds (Potamogeton spp.), coontail (Ceratophylium demersum), and milfoils 
(Myriophyllum spp.). Water areas are usually choked with sedge, smartweed, and 
grasses by early July. Shortgrass prairie water areas are usually free of a 
surrounding fringe of aspens and willows, the characteristic of parkland water areas. 

Possible waterfowl predators on the area include crows, magpies, 
hawks, badgers, and skunks, with the latter being abundant everywhere. Crows 
are common although not found in large numbers. Magpies are uncommon. 
Weather and Water Areas 
Findings 
This spring, returning waterfowl found the Success Study Area in 
excellent condition. Well above average rains, especially in March, April, May 
and July, coupled with a good retention of water from the previous year gave 
assurance of abundant waterfowl habitat. Precipitation during the first seven 
months of 1955 was 42 percent above normal (Table 1). 
Water areas were classified according to degree of permanence by 
Bach's system. Of all the potholes, 27 (8.0 percent) were of Class B category, 
105 (30.9 percent) were of Class C, and 208 (61.1 percent) were of Class D 
designation (Table II.}, Class D areas averaged only 0.3 acres in size as compared 
i Class B areas: Water areas which normally hold water the year round, 
‘Class C areas: Water areas which normally dry up during July and August. 
Class Dareas: Water areas which hold water for only a few days or weeks 
after spring run-off and after flash floods. 
