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CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES ,,I,,
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<br /> 1.PERMITS. Wetlands are protected by several laws, 5 ,", .1,/ , 11 "
<br /> and a permit may be required for your project. Four ot,, .5,w.
<br /> government agencies regulate wetlands,and should be .i1
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<br /> contacted if you will be working in an existing wet- "'"'
<br /> land. These agencies are: U.S. Army Corps of Engi- s„,
<br /> neers, USDA-Agricultural Stabilization and Conser- 1 inch=20 feet
<br /> vation Service (ASCS), the DNR Division of Waters,
<br /> and your city or county zoning office or local water-
<br /> shed district. Phone numbers for the first 3 agencies •,, ;,I,, 1/,
<br /> are given at the end of this brochure; check your local "' 11'
<br /> directory for the number of your local office. stli
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<br /> 2. DEPTH AND SLOPES. Waterfowl need shallow ,1,,
<br /> water. When filled with water,your dugout should be ,,,,"1'5.
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<br /> no more than 5 feet deep. In mid-summer, much of ,I,, I(..,, 011 X
<br /> your dugout should be less than 3 feet in depth. Your 1 '"',
<br /> pond should generally have the following depths i
<br /> when it is full (as in spring):
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<br /> Pct. of Pond
<br /> Water Depth at this Depth Likely Result Figure 1. Topographic diagram of a good basin design;
<br /> this design emphasizes shallow slopes and depths(each line •
<br /> 0 to 1 foot 5 to 15 Cattails/emergent represents one foot of depth), and good shoreline features.
<br /> vegetation, usually Adjacent uplands are seeded to native grasses.
<br /> dry by July.
<br /> 1 to 3 feet 40 to 70 Mixed emergent A pond bottom with variable depths (i.e.,an undulat-
<br /> vegetation and ing bottom)is very desirable. This allows an intersper-
<br /> open water, dry in sion of vegetation and open water which is very
<br /> drought. attractive to waterfowl. Some biologists prefer to
<br /> construct dugouts with one deep side to ensure water
<br /> 3 to 5 feet 25 to 40 Mostly open availability and allow for viewing of waterfowl. Figure
<br /> water, dry in 1 shows an example of a good basin design from the
<br /> severe drought. perspective of slopes and depths.
<br /> If you are constructing a dugout in cattail-choked 3. SIZE. Waterfowl use all sizes of wetland, but
<br /> wetlands, you will not be able to achieve the above usually, bigger is better. In building your pond for
<br /> depths. In these cases, the slopes of your dugout will waterfowl you should consider a minimum size of
<br /> have to be fairly steep. This is okay as these dugouts 2500 square feet (equal to a square with 50 foot long
<br /> will function mostly as territorial sites,and may not be sides). Larger, irregularly shaped ponds are preferred,
<br /> heavily used for feeding. Maximum depth still should however costs get quite high.
<br /> not exceed 5 feet.In mineral soils,steep slopes prohibit
<br /> growth of desirable vegetation,encourage erosion,and 4. SHORELINE FEATURES. A pond with a shore-
<br /> reduce waterfowl use. As much as possible, grade the line which is irregular,and has many points and bays, a
<br /> slopes of your basin at a 3:1 (steep) to 10:1 (flat) ratio. is more attractive to waterfowl than a dugout with a
<br /> Flatter slopes are better,which is not the same as a flat straight shoreline. Plan your dugout to have as much
<br /> bottom. shoreline as possible, as in figure 1.
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