6 PCSR 01-26-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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5.NUMBER AND DISTRIBUTION. As explained from the wetland basin and not piled adjacent the above,your dugout should be near an existing shallow dugout. The edge of the dugout should not have a marsh for brood-rearing purposes. If you have ad- discernible"rim";that is,the slope should be continu- equate space and funding, you can consider digging ous below and above the water surface,as shown in the more than one dugout. In general,two closely-spaced cross-section in figure 2. small dugouts will receive more use than one larger dugout. If you construct more than one pond, space Finally, all disturbed uplands and spread spoil should them about 100 to 300 feet apart. Ponds can be closer be seeded to native grasses for a minimum of 150 feet if tall vegetation screens the ponds from each other around the dugout. This will provide waterfowl cover, (breeding ducks are territorial and won't tolerate oth- minimize weed growth, and prevent sedimentation ers of the same species if they can see them). within the basin. Providing 4 acres of upland nesting cover for each acre of wetland is best for duck produc- 6. ISLANDS. Dugouts less than two acres are too tion. Do not plant trees near your dugout; these serve small to include an island. As an alternative you can as predator perches and dens, and will reduce water- use nest baskets, boxes or floating rafts for nesting. A fowl use. Use nest boxes to attract wood ducks. floating log, anchored in place, provides an excellent Remember to get any necessary permits before you site for waterfowl and turtle loafing. See our brochure start digging! entitled "Artificial Structures for Waterfowl." 8.FINAL TREATMENT. The clay and sand under- 7. SPOIL. Excavating a pond means you end up with lying most mineral soils are very sterile and won't a lot of soil removed from the dugout; this is called support plant growth. In order to establish a food "spoil."Spoil must be carefully dealt with to optimize chain in your dugout, you must provide an organic waterfowl use. In peat soils and cattail-choked wet- base. This can be accomplished by spreading 4"-6"of . lands, you should remove the spoil from the wetland black topsoil over the entire excavated area. This can if at all possible. Again, check with the appropriate be the topsoil you originally removed(and stockpiled) agencies (see list at end) to determine if you need a from the site when you started digging. Another permit. technique is to spread 2"-6" of clean upland hay over the excavated surface (wild hay can spread noxious In mineral soils,the top 6"-12"will probably be black weeds). Both can be used simultaneously. Once topsoil, high in organic matter. This should be saved covered with water, either of these bases will quickly separately for later spreading over the excavated bot- allow vegetation and insects to grow, providing the torn. The underlying nonorganic soils (clays, sands, building blocks for a desirable marsh. Don't worry etc.) should be moved to an upland site and spread about planting aquatic plants in your basin-they will evenly. It is important that this material be removed establish themselves naturally in time,given a suitable site. ' I Feet ti � i I I I0 o0o.Q° O . O . � . ro.QOOon�Qaa�dO00Qo :' 6'' ' ••. b'a Qn.0bop:o 00p; oO0o2 O�O O 0.. Q�d00�p .6 6. � qQ• —?aQott ;o 00 O : p 0 _ oz00 .:, ri O. O 10 20 30 40 50 Feet Figure 2. Cross-section of pond bottom showing smooth, shallow grade at waterline,and undulating bottom contours.