Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-Wildlife Relations: An Annotated Bibliography

4. Allan, P. F. 1950.  Ecological bases for land use planning in Gulf coast 
        marshlands. J. Soil Water Conserv. 5:57-62, 85.

Uncontrolled burning causes retrogression of coastal marshes as does uncontrolled grazing. Burning a marsh every second spring to develop stands of Olney bulrush at the expense of marshhay cordgrass is, however, a principal means of marsh management for muskrats. Overgrazing of burned areas by muskrats and geese may lead to return of marshhay cordgrass, but deliberate overgrazing and intensive burning of coastal marsh may be required to maximize benefits for waterfowl. Fresh marshes can also be treated with grazing and fire to encourage plants beneficial to waterfowl. Simultaneous management for maximum benefit for muskrats, livestock, and waterfowl is not possible. [K-L-S]

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