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

180. Neckles, H. A., J. W. Nelson, and R. L. Pedersen. 1985. Management of 
          whitetop (Scolochloa festucacea) marshes for livestock forage and 
          wildlife. Delta Waterfow1 Res. Stn. (Portage la Prairie, MB) Tech. 
          Bull. 1. 12 pp.

Removal of excess plant litter by either light grazing, mowing, or burning is a major management approach for developing high-yield monodominant whitetop rivergrass stands. This vegetation provides excellent forage as well as nesting and brood-rearing cover and substrate for invertebrates necessary to female and young waterfowl. If flooded during spring, burned whitetop basins yield 55% more forage than unburned stands [up to 15,080 kg/ha (13,460 lb/acre)] . Burning is not recommended where a water source is lacking because winter snow catchment and subsequent spring flooding are reduced by removal of stubble and residual growth. Suggested grazing, haying, and burning programs to simultaneously maximize forage yield and enhance waterfowl production are provided. [K-L-S]

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