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

226. Singleton, J. R. 1965. Waterfowl habitat management in Texas. Tex. Parks 
          Wildl. Dep. Bull. 47. 68 pp.

The author emphasizes waterfowl food plant identification and propagation, and the control of noxious plants. Although agricultural uses provide the greatest dollar return, lands that cannot be economically cultivated can nevertheless provide a return when managed for waterfowl and fisheries. The development and management of wintering waterfowl habitat can be attained through water control, controlled and regulated burning (where applicable), and controlled grazing. Low value grasses can best be controlled by burning, grazing, or plowing; fall burning of cordgrass and seashore saltgrass marshes increases food production for geese. Other species are controlled with more difficulty. The marsh should be divided into four approximately equal units and burned consecutively as follows: the first about 5 to 10 days prior to the opening of waterfowl hunting, and the second through fourth at successive 15-day intervals. Burned areas should be inundated with several inches of water to encourage growth. Marshes can be managed to benefit both muskrats and waterfowl if controlled burning is employed. [K-L-S]

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