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

228. Sipple, W. S. 1979. A review of the biology, ecology, and management of 
          Scirpus olneyi. Volume II: a synthesis of selected references. Md. 
          Dep. Nat. Resour. Wetland Publ. 4. 85 pp.

This paper synthesizes the material in Volume I (Sipple 1978, q.v.) to provide a thorough review of the ecology of Olney bulrush with emphasis upon the marsh loss problems of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Olney bulrush growth is accelerated with the removal of marshhay cordgrass by fire; little bulrush will be found on sites never burned or grazed because of the superior competitive abilities of cordgrass. Marsh management on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts encourages Olney bulrush through controlled burning as one means to increase waterfowl and muskrat foods. Many references include discussion of the necessity of burning marshes every 1 or 2 years to maintain bulrush as a dominant species, but there are conflicting opinions on season to burn. Notwithstanding, burning at low water levels followed immediately by reflooding appears to be the best way to change vegetation type in favor of Olney bulrush. [K-L-S]

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