Marsh and Aquatic Weed Problems in Wildlife Habitat

Abstract

control of marsh and aquatic plants in wildlife habitat is an unfamiliar activity to most weed workers, broad aspects of its what, why, and how will be explained briefly. The field is definitely a new one, mainly because the need for it has arisen only recently. Fifty years ago there was little occasion for weed control in wildlife habitat; at that time, there was an abundance of wild ducks, geese, and game fish and no shortage of suitable places for them to feed and breed. Since then, however, the picture has changed as expanding agriculture and industry have taken over more and more of the wetland habitat used by wildlife and, at the same time, increasing millions of Americans have sought healthful outdoor relaxation in hunting and fishing. Shrinking living space for wildlife, together with greater hunting and fishing pressure from growing human populations, has made it necessary to make the best possible use of wetland habitats that remain undrained. More specifically, marshes and ponds that are poor or only fair for wildlife must, if possible, be made more productive by replacing weedy growths with useful ones. First, of course, it was necessary to recognize the weeds as such. Research on food and cover used by wildlife has supplied indications of which plants are valuable and which are not. Also, food-habits reports have made it evident that thousands of acres in marshes and ponds across the country are dominated by weeds that seriously limit productivity for game. Public interest in improving of wetland habitats has grown rapidly in recent years as the need for it has become more apparent. Now, most State game commissions have established programs for development of wetland habitat and several have local projects on control of marsh and aquatic weeds. During the past two decades