Waterfowl Production on Stock-Watering Ponds in the Northern Plains

Abstract

Highlight: In a .5-year study of stock-watering ponds in western North Dakota, pond size was found to be the major factor influencing duck use. As pond size increased, total pair and brood use per pond increased. Pairs used ponds as small as 0.1 acre in size, but broods were seldom seen on ponds of less than 1 .O surface acre. Dam-type ponds larger than 1.0 surface acre comprised only 29% of all man-made ponds on the study area but received 65% of the pair use and 87% of the brood use. Utilization of fenced ponds by pairs and broods was not significantly different from utilization of unfenced ponds. Grazing rates of 2 to 3 acres per AUM and lower rates permitted the development of grassy shoreline cover preferred by pairs and brushy and emergent shorelines preferred by broods. Duck pairs were significantly more numerous on older ponds and ponds with grassy shorelines but less numerous on ponds that had heavy deposits of sediment or were isolated from other wetlands. Broods were significantly more numerous on ponds with brushy shorelines and emergent vegetation than on those without. Broods were less numerous on turbid and newly constructed ponds. The most suitable stock-watering units for maximum waterfowl production were damtype ponds of 1.5 surface acres, or larger, built in gentle to rolling terrain away from major sources of siltation. Land-use agencies involved with building ponds to water livestock are becoming more interested in including features that will enhance the value of these man-made wetlands for wildlife. Planning for these programs has prompted questions including: (1) what design criteria result in the most attractive waterfowl pond, and (2) how should ponds and the adjacent uplands be managed? To answer these questions, a study was initiated in 1966 to ascertain the relationships between breeding waterfowl and the design, location, and management of man-made wetlands. Study Area