Council Grove Wildlife Area News
Area News
2009/2010 Upland Bird Hunting Outlook:
The fall hunting outlook for quail on the area is fair to good. Hunters should again see modest increases in quail populations this fall. Breeding populations this spring returned to levels near average following good production in 2008 and a mild winter in 2008/2009. Nesting and brood-rearing conditions this spring and summer have been good as a result of timely, but not excessive, precipitation. Several broods were observed on the area in late summer, including in areas where habitat developments have recently occurred. Fall food and cover conditions remain good.
Recently completed upland habitat improvement projects involving native grass planting and tree removal are increasing quail habitat on the wildlife area. Additional quail habitat development and enhancement projects are planned in 2010 and 2011.
The wildlife area lies outside the primary range of ring-necked pheasant. Hunters occasionally encounter pheasants on the area, but numbers are low.
Wetland Project Completed With Help From DU and SCI:
Gilmore Creek Wetland (April 2009)
“Build it and they will come.” This popular conservation adage from the motion picture “Field of Dreams” may best describe the intent of a recent project completed at the Council Grove Wildlife Area (CGWA). As the construction of a baseball field amid a mid-western corn field attracted famed players in the movie, the construction of the Gilmore Creek Wetland Project at CGWA will attract migratory waterfowl and other wetland dependent wildlife species. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has partnered with Ducks Unlimited and the Chisholm Trail Chapter of Safari Club International to develop the project, encompassing approximately 35 acres of shallow water wetland, that will ultimately provide unique wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation benefits and enhance water quality at Council Grove Lake.
What exactly is a wetland and why are they important? The term is perhaps best defined simply by reviewing its name. It is an area of land this is often or always wet. It is an area comprised of water and of soils, and of plants that are adapted to live in moist or wet conditions. Wetlands provide important environmental benefits including the filtering of sediments, nutrients, and chemicals. They provide important habitat to many migratory and threatened and endangered wildlife species. Our state and nation have lost many of its natural wetlands, making them an ever decreasing and rare and important habitat. This project is simply an effort to produce more of this important habitat type and to enhance associated outdoor recreation activities.
Similar to combining necessary ingredients of flour, water, sugar, apples, etc. to make an apple pie, the project has been designed to provide the necessary ingredients of water, food, cover, and space to attract wildlife to the site. The project was created by constructing approximately one mile of levee around a field near the confluence of Gilmore Creek and the Neosho River near the west end of Council Grove Lake. The site has had a history of providing attractive habitat for migratory waterfowl when flood conditions existed above the lake. The purpose of the project was then to provide this habitat with a greater frequency and duration than what occasionally occurred during lake floods.
Designed again, to provide shallow water habitat, the levee system only has an average height of 2 feet. Many wetland dependent wildlife species including many species of waterfowl and wading birds prefer shallow water (that less than 12” in depth) in which to feed. By installing the levee system and a water control structure, the field can now be shallowly inundated to provide habitat attractive to many wetland wildlife species. The project will be filled as precipitation or flooding allows, but was designed to have the capability of capturing run-off from above or within the field, and also from downstream sources originating as flood waters back into the project site. Because the project will impound water during run-off and flood events, it is expected to provide some water quality benefits for Council Grove Lake as sediments and nutrients are deposited in the project basin following inundation, rather than being carried downstream into the lake.
It has been estimated that all or portions of this project will be inundated during 1 of every 3 years. Because of flood storage concerns for the lake, it may only be operational beginning in late summer through the month of April. In most years, during the growing season, the site will be allowed to grow annual moist soil vegetation, which are species of plants that are adapted to grow naturally in wet areas. These plants are known to be prolific seed (wildlife food) producers and provide habitat for an array of invertebrate life which in turn provides food for larger wetland wildlife species. Unlike conventional crops such as corn and milo, these plants can exist under a variety of soil moisture conditions, and may even grow and produce seed while flooded. These plants are also known to be more nutritionally complete when compared to conventional crops, thus adding to their value as food items, as energy and nutritional needs of wildlife continually change during the year. In dry years these plants will likely provide valuable food and cover that should be of value to upland wildlife, and will likely be of greater year-round habitat value as compared to conventional row crops.
Perhaps most importantly, by allowing moist soil vegetation to grow rather than planting conventional crops, project acres are more likely to be inundated. As mentioned earlier, these plant species may grow and produce seed even while flooded. If project basin acres were always under cultivation with row crops, staff could not begin to capture water until these crops had matured. This may not be until late September, or October particularly in years when wet conditions delay spring planting. With a moist soil vegetation plan, staff can begin to capture water during late summer months, increasing the likelihood that project acres will have water and habitat in the fall, winter, and spring. On occasion however, project acres will be planted to crops by utilizing conventional tillage. By doing so, the tillage operation will help to control invasion of less productive perennial plants and trees, while preparing the soil for crop planting.
The development of Gilmore Creek Wetland Project at CGWA has long been a goal. It should prove to be a significant stride in the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks continuing efforts to enhance wildlife habitat and recreational benefits on your public lands. Whether you are a waterfowl hunter, bird watcher, or simply enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, this project will enhance your opportunities to enjoy our Kansas great outdoors.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks would like to sincerely thank project partners; Ducks Unlimited and Safari Club International, for their contributions toward completion of this project.
More Upland Habitat Enhancement Planned in 2010 With Help From Quail Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation (AGAIN!):
Native grass and forb planting near Slough Creek.
Agreements are already in place with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Neosho Valley Chapter of Quail Unlimited (QU) to complete additional upland habitat enhancements on the wildlife area in 2010.
Plans are to convert approximately 15 acres of former croplands in 3 tracts, to native grasses and forbs. NWTF has agreed to pay the cost of the seed and QU will provide use of their no-till drill. Area game and non-game species should benefit from these changes funded by these partnering organizations. QU has annually assisted with upland habitat enhancements on this wildlife area since 2004, while NWTF has assisted during 4 of the past 6 years. Thanks QU and NWTF!
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