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Wetland Habitat and
Representative Wildlife |
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Much of the wetland area associated with the flowage is bog, which is rather unproductive wildlife habitat. This limits the potential waterfowl use of this flowage. However, limited stands of more desirable aquatic plants do provide some waterfowl food and nesting cover. Mallards, blue-winged teal, black ducks, in addition to loons, coots, and mergansers, nest here. Muskrat and beaver are also common on the flowage and on the 2,000 plus acres of associated wetlands. Diver ducks and geese utilize the flowage area during spring and fall migration. (Chippewa Flowage Joint Agency Management Plan, August 2000) Nesting, denning, and rearing habitat for wetland and aquatic wildlife species is provided on the flowage by the miles of extensive shoreline (154 miles on the perimeter and 79 miles on the islands) and by emergent aquatic vegetation, such as cattail and bulrush. The floating bog islands offer important special habitat for red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, and provide another measure of plant diversity. The principal resident wetland or aquatic bird and furbearer species in the Chippewa Flowage area include: Loon Hooded Merganser Kingfisher Common Merganser Woodduck Blue-winged Teal Mallard Ring-neck Duck Black Duck Beaver Otter Muskrat Flowage drawdowns have a strong impact on furbearers and waterfowl. It significantly limits their population levels and use of the flowage. (Chippewa Flowage Joint Agency Management Plan, August 2000)
Photos: Erik Olson |
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