Rodney T. Miller Wetland at Rock Springs Conservation Area will undergo some changes this summer. The cattails at the wetland have grown so thick they are suppressing the growth of other important wetland plants. A diversity of plants is needed to support a variety of wildlife. Each animal that depends on the wetland for its home requires different food sources which are provided by a variety of plants.
In order to manage this aggressive wetland plant our team will be drawing down the water until the wetland is almost dry. The management team will then mow the cattails and apply special herbicides that don’t kill the wildlife. The wetland will be refilled after cattail treatment is complete in August.
Water level manipulation is an important practice for the development of a healthy wetland habitat. Altering the volume of water in the wetland, sometimes even allowing it to go dry, helps to encourage a diversity of wetland plants and gives wildlife a variety of food sources and cover types. Keep an eye on the site and watch how the habitat, and the wildlife that live in it, improve over time.