Moonan Marsh & Waseca WMA's

Moonan Marsh WMA,Waseca WMA and Pawek WMA are primarily wetland dominated units. The small upland areas on each WMA is being overtaken by deciduous invasive species (e.g., cottonwood, boxelder, and willow). Without adjacent grassland, these wetlands lose their value to the ducks that nest in the prairie pothole region. Trees are a threat to grassland ecosystems because they remove valuable habitat by crowding out grassland flora, create more opportunity for predation, break-up the open landscape, and inhibit the ability for future management of the prairie. At this point, the trees are still able to be removed without incurring an exorbitant expense. Moonan Marsh is a very large unit, the largest in Waseca, measuring 955 contiguous acres. A wide variety of species is desired on this WMA. One glaring objective is to complement the large wetland component by maintaining the upland grassland vegetation to provide nesting for waterfowl and habitat for open landscape species. Tree removal is listed as a tool being recommended for management. Waseca WMA is just two (2) miles south of Moonan Marsh WMA. The habitat is very similar. The one main difference is that Waseca WMA has a very large basin with quite minimal upland juxtaposed throughout. Because the upland is in much smaller pieces and trees are in closer proximity to wooded areas, these upland grassland areas can succumb more rapidly to tree encroachment without management. Once the trees are removed under this grant, future management with fire and mowing would be possible. Pawek WMA is also less then a mile away and the proposed work of tree removal, perscibed burning, weed spraying, and interseeding will make a major improvement on this WMA.