Swamp Progression

[Bluedog]

Been a few years since I did this but here you guys go. We have a 20+ acre beaver swamp that we can dry out in the summer barring any tropical system floods (please pray for no H-word storms lol)
Last year we had a significant amount of False Pimpernel so I decided to draw it down a little earlier than we have been. Fingers crossed it seems to be a good idea

 

[JFG]

Can’t tell what you have Brad cause the picture quality is bad but I’m guessing you have barnyard grass which you know is good there.

 

[bbfky]

It’s hard to tell but there’s a whole of something green and if it something ducks eat you should be set

 

[Bluedog]

Yea have not been physically there for a few weeks but pretty sure it is 90% BYG with some sedges mixed in. Fingers crossed that we crowded out any False Pimpernel that tried to come up.

 

[Bluedog]

What happened last year was that we drew down on July 1ish but the river stayed out of its banks and thus we were underwater until August 1. That month later drawdown gave us the Yellowseed False Pimpernel in abundance. I doubt we eradicated it this year, but we definitely knocked it down. We battle hydrolea in there but it’s easy to kill. Only problem is trying to walk around in there with a backpack sprayer. It’s plum dangerous in July for many reasons including heat, yellow flies that will suck you dry, snakes and old age lol

 

[JFG]

I feel your pain. It’s a lot of hard work in perilous conditions. And yes, old man age don’t make it any easier although you’re probably not as compromised as you think. Give it 10 more years or so and give me your perspective then, lol!
I have always loved your place and you do a good job managing it. Mother Nature, however, has a mind of her own. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Sunklands]

So, you’re building a moist soil impoundment. A, “swamp” is a much more diverse and different ecosystem. Nonetheless, it sounds good.

 

[jrchip1]

Agree- Looks like Barn Yard/Walters Millet. Maybe another month+ for full maturity.

Attached Pic of some SW La Wild Millet. Some bush hogging to post-pone maturity.

 

[Bluedog]

Oh it’s a swamp for sure. You only see a small snippet of the total ecosystem. Beavers built it, I just try to manage the holes the ducks use so we can kill them lol. I am afraid our managing it will eventually kill it. The cypress trees are now taking over because of our yearly drawdowns. Over the last 20 years, areas that were virtually open water are now solid cypress trees. Line of sight is no more than 100 yards at the most open now, where we used to be able to see ducks land virtually anywhere in there from several vantage points. I wish I knew what is the perfect way to manage it. We fight the battles we can and adjust when the ducks move which is often

 

[Bluedog]

These two photos were taken about 15 years apart from virtually the exact same vantage point. Add 5 more years to the tree growth and you can imagine how the landscape has changed. Ducks are funny. They like tight holes sometimes and wide open stuff at other times. The spot where we killed 95% of our ducks 15 years ago has not produced a bird for us in the last five years and it shut down like a steel door. One year they were in there and the next, nothing. That is why it’s as much fun doing this part as the hunting (almost). Figuring them out is tough