PORTAGE – Low water levels at the Spring Creek impoundment at French Creek Wildlife Area are the result of a drawdown and the waters in the wetland impoundment will be raised by the fall hunting season, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
“The primary management of these impoundments is to preserve and enhance wetland habitat types for waterfowl and other wildlife through seasonal water level control,” pointed out DNR wildlife biologist Sara Kehrli, from her office at the Poynette State Game Farm.
The impoundment is located north of Monthey Rd. in Columbia County between Portage and Montello. The Spring Creek impoundment encompasses about 60 acres of flowage.
The flowage is impounded by a long earthen dike. This dike contains an emergency spillway which allows for flood waters to pass over the dikes without damaging them. Water levels are controlled by removing and adding stop logs within a control structure placed through the dike.
Spring drawdowns on waterfowl impoundments are beneficial to the plants and wildlife in these wetlands. Soils settle and floating bog mats anchor to the flowage. Wetland plants such as smartweed and bulrushes quickly cover the exposed mudflats and provide a great food source for waterfowl, shorebirds and other wildlife species, noted the biologist.
“While some folks might find these mudflats unappealing, these flowages are undergoing revitalization and this will become apparent later in the year. Habitat will improve over the summer and create a good spot for fall hunting,” she added.
The following counties are in the South Central Region: Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, Sauk.
The public affairs manager for the DNR South Central Region is: Greg Matthews: phone - (608) 275-3317.
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