Managing Wetlands: Natural Sloughs

Although the numbers of natural sloughs and oxbow lakes have dwindled considerably over the last few decades, they still are valuable wetlands in many areas of Missouri. When water control is possible, an owner can use the same drawdown techniques described earlier. When water control is impossible, the following steps will make these areas more attractive to wetland wildlife:

• Establish food and cover strips around the slough and encourage production of native plants.
• Plant strips of corn or milo to attract a variety of wildlife, if the slough is located on open bottom-lands.
• Plant bottom-rooted marsh plants in shallow water areas.
• Plant pin oaks and pecans near the water's edge.
• Control bottom-feeding fish, such as carp and bullheads, to obtain the clear water needed by aquatic insects and plants.
• Sow Japanese millet or smartweed seed at the water's edge when evaporation exposes mud flats.

In some sloughs, overcrowding of aquatic plants is a problem. Plants, such as cattails, bulrushes and lotus, can take over in shallow marshes. When drawdown is possible, this vegetation can be mowed and burned allowing the soil to dry. Once dried, discing will remove undesirable species and stimulate the germination of more desirable moist-soil plants.

When drawdown is not possible there are some alternatives. For example, muskrats can control dense vegetation. The best waterfowl marshes seem to have about equal amounts of plant cover and open water. During the fall, muskrats cut plants for use in lodge construction and for food, creating marsh openings that balance open water and cover. But muskrats need control, too. High muskrat populations can damage levees and strip off too much vegetation, literally eating themselves out of house and home. Control of furbearers is covered elsewhere in this site.

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