Description
IMPORTANCE OF WET MEADOW/GRASSLAND PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Wet meadows have been a component of land acquisition in the Program since its establishment. Initially, the Program attempted to obtain 640 acres of wet meadow at every habitat complex. Land acquisition has been successful and mostly complete. While all areas deemed as wet meadow are grasslands, the quality of those grasslands is highly variable, as is the topographic and hydrologic conditions.
The EDO has presented to the GC several times about the discrepancy in interpretation of whooping crane (WHCR) use of wet meadows as well as the variability seen in what is classified as a wet meadow. Regardless of these discrepancies and lack of consensus on how to interpret results, the TAC is in agreement that additional research related to wet meadows and WHCR use of wet meadows to resolve these issues will likely be unproductive and unnecessary. Instead, the TAC recommends to the GC:
1. Retaining current definition of wet meadows as provided in the Land Plan Table 1.
2. Retaining Program wet meadow/grassland land holdings.
3. Improving on Program’s management of wet meadow/grasslands.
4. Prioritize riverine habitats over creating additional wet meadows mechanically.
