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Management

Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area is an unstaffed station with minimal management. Some of the upland areas have alkaline soils, covered with native grasses and shrubs; these areas are not grazed or managed. Several native grass hayfields, and irrigated alfalfa fields are hayed to provide short grass feeding areas for geese and cranes. Some dry land cropland has been seeded to dense nesting cover and some is still cooperatively farmed. Part of the marsh is still in private ownership, so no water management is done. The marsh is allowed to fluctuate naturally; in drought years it dries out.

The FWS management of this unit deals with a permittee who maintains food crop areas of barley for migratory bird use. The area also has planted DNC (Dense Nesting Cover) composed of taller native grasses which is used heavily by nesting birds and provides safer nesting from predators. No grazing is allowed. The western portions of the unit are hayed to maintain wet meadow areas and wildlife foraging habitat and also provides a fire break for any fires that may occur during the summer that may threaten Oxford. No grazing is allowed. The eastern and southern portions of the WPA are maintained as deferred or untouched units with native grasslands for more secure nesting habitat.