Victor_Lakes_Waterfowl_Production

IMPORTANT!

On October 27, two whooping cranes were observed in Phelps County. The birds will be monitored daily and Waterfowl Production Areas may be closed without notice to protect the birds from public disturbance.

Whooping cranes are an endangered species and it is illegal to disturb or harass these birds in any manner, including hunting of game species. Whooping cranes found in close proximity to a Waterfowl Production Area will cause that area to be closed until the birds have migrated on. Closed areas will be posted with bright orange signs designating the closure.

Peterson was purchased in 1965 from seven separate landowners. Located on the western edge of the District, it receives lower amounts of rainfall. The wetland is seasonal at best but does contain moist soil vegetation in the basin.

Extensive tree removal has been done on the property to create open, grassland conditions. Prescribed fire and grazing are commonly used as management tools, with only portions of the property burned or grazed in a particular year. Restoration work associated with hydrology has included filling three pits located on the property and improving runoff delivery from the northern portion of the watershed.

Our office worked with the Gosper County Road Department, Tri-Basin NRD and neighboring landowners to clean out and improve the waterway entering the wetland from the north. The Road Department removed sediment from the waterway and used it buildup the north-south county road running through the property. The remaining material was used to fill a portion of a concentration pit on the WPA. The large trees in the road right-of-way were removed and burned. The photo below was taken after some June rains.