Wetland Habitat Conditions

Each fall, an aerial flight is made to document the water conditions at Waterfowl Production Areas. That flight commonly occurs in mid-October.

The fall 2008 survey was conducted on October 8 (October 6 in the previous year). Overall wetland habitat conditions are not as good as they were in 2007. Across the Rainwater Basin, wetland habitats decreased by 14%; providing a total of 4,435 acres of ponded water on publicly managed wetlands. In 2008, much of the runoff that occurred early in the growing season was enough to get many eastern wetlands into a full-pool situation. Most of these wetlands remained flooded through the growing season and into the fall. Western Rainwater Basin wetlands did not fair as well. Runoff was limited and infrequent through June. Kearney County wetlands improved with an October 6 rain; however, the remaining counties in the western region have very low or dry wetland conditions. The lack of frost has allowed many wetland plants to continue growing and in turn, increases evaporative losses in wetlands. We expect current wetland habitat conditions to deteriorate rapidly until a frost occurs.

In general, eastern York, western Seward, and eastern Fillmore counties have fair to good wetland conditions.

Wetland conditions are as follows:

Clay County : 26 basins surveyed. Their average capacity was at 20% full representing a 16% reduction from 2007.

Fillmore County : 19 basins surveyed. Their average capacity was at 38% full representing a 28% reduction from 2007.

Hamilton County : 6 basins surveyed. Their average capacity was at 25% full representing a 21% reduction from 2007.

Kearney County : 11 basins surveyed. Their average capacity was at 20% full representing a 19% increase from 2007. Recent rains have added significant water in many wetlands.

Phelps County : 20 basins surveyed. Their average capacity was at 10% full representing a 14% reduction from 2007.

Seward County : 5 basins surveyed. Their average capacity was at 72% full representing a 3% reduction from 2007.

York County : 9 basins surveyed. Their average capacity was at 38% full representing a 24% reduction from 2007.

Two Waterfowl Production areas (Theesen and Glenvil) and 5 Wildlife Management Areas (Bluewing, Bulrush, Smartweed, Smartweed West, Flat Sedge) within the RWB area were not surveyed.

A detailed table can be found at this link.

Last updated: October 10, 2008