The goal of WMD management is to restore grasslands and wetlands and protect and promote their long-term health for wildlife, plants, and people. Waubay WMD has a variety of wetland and upland habitat types on nearly 40,000 acres. There are 199 Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) units which range from three acres to over 1,325 acres. Habitat types are approximately 56 percent grassland, 40 percent wetland, 0.5 percent cropland, 1.8 percent woodland, and 1.3 percent brush. Grazing, haying, and prescribed burning are the tools presently used to manage WPA grasslands.
Today, prescribed burning has taken the place of prairie wildfires and is one tool used to rejuvenate grasslands. Another tool available is haying which involves cutting and removing grass for later use by livestock. To protect birds, haying is only allowed after July 15, when most grassland birds and waterfowl are done nesting. Grassland manipulation within Waubay WMD is primarily accomplished through livestock grazing. This method is most closely related to the natural way of managing grasses with livestock replacing the bison of the past. Further, grazing meets the needs of our management goals and helps cooperators maintain their livelihood.
Oftentimes, invasive plant species hinder the growth and development of native species. The Fish and Wildlife Service uses a variety chemical applications to eliminate or stem the growth of these unwanted plants. Along with these chemical applications, bio-control measures are also being used and further developed to combat exotic/invasive plant species like leafy spurge and Canada thistle..
