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During the 1990s an active wetland restoration program was initiated and approximately 2000 acres of marginal agricultural lands and degraded wetlands were restored. The response by wildlife was spectacular and particularly transformed the face of Ankeny Refuge. In the words of David Marshall, who originally identified the Willamette Valley tracts to be future refuges, “Never in my wildest dreams did I expect Ankeny Bottoms to be such a successful refuge.” Not only did Canada goose use increase, but duck numbers on the refuges approximately doubled and many water and wading birds that had seldom or never before used the refuge began to be regular inhabitatants and even began breeding on the refuges. Wetlands on Ankeny Refuge benefit from the delivery of irrigation water which increases native seed production. Many of the refuge wetlands are drawn down (dewatered) or allowed to drain naturally in late spring/early summer to promote the growth of native moist soil plants. The timing of these drawdowns is critical to prevent the invasion of non-native plants such as reed canarygrass. The balance between providing seasonal areas (which maximize moist soil plant productivity and provide rich food resources for wintering waterfowl) and semi-permanent or permanent wetlands (which can benefit a variety of other fish and wildlife species) needs to be considered. Key questions
to be addressed in the CCP: |
Although wetlands historically occurred on the land base occupied by W.L.
Finley, Baskett, and Ankeny Refuges, many of these were drained prior
to Service acquisition of the refuges in the 1960s. Early refuge management
activities focused primarily on providing grass forage for geese and wetland
acres remained limited.