Natural Resources Conservation Service s3

USDA NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD ARIZONA

WETLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT MANAGEMENT (acre) CODE 644

DEFINITION Native plants will be used wherever possible. Retaining, developing, or managing habitat for Sites containing hazardous waste will be wetland wildlife. cleaned prior to the installation of this practice.

PURPOSE Invasive plant species and federally/state listed noxious and nuisance species shall be To maintain, develop, or improve wetland controlled on the site. habitat for waterfowl, fur-bearers, or other wetland associated flora and fauna. Habitat Appraisal or Habitat Evaluation: CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES The appraisal or evaluation procedure shall be On or adjacent to wetlands, rivers, lakes and used to determine habitat suitability and result other water bodies where wetland associated in a quality rating or habitat suitability index wildlife habitat can be managed. This practice (hsi) (this is the score obtained by performing applies to natural wetlands and water bodies WHEG) for each of habitat elements Food, as well as wetlands that may have been Water Cover/Shelter and Fragmentation of previously restored (657), enhanced (659), or Space. This will consider the type, amount, created (658). and distribution of habitat elements required. If the evaluation indicates a level below the CRITERIA acceptable quality of 0.5, alternatives will be An approved Arizona WHEG (Wildlife Habitat recommended that will result in the necessary Evaluation Guide) found in Section III of changes in habitat elements or their FOTG, shall be used to identify habitat-limiting management to bring the rating up to the factors in the planning area. minimal acceptable of 0.5 or above. Application of this practice shall remove or If the evaluation is at the minimum or above, reduce limiting factor(s) in their order of alternatives will be recommended that will significance, as indicated by results of the result in the necessary management to habitat evaluation. preserve, maintain or improve the existing habitat in its present state or toward optimum Application of this practice alone, or in conditions. combination with other supporting and facilitating practices, shall result in a Habitat Elements conservation system that will enable the planning area to meet or exceed the minimum The following habitat elements will be quality criteria for wildlife habitat established in considered when assessing wildlife habitat. Section III of the FOTG. Not all may apply to every habitat type. Identify wildlife species management goals 1. Food and objectives. For the desired species, identify the types, amount and distribution of a. Type habitat elements and the management actions 1. Vegetative diet elements such as necessary to achieve the management fungi, lichens, moss, ferns, algae, objectives. graminoids, forbs, shrubs, tree leaves, roots, seeds, acorns, grain,

NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Section IV NRCS-AZ Conservation practice standards are reviewed periodically, and updated if needed. To obtain July, 2010 the current version of this standard, contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 644-Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management Standard

berries, fruits, nuts, cones, flowers, Establishing vegetative buffers on surrounding and nectar. uplands can reduce the delivery of sediment and soluble and sediment-attached 2. Animal diet elements - contaminants carried by runoff and/or wind. invertebrates, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, The nutrient and pesticide tolerance of the mammals, carrion, and eggs. species planned should be considered where known nutrient and pesticide contamination b. Amount exists. c. Season of availability and need. 2. Cover Consider effects on temperature of water resources to prevent undesired effects on a. Type aquatic and wildlife communities. b. Amount 3. Water Soil disturbance associated with the installation of this practice may increase the a. quality potential of invasion by unwanted species. b. quantity c. accessibility Adding dead snags, tree trunks or logs can d. seasonal availability provide structure and cover for wildlife and 4. Interspersion and Distance to serve as a carbon source for food chain support. a. crops b. grasses and or legumes For discharge wetlands, consider underground c. shrubs upslope water and/or groundwater source d. trees availability. e. water When determining which species to plant, f. openings consider microtopography and different 5. Habitat Fragmentation hydrology levels. a. Size of habitat “patch” Consider effects of management actions on b. Urban/suburban development compliance with state and federal hunting c. Road density, size, and type regulation (e.g., baiting). d. Fences or other barriers e. Invasive species Consider effects of livestock grazing on runoff, 6. Migration infiltration, wetland vegetation and nesting success. a. routes b. season of use Adding artificial nesting structures that are c. corridors appropriate for the region can increase utilization of these areas. In conjunction with this standard, use the Fish and Wildlife Structures (734) practice to Locating this practice adjacent to existing provide cover that requires a physical structure wetlands and other water bodies will provide including nest boxes, raptor poles and other connectivity to these cover types. manmade cover structures. The improved habitat that results from the installation of this practice may lead to CONSIDERATIONS increased crop depredation by wildlife on adjacent cropland. Consider effects management will have on disease vectors such as mosquitoes. Consider adjacent wetlands or water bodies that contribute to wetland system complexity Consider effects on downstream flows or and diversity, decrease habitat fragmentation, aquifers that would affect other water uses or and maximize use of the site by wetland- users. associated wildlife. Consider effects on fish and wildlife habitats and Threatened and Endangered Species that Consider effect of volumes and rates of runoff, would be associated with the practice. infiltration, evaporation, and transpiration on the water budget.

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PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS upland vegetation for the intended wetland and/or wildlife purpose. Document how habitat needs will be provided for the desired kinds of wildlife: Biological control of undesirable plant species and pests (e.g., using predator or parasitic  required depth of water during the different species) shall be implemented where available seasons; and feasible.  types and sizes of structures required; Added water depth and duration may be  desired native plant species and the utilized as a method to control unwanted means of establishing and maintaining vegetation (e.g., reed canary grass). them. Specific information may be provided using REFERENCES appropriate job sheets or written Hall, C.D. and F.J. Cuthbert. 2000. Impact of a documentation in the conservation plan. controlled wetland drawdown on Blanding’s Turtles in Minnesota. Chelonian Conservation OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE Biology. Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 643-649. A plan for operation and maintenance at a Helmers, D.L. 1992. Shorebird management minimum should include monitoring and manual. Western Hemisphere Shorebird management of structural and vegetative Reserve Network, Manomet, MA 58 pp. measures. Payne, Neil F.1992.Techniques for wildlife Haying and livestock grazing plans, if haying or habitat management of wetlands. McGraw-Hill, livestock grazing is used as a needed wildlife Inc. 549 pp. management tool, will be developed to allow Smith, Loren M. and Roger L. Pederson. 1989. the establishment, development and Habitat management for migrating and management of wetland and associated wintering waterfowl in North America. Texas Tech University Press, 574 pp.

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