Natural Resource Management
The Army Corps of Engineers is the steward of the lands and waters at Corps
water resources projects. Its Natural Resource Management Mission is to manage and
conserve those natural resources, consistent with ecosystem management principles,
while providing quality public outdoor recreation experiences to serve the needs of
present and future generations.
In all aspects of natural and cultural resources management, the Corps promotes
awareness of environmental values and adheres to sound environmental stewardship, protection, compliance and restoration practices.
We manage for long-term public access to, and use of, the natural
resources in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies as well as the private sector. By integrating the management of diverse natural resource components
such as fish, wildlife, forests, wetlands, grasslands, soil, air, and water with the provision
of public recreation opportunities, we are able to conserve and protect natural resources as well as provide
public recreation opportunities that contribute to the quality of American life.
Natural Resource Management at Work
Arkabutla Lake NRM personnel use a variety of management techniques to manage and conserve the natural resources that are a part of the Arkabutla Lake Project.
Cover Crops: Cover crops are planted around the lake to help offset the destruction of
habitat and available food sources for wildlife. Many species of birds and animals utilize these cover crops. Some of these birds and animals include Turkey, Dove, Quail, Squirrels and Whitetail Deer.
Cover Crop of Sunflowers
Prescribed Burning: Prescribed burns are used to control undesirable vegetation and are the most natural tool that can be used for managing habitats. Forest fires have occurred naturally in most ecosystems for thousands of years and some vegetative areas must have prescribed burns in order for them to survive. Prescribed burns increase the amount of available sunlight that reaches bare soil and will promote new growth of forages for deer, turkey, and quail. Burned areas will provide important bugging, nesting, and brooding areas for wild turkeys and quail. Prescribed burning may also be used as a means of site preparation for the planting of any trees located within an area.
Prescribed Burn
Disking/Strip-disking: Disking is an effective management tool that creates soil disturbance and causes a change in plant communities. This technique is used in moist soil management areas (MSMAs) and in strip-disking areas. Disking also reduces woody vegetation and promotes the growth of annuals to increase seed production and availability for wintering waterfowl. Disking in 5 of the 10 moist soil management areas is implemented annually during the spring after water levels decline enough to facilitate equipment use. Disking in these areas is alternated with a scheduled flooding regime and implemented on approximately 360 acres of MSMAs.
Strip-disking procedures are completed on higher elevations of the landscape during the fall months. This causes similar results to habitat as previously mentioned with the disking of MSMAs. However, strip-disking also provides nesting, bugging, and dusting areas for quail and turkey. This technique creates diverse habitats for a variety of upland wildlife species. Strip-disking is performed in strips approximately 30 feet wide, which are disked on an alternating 3-year rotation. Each area will have been completely disked by the end of the third year.
Disking in the Askew Wildlife Management Area
Nesting Structures: Some of the practices we implement around the lake include the
placement of nesting structures, such as Martin houses, Wood Duck boxes, Bluebird houses, and Bat houses. Quite often federal, state, and local agencies, along with local citizens, assist with the placement of these nesting structures.
Wood Duck Box along the Coldwater River Nature Trail System
