{"product_id":"pollinator-planting-copy","title":"Forb Planting to Establish Brood Rearing Cover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePROJECT DESCRIPTION\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe area associated with this proposal is located at the northeast point of the South Fork\u003cbr\u003eArm of the Salt River as it joins the main body of Mark Twain Lake. The total management unit\u003cbr\u003eis 271 acres of which 176 acres is South Fork Recreation Area. This multi-use recreation area\u003cbr\u003ehas facilities located there that include a four-lane boat launching ramp, two courtesy loading\u003cbr\u003edocks, one vault toilet, and parking lot that totals 120 car-trailer and 15 car spaces. Currently,\u003cbr\u003eone picnic site is available for public use. The entire recreation area is closed for all public\u003cbr\u003ehunting opportunities excluding a partnership youth spring turkey hunt with the National Wild\u003cbr\u003eTurkey Federation. This area does offer other recreational opportunities such as hiking and\u003cbr\u003ewildlife viewing.\u003cbr\u003eCurrently, wildlife management in this area consists of managing several warm season\u003cbr\u003egrass areas to promote a diversity of native wildlife-friendly plants. Common plants in these\u003cbr\u003eopen fields consist of native tall warm season grasses such as Big Bluestem, Indiangrass and\u003cbr\u003eSwitchgrass. Some of the forbs presents are blackberry, partridge pea, various goldenrod and\u003cbr\u003easter species. Management strategies focus on sustaining tall-grass prairies at a portion of their\u003cbr\u003eformer densities with interspersions of woody cover and forb vegetation. Through prescribed\u003cbr\u003efire, mechanical, and chemical management these grasslands have thrived. Current habitat\u003cbr\u003eevaluation shows concerns for brood rearing and ground nesting wildlife due to the dense\u003cbr\u003evegetative layer formed by the tall warm season grasses which dominate the field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePROPOSAL\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MarkTwainLakeUSACE\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eU.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Mark Twain Lake\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e is proposing to enter a\u003cbr\u003epartnership with the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/quailforevermarktwain\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMark Twain- Quail Forever Chapter\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Habitat Association\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e to\u003cbr\u003econvert one, 12-acre field, currently dominated by tall warm season grasses to a forb-based mix\u003cbr\u003ewith shorter warm season grass species. The goal of this planting is to create a diverse\u003cbr\u003evegetation component serving as ideal nesting and brooding rearing cover all within a 250-foot\u003cbr\u003eradius from quality escape cover. This will require a seeding dominated by native forb species\u003cbr\u003edue to the heavy presence of warm season grass currently. The establishment of these forb\u003cbr\u003especies and short warm season grasses will initiate the goal of a diverse ecosystem which\u003cbr\u003edirectly supports the habitat needs of many game species and other native wildlife species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e1. Foliar Herbicide Application\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis process will reduce the tall warm season grass that is creating the dense layer of\u003cbr\u003evegetation. The foliar herbicide application will take place late summer to kill these grasses.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e2. Fireline Establishment\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA 15’ fire line is managed each fall with either a mower or offset disk depending on the\u003cbr\u003emanagement plans for that year. The fire line will serve as the maintenance tool for future\u003cbr\u003emanagement to set back succession and favor the native plants. If management calls for\u003cbr\u003eprescribed fire the line consists of 70% exposed soil allowing for a safe burning operation. The\u003cbr\u003edisturbed soil will be seeded with a fall food resource containing Wheat, Cereal Rye, Crimson\u003cbr\u003eClover, and turnip species. This fall resource provides fall and winter food resources and creates\u003cbr\u003eexcellent brood rearing cover the following spring and summer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e3. Prescribed Fire\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA prescribed fire will be used to consume the dead thatch sitting on the soil. This management\u003cbr\u003eaction will provide for soil contact with seeds and favorable growing conditions for young\u003cbr\u003eplants.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e4. Seeding\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA broadcast spreader will be utilized to perform dormant seeding of the grasses and forbs.\u003cbr\u003ePlanting activities to be performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This planting will be\u003cbr\u003eexecuted between January 1 and March 1, 2027 during the dormant season. The pollinator seed\u003cbr\u003emixture would contain short grasses of Little Bluestem, Side Oats Grama and 28-forb species\u003cbr\u003ewhich would include a flowering period throughout the entire growing season to attract a large\u003cbr\u003evariety of insects.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e5. Mowing, prescribed burning, mechanical and chemical management\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese activities will follow the seeding to encourage establishment of young plants by reducing\u003cbr\u003ecompetition, minimizing invasive species such as Autumn Olive and Sericea Lespedeza during\u003cbr\u003ethe establishment time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGOALS\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eManagement strategies will focus on sustaining the short warm season grass and forbs that will be established. This conversion practice will enhance quality nesting and brood-\u003cbr\u003erearing, which is the current limiting factor. The seed mix will contain forb species that flower throughout the growing season. The plant species will benefit pollinating insect species which\u003cbr\u003ewill then serve as the primary food resource to broods that utilize the area for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOST\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Habitat Association seeks to donate $3,400 toward this project.  That amount will cover seed costs associated with the transformation of the old field.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"$5","offer_id":67501772931290,"sku":null,"price":5.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$10","offer_id":67501772964058,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$25","offer_id":67501772996826,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$50","offer_id":67501773029594,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$75","offer_id":67501773062362,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$100","offer_id":67501773095130,"sku":null,"price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$250","offer_id":67501773127898,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"$500","offer_id":67501773160666,"sku":null,"price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0707\/1590\/0122\/files\/shutterstock_1465877783_0186673a-468e-4c44-990e-f073a22701f9.jpg?v=1791296374","url":"https:\/\/thehabitatassociation.com\/products\/pollinator-planting-copy","provider":"The Habitat Association","version":"1.0","type":"link"}