Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge

Refuges use a host of scientifically sound management tools to address conservation challenges. These tools are all aimed at ensuring a balanced conservation approach to benefit both wildlife and people. At Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, our conservation toolbox includes water management, haying, grazing, fire management, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species management, inventory and monitoring, recreation management, and planning.

Water Management

Water levels are carefully monitored and controlled to encourage desired plant growth. Water levels are raised and lowered to provide shallow water for feeding birds and mudflats where seed-producing plants germinate, and provide feeding habitat for shorebirds. Deeper waters provide habitat for submerged plants such as sago pondweed. Sego pondweed provides structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

Learn more about structure for invertebrates and fish and seeds and tubers for waterfowl.

Haying and Grazing

Haying and grazing are critical tools managers use to manage the grasslands. Refuge managers work together with local ranchers to mimic natural disturbances that were once caused by large prairie herds of free-ranging bison, antelope, and elk. Through haying and livestock grazing, invasive cool-season grasses and other invasive plants are stressed, which helps native grasses and forbs such as western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, blue grama, little bluestem, purple coneflowers, goldenrods and low-growing shrubs. Haying and grazing can greatly influence the structure and diversity of grassland communities, which in turn, create the variety of areas needed for nesting upland birds.

Fire Management

Controlled burns are often called prescribed fire because wildlife managers write a careful prescription of the weather conditions, equipment, and people necessary to safely conduct a burn that will have the desired ecological effect. Fire is used to help both wildlife and wildlife habitat - fire stimulates prairie plant growth, increases soil nutrients, and sets back the invading trees and other species not adapted to life on the prairie.

Prairie animals are also adapted to fire. During the actual fire, some animals go underground, while others simply fly or run away from the fire. Sometimes, birds lose their nests to fire, but native grassland species have an adaptation for this: they quickly build a new nest and lay a new clutch of eggs. So, while there is some short-term harm to some animals, these same species depend on fire for their survival because many prairie plants and animals cannot survive long if shrubs or trees take over grasslands.

Invasive Species Management

A number of introduced and invasive plant species are present throughout the Refuge, including leafy spurge, Canada thistle, smooth brome, houndstongue, Kentucky bluegrass, and absinth wormwood. Refuge staff use prescribed burning, haying, grazing, and biological control with insects to help native plant species compete with invasives. When the native species survive and thrive, they provide food and shelter for wildlife. 

Inventory and Monitoring

Refuge staff conduct vegetation surveys annually on parts of the refuge to monitor habitat. Refuge vegetation was mapped during 2011-2013 to provide baseline data for monitoring changes over time. Various wildlife species populations are also monitored throughout the Refuge. 

Recreation Management

Each national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

Learn more about national wildlife refuge was established for a purpose. Refuge managers carefully evaluate recreation on refuges to minimize negative impacts on fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitat.

Planning

Planning is essential to ensure the refuge continues to serve the purpose(s) for which it was established. The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 requires that every refuge develop a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and revise it every 15 years, as needed. In addition to the CCP, refuge managers prepare a variety of step-down plans that guide management decisions and refuge activities.