I know there is a lot of information out there on this topic, but does anyone know of a few good case studies where one successfully converted a cattail marsh (all cattails) to an emergent wetland with more diverse species?

Judy look at the attacment for some information about this topic.

Cattail_control.doc (22 Kb, 555 downloads)

Judy, I neglected to give you this reference. The best literature search in the Biological sciences is BIOSIS it is not available except by subscription, but you can search BIOSIS at your nearest research university from one of the library's public search computers. If you already knew this, forgive me, but maybe someone else will benefit.

Gary,

Thanks for the information.

What I am really looking for are some case studies with before and after shots and after a few years.

Example:
Started with a 2 acre cattail marsh
Goals?
Did this and that to convert it to ??
Results after modification
Results after X years
Maintenance required
Problems and Successes

Judy,

it is my understanding that a search of the waterfowl management literature will show you such examples. Also, Milton weller clealy shows that the influence of muskrats on cattail marshes is to reduce and/or eliminate the cattail density and change the primary functions. Dr. Wellers bibliography is a good starting place. Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could ask a question on the forum, and the librarian would deliver a made to order study asnswering our question in all detail.

A question for you, and others. Do cattails germinate under water or only on drawndown lands? The "FWS Waterfowl Management Handbook 13.4.13. Management and Cntrol of Cattails" says that cattails do not germinate under water more than a few millimeters deep. My own observations suggest the opposite; that cattail only germinate in water from a couple of centimeters to a few decimeters deep.