Location Description: |
This area was formerly a private ranch and is referred to in the older editions of the birdfinding guides as the "Hyannis Cattle Company Ponds".
The management emphasis for the Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area is to maintain the wetland habitat for waterfowl, sandhill cranes, shorebirds, bald eagles, and plains leopard frogs and manage the native grassland community in areas adjacent to the wetland. This resource emphasis mayl facilitate re-establishment of riparian growth along the drainage below the wetland and provide feed, rest, nest, and roost sites for migratory birds, especially sandhill cranes and waterfowl, and also for resident wildlife species.
Public use will include controlled opportunities for watchable wildlife oriented recreation including bird watching, and photography as well as hunting of migratory birds (sandhill cranes, waterfowl and doves [Zenaida spp.]) and other resident game animals.
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Records / History: |
Past land uses of the property included farming and ranching with about 30% of the property being irrigated farmland. Much of this is being returned to native grasslands through rest and active reseeding projects. Another 50-acre portion will be managed under a cooperatively developed project to install moist soil cells, which may be flooded throughout the winter months. The next largest portion of the Wildlife Area is comprised of native grasslands, most of which is being rehabilitated as well. Over 600 acres of the area is intermittently flooded wetland with two small patches of riparian habitat. |
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