The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission are working to enhance prairies, glades and fisheries.
The Restoring Prairies and Glades for Fish and Anglers program sprouted from the initiative to reduce cedar trees in natural areas and sink the cut trees for fish habitat restoration in Arkansas lakes.
An unlikely culprit, the eastern red cedar, can cause damage to prairie, glade and woodland habitats if left uncontrolled. This invasive tree can overtake an area by spreading at a significant rate that deprives surrounding plants of vital nutrients and sunlight.
Birds and pollinator species are adversely effected.
Cedars are hardy and take extensive efforts to regulate. They must be selectively cut and burned. Cedar "skeletons" are still intact after catching fire and the dead trees remain, cluttering the wilderness floor. This is problematic for the Natural Heritage Commission while conducting their cedar tree removal project, which encompasses 14 natural areas across the state.
Darrell Bowman, deputy director of the agency, has more than 20 years of experience as an aquatic ecologist and fisheries biologist. His background in both terrestrial and aquatic biology offers insight into ways the two disciplines can work together for separate benefits.
Bowman recognized recycling the unwanted cedars as an excellent way to benefit all involved.
"I saw the connection immediately," he said. "The Game and Fish fisheries managers need cedar trees for habitat restoration work in lakes they manage and our natural areas need cedars removed to restore habitat."
Bowman instigated the creation of the Restoring Prairies and Glades for Fish and Anglers Program.
Chris Colclasure, Natural Heritage Commission director, presented the program to both commissions in May 2016.
Natural Heritage partners with many organizations. It would take a long time to complete the cedar tree removal project without the help of a larger group.
"We only have 18 staff members, so with with help and focus of Game and Fish on the program, we hope to simply hasten the process and remove cedar trees more quickly than would happen otherwise," Bowman said.
This will subsequently benefit plants and wildlife inhabiting these areas and improve populations.
When Game and Fish sinks the trees, it will create brush piles for game fish to inhabit throughout the year. Most sport fish such as sunfish, crappie, black bass and walleye feed and live around structure in the water. The smaller fish hide in tight spaces and the larger fish key to more open spaces to ambush their prey.
"Cedar trees are the best natural material to sink for fish habitat due to their complex branch network and resistance to rot in the water," Bowman said.
Sports on 07/19/2016