Purpose: To enhance 441 acres of moist-soil habitat on Copan WMA through the construction of levees and the installation of a permanent pump station. In addition to the 3.5 miles of levee restoration, 10 stop-log water control structures were installed on 5 units.

 

Copan WMA lakeview

 

 

The first dikes were constructed on the Copan WMA in the mid 1980's. Frequent over-bank flooding of the Copan Reservoir made moist-soil management regimes difficult. The installation of the permanent pump and water control structures provided the capability to flood and drain units independently. This work was necessary to improve moist-soil management capabilities and create more desirable water depths for feeding waterfowl.

 

Copan WMA is a mixture of cross-timbers, tall grass prairie and river bottom habitat. Bottomland habitats occur along Little Caney River and Cotton Creek drainages.ˆ Upland sites are a mixture of tall grass prairie, crop land and post oak/blackjack oak ridges.ˆ The average annual precipitation for the area is about 40 inches.

Location: Approximately 15 miles north of Bartlesville, OK (Washington County).

 

Ducks Flying in Copan WMA

 

 

Acres Impacted: 441 acres of wetland habitat.

 

Habitat Types: Emergent wetlands, moist-soil impoundments.

Partners:
Ducks Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Ducks Unlimited

DU Contact:

Scott Manley
Director of Conservation Programs
smanley@ducks.org