Improvements start at Bayou Meto

Contractors with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have started the first stage of forest management and recovery on George H. Dunklin Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area in Arkansas County. The tract is the state’s most popular public duck hunting area.

Plans for this summer’s forest management were presented to the public in a series of meetings last fall in addition to the announcement of water management changes throughout Bayou Meto. Both efforts are necessary to restore the red oaks that provide food for mallards and other wildlife in the area.

“The new water management of Bayou Meto at lower elevations implemented last year was the first step in this process. This summer’s dry conditions have allowed us to move forward with the much needed management actions to rebuild these systems and retain the excellent duck hunting Arkansans deserve for future generations,” said Austin Booth, Game and Fish director.

Contractors will work on 2,872 acres of bottomland hardwoods within the Upper Vallier and Government Cypress portions of the area, removing undesirable species of trees and sick and dying trees, which have suffered from decades of constant flooding. The removal of these trees will enable the remaining healthy trees to produce acorns for wildlife as well as the next generation of forest. Selective harvest of sick and undesirable trees will make room for remaining red oaks to begin the next generation of mallard-friendly forest.

Rob Willey, Game and Fish habitat coordinator, along with staff and contractors, worked throughout the summer and fall last year marking undesirable trees and trees in poor condition within Bayou Meto that need to be removed.

The thinning operation will remove overcup oaks and other tree species that have less value to waterfowl and other wildlife. Overcup oaks, which are more water tolerant, do not provide the same benefits to mallards as the willow oaks and Nuttall oaks managers are trying to preserve, so they will be removed to decrease shading on the forest floor and increase the potential for desirable species to flourish.