August 10, 2016 at 11:54 am
By Regional Wildlife Biologist Rich Hoppe
The Pollard Flat WMA is one of many small tracts of land managed by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). Because of their small size many of these properties are relatively unknown to the general public; however in many cases they are very valuable wildlife habitats.
Pollard Flat is located in the Town of Masardis, just off the Garfield Road and adjacent to the Aroostook River. This WMA is within the Aroostook River floodplain offering excellent wildlife habitat. Usually in the spring, water levels in the Aroostook River are high enough to flood most of this property resulting in nutrient rich, alluvial floodplain soils and excellent farmland or cropland. Of the total 223 acres of floodplain managed by MDIFW approximately 137 acres is grassland, 68 acres is shrubs or alders, 12 acres is permanent wetland, and only 8 acres is mature forestland. Even though the predominate wildlife habitat is grassland, the interspersion of other types of habitat throughout this area has created an excellent mosaic of wildlife habitats providing food & cover for many wildlife species. The Aroostook River also borders the eastern edge of this WMA providing an additional ¾ mile of riparian wildlife habitat.
Most of this land, approximately 150 acres, has been traditionally used to produce crops, generally in a rotation of potatoes and oats. In 1997 Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) acquired this parcel to mitigate for wetland impacts associated with various MDOT road projects in Aroostook County. This property was chosen not only because of the existing wildlife values, but also the opportunity to preserve and enhance existing wetlands. In 1997-1998 MDOT completed five separate wetland enhancement projects on this property. Most of these projects were enhancement of existing riparian buffers by planting additional shrubs and grasses adjacent to wetland habitats.
In 2003, the Pollard Flat property was turned over to MDIFW for long-term management. Due to the extreme cost of many wildlife projects MDIFW had to determine which projects would be most beneficial for the resource. The 150 acres of cropland are now managed as grasslands, and are mowed periodically with a management objective of providing grasslands for a variety of game and non-game wildlife species. Also some portions of the historic cropland that were adjacent to wetlands and the Aroostook River are now being allowed to revert to alders and shrubs to further stabilize the field edges and provide additional riparian wildlife habitat.
Because of pressure for development, large tracts of grassland are becoming increasingly rare across Maine and preserving some of these large tracts of grassland before they become fragmented and revert back to forestland is a high priority. Preserving some of these large grasslands on Pollard Flat insures wildlife habitat for many non-game species, particularly grassland birds such as Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Horned Lark, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, and Grasshopper Sparrow. These large grasslands also attract large flocks of migratory Canada Geese in the spring and fall offering the sportsman great hunting opportunity.
In the early 1980’s many of the wetlands associated with the Aroostook River floodplain were recognized under the North American Waterfowl Plan as important waterfowl nesting habitat and were designated for special protection through easements and acquisition. This property fits into this special status designation because of the high waterfowl production and seasonal waterfowl use of wetlands on this property. Some of these same wetlands have also been designated as significant waterfowl and wading bird habitats by the Wildlife Division and are given special protection status under the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Natural Resources Protection Act. The preservation of this wetland habitat provides an excellent opportunity for both sportsmen and non-hunters to observe and hunt various species of waterfowl. In particular, the backwater wetlands or bogans on this property, along the Aroostook River drainage, are some of the best wood duck habitat in Aroostook County.
Local sportsmen looking for a place to hunt or fish often use this property while recreational use tends to be variable depending upon the season and intended use. Most of the recreational use occurs in the fall during the various hunting seasons, with all big game species (bear, moose, & deer) along with waterfowl, ruffed grouse, and woodcock. The only drawback to this property regarding public use is the lack of deeded access where the quarter-mile of gravel road leading into this property is across private land. Generally, public access has been allowed but no formal agreements currently exist and the present landowner has now gated his portion of private land.
Pollard Flat is located in the Town of Masardis, just off the Garfield Road and adjacent to the Aroostook River. This WMA is within the Aroostook River floodplain offering excellent wildlife habitat. Usually in the spring, water levels in the Aroostook River are high enough to flood most of this property resulting in nutrient rich, alluvial floodplain soils and excellent farmland or cropland. Of the total 223 acres of floodplain managed by MDIFW approximately 137 acres is grassland, 68 acres is shrubs or alders, 12 acres is permanent wetland, and only 8 acres is mature forestland. Even though the predominate wildlife habitat is grassland, the interspersion of other types of habitat throughout this area has created an excellent mosaic of wildlife habitats providing food & cover for many wildlife species. The Aroostook River also borders the eastern edge of this WMA providing an additional ¾ mile of riparian wildlife habitat.
Most of this land, approximately 150 acres, has been traditionally used to produce crops, generally in a rotation of potatoes and oats. In 1997 Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) acquired this parcel to mitigate for wetland impacts associated with various MDOT road projects in Aroostook County. This property was chosen not only because of the existing wildlife values, but also the opportunity to preserve and enhance existing wetlands. In 1997-1998 MDOT completed five separate wetland enhancement projects on this property. Most of these projects were enhancement of existing riparian buffers by planting additional shrubs and grasses adjacent to wetland habitats.
In 2003, the Pollard Flat property was turned over to MDIFW for long-term management. Due to the extreme cost of many wildlife projects MDIFW had to determine which projects would be most beneficial for the resource. The 150 acres of cropland are now managed as grasslands, and are mowed periodically with a management objective of providing grasslands for a variety of game and non-game wildlife species. Also some portions of the historic cropland that were adjacent to wetlands and the Aroostook River are now being allowed to revert to alders and shrubs to further stabilize the field edges and provide additional riparian wildlife habitat.
Because of pressure for development, large tracts of grassland are becoming increasingly rare across Maine and preserving some of these large tracts of grassland before they become fragmented and revert back to forestland is a high priority. Preserving some of these large grasslands on Pollard Flat insures wildlife habitat for many non-game species, particularly grassland birds such as Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Horned Lark, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, and Grasshopper Sparrow. These large grasslands also attract large flocks of migratory Canada Geese in the spring and fall offering the sportsman great hunting opportunity.
In the early 1980’s many of the wetlands associated with the Aroostook River floodplain were recognized under the North American Waterfowl Plan as important waterfowl nesting habitat and were designated for special protection through easements and acquisition. This property fits into this special status designation because of the high waterfowl production and seasonal waterfowl use of wetlands on this property. Some of these same wetlands have also been designated as significant waterfowl and wading bird habitats by the Wildlife Division and are given special protection status under the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Natural Resources Protection Act. The preservation of this wetland habitat provides an excellent opportunity for both sportsmen and non-hunters to observe and hunt various species of waterfowl. In particular, the backwater wetlands or bogans on this property, along the Aroostook River drainage, are some of the best wood duck habitat in Aroostook County.
Local sportsmen looking for a place to hunt or fish often use this property while recreational use tends to be variable depending upon the season and intended use. Most of the recreational use occurs in the fall during the various hunting seasons, with all big game species (bear, moose, & deer) along with waterfowl, ruffed grouse, and woodcock. The only drawback to this property regarding public use is the lack of deeded access where the quarter-mile of gravel road leading into this property is across private land. Generally, public access has been allowed but no formal agreements currently exist and the present landowner has now gated his portion of private land.Categories