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RE: Retention Pond Tree Recommendations


Hi Fred-
Have you considered designing the landscaping around the retention pond to
discourage Canada geese?  Here in Ohio, practically every retention pond
hosts a resident C. goose flock which in many cases results in
human-wildlife conflicts (excessive feces, aggressiveness of geese during
nesting, etc.).  In urban areas hunting is usually not allowed, making
control of the situation more difficult.  I would imagine the situation is
not too much different in Iowa.  Hopefully, I am wrong.

You may want to check with the Iowa wildlife agency to see what they'd
recommend.  We'd recommend a perimeter of thick ornamental grasses (the
thick and tall prairie grass species that don't fall over easily-like
switchgrass-work well) and/or shrubs around the pond to essentially deter
the geese from coming on shore if they land in the pond.  You can
incorporate any number of the trees species that have already been
recommended by others into the planting as well.  The bottom-line is, you
want to make access for the geese from the water to nearby mowed grass as
difficult as possible.  

If this retention pond is new, taking action to prevent geese from becoming
a problem in the first place will save the property managers a lot of
headache in the future.  Even if geese are already present at the location,
these guidelines will help to discourage their use of the pond.

Good luck!
Donna Daniel
ODNR, Division of Wildlife
Columbus, OH
D*@dnr.state.oh.us

 


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