Over the past thirty years. a need has developed for plants to improve the wetland habitat in California. This report is the culmination of ten years of testing in search of waterfowl food plants. Many of the plants evaluated have potential for waterfowl food, but most have cultural and management technique problems. In the spring of 1958, cooperative studies were initiated to develop better waterfowl food plants. This work was authorized by a three-way agreement between the California Department of Fish and Game, the California Division of Soil Conservation and the USDA's Soil Conservation Service. Cooperative work plans were developed for screening over 700 accessions during the 10 year study. The systematic plant testing program of the Soil Conservation Service was used to screen the plants for waterfowl food. The major phases of testing were: 1) initial screening at the Pleasanton Plant Materials Center (now located at Lockeford, California); 2) field evaluation plantings at the Gray Lodge Wildlife Management Area near Gridley, California; and 3) field plantings at eleven sites throughout the Sacramento San Joaquin Valley.
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