Degradation has affected both nesting and especially brood-rearing areas.

This lush feeding sward was a prime brood-rearing area in 1984. Note the intact lawns of grazed grasses. But by 1997,

the quantity and quality of forage had declined substantially. Vegetated stream edges are encased in ice during the spring melt and not accessible to goose grubbing. The low areas away from the edges are susceptible while under temporary pools of spring floodwater.

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revised - 12/18/02