Theories abound about the low bag. Minnesota isn't seeing its share of the waterfowl bounty. For more information about the Swan Lake Area Wildlife Project, contact the Nicollet Conservation Club, Dept. Cattails slow the wave action and keep the water clear. That allows sunlight to penetrate to the bottom and helps subaquatic plants and algae grow.
Subaquatic plants provide habitat for the insects ducklings eat.
Simon hopes to release another foot of water this spring, but the results of the drawdown won't be known until after a full cattail growing season has passed. Many hunters understood the drawdown was necessary, but feared the low water would hurt their prospects last fall. Surprisingly, the drawdown exposed enough subaquatic vegetation to attract three times the usual number of canvasbacks and redheads to Swan Lake, resulting in an unexpected bonus hunting opportunity.