The Effect of Goose Management on Water Quality

Abstract

Canada geese are causing a growing concern regarding their impact on Public health and safety risks. In Pennsylvania the USDA's Wildlife Services division manages geese in problematic areas. The purpose of goose management is to reduce damage to agricultural, urban, and natural resources, as well as reducing threats to public health. For this study, three impoundments were monitored bi-weekly from May to September along with a single sampling date in both October and November 2009. Two of the impoundments are managed by the USDA while the third was the unmanaged control site. The objective of the study was to compare water chemistry and fecal coliform counts from the three sites. Dissolved oxygen, pH, and water temperature were measured along with fecal and total coliforms to monitor water quality from the nesting to migration seasons. Results from fecal coliform testing show strong evidence of the benefits of management with coliform levels up to three times higher in the unmanaged impoundment. Based on these findings, the USDA's methods of management are effective in reducing health threats as well as improving water quality.