Four marshes, two impounded (managed) next to two unmanaged marshes, in coastal Louisiana (29°35’N, 90° 05’W) were used to measure the effects of Nutria grazing and water level management on annual production and vegetative stand structure. Water flow in the impounded marshes was regulated by flap-gated culvert. The typical cycle of water management in this type of marsh was followed by impounding drainage in the spring, a drawdown period in the summer, and flooding during fall and winter. Within each marsh five unfenced and five fenced nine meter squared plots were constructed to test the effects of Nutria (Myocastor coypus) herbivory (grazed or ungrazed). In all four study marshes, annual aboveground biomass, stem density and height were measured for two wetland plant species, Spartina patens and Schoenoplectus americanus in 1991, before impoundment, and for three years following.
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