Different types of habitats require different, sometimes specialized equipment to manage it. A new addition to the Metroparks fleet certainly fits the description of “different.”

The Board of Park Commissioners has approved the purchase of a small tank-like machine called a Marsh Master that will allow the Natural Resources staff to perform a variety wetland habitat management projects at Howard Marsh and other Metroparks more safely and efficiently.

“This machine is capable of moving over mudflats as well as deeper water, as it does float like a boat,” said Denis Franklin, a Natural Resources supervisor who has seen Marsh Masters in use at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. “There is an attachment available to place an outboard motor on the back.”

The Marsh Master, purchased used from a Louisiana company, will be used to access all portions of Howard Marsh, Pearson North and any other park that is not accessible with a rubber-tired vehicle. It will come with:

•  A 110 gallon spray unit for herbicide applications
• A roller/chopper attachment that can be used to open up monocultures of cattail or other vegetation to allow for more diverse plant growth
• A cutter attachment for control of woody species
• A tilt deck trailer for transporting
• And in-service training