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. ~~ 55 maintaining habitat important to whooping cranes. Habitat management on private lands neQds to be accomplished through acquisition or cooperative agreements. Adequate assessment of management practices requires that certain predetermined measurements be taken to monitor accomplishments versus desired results. Additional, unplanned results may occur and monitoring must be sufficient to detect and measure those effects as well as to avoid potentially detrimental impacts on the cranes or their habitat. 1431 . Maintain uDland water sources. About 20 freshwater ponds are present on Aransas NWR in areas used by cranes. Cranes drink at upland freshwater ponds where surrounding vegetation is kept low to the ground and aquatic emergent or floating vegetation is sparse or absent. Such ponds provide a source of fresh water when coastal waters are highly saline and may encourage cranes to utilize upland food resources. These ponds should be maintained or new ponds creatQd to optimize distribution of upland use by cranes. 1432. Manaae veaetation. Cranes significantly use uplands in winter when relatively open feeding conditions are maintained. Mowing and prescribed burning can provide such areas. Such management practices promote the growth of or enhance the deteqtion and/or palatability of desired food items. Efforts to develop other habitat management practices that increase the habitat base available in wintQring areas should continue. These techniques should emphasize use in areas that are most protected from human encroachment and substrate alteration. This task includes management of vegetation in essential or critical roosting habitat on the migration route. In some instances these efforts will require mechanical or chemical removal of established trees or other vegetation that may be discouraging use by cranes. 1433. Maintain suitable riverine roosts. This task refers to maintaining suitable roosting habitat on the Platte River, Nebraska, or on other rivers used by migrating cranes, by ensuring adequate flows that provide quality roosting habitat and are necessary for scouring invading cottonwoods and willow from the riverbed. Mechanical and chemical control of invading trees may also be required. Purchase or lease of lands bordering key roosts may be necessary to protect the sites from human disturbance. 144. Create wetland habitat. The whooping crane wintering habitat on and near Aransas NWR should be enhanced to provide for the welfare of an expanding crane population. These efforts should include increased management activities to provide, in a prudent manner, better use of existing protected areas. The paramount consideration