A paved foot path extends from the parking lot approximately 250 yards to a concrete wildlife viewing blind. Interpretive signs can be found along the path and inside the blind.
Plants:
The uplands are primarily composed of pinyon-juniper woodland. Paper-spined cactus occurs in the area.
Birds:
The marsh attracts many species of waterfowl, with several hundred utilizing the area during the spring migration period. Other birds commonly seen or heard in the spring and summer include Virginia rail, Sora, yellow-winged blackbirds and American coots. Peregrine falcons often are observed in the spring pursuing ducks.
Mammals:
Common mammals in the area include elk, mule deer and pronghorn.
Management:
Allen Severson management emphasis is to maintain a marsh ecosystem utilizing treated effluent, primarily for nesting, feeding and resting of waterfowl and other wetland and riparian associated birds and terrestrial wildlife species. Emphasis is also placed on providing hunting and educational opportunities for the public. Future management will focus upon water quality and expansion of flows to reach full marsh capacity.
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The Allen Severson Memorial Wildlife Area was created in cooperation with the Forest Service, City of Show Low and the Department. Allen Severson consists of two small artificial marshes including Pintail Lake and South Marsh. Pintail consists of 3 ponds with 14 nesting islands, while South Marsh is a resting and feeding area. Pintail Lake contains 50 acres of water within a fenced area of 250 acres, which South Marsh fluctuates from 15 to 50 acres of flooded meadow. The marsh complex is supplied with secondary treated effluent from the City of Show Low. Pintail Lake was developed in 1979 as the first waterfowl march utilizing treated waste water in Arizona.
