Chopping the invasive cattails allows native plants such as wild rice, sedges, rushes, and native cattail to recover. The chopped material was collected and deposited on shore creating open water and providing important stopping points for migrating waterfowl. Once the chopped vegetation was removed, crews planted wild rice in areas where the floating cattail mats once dominated; about 7 acres of wild rice has been restored in one portion of one wetland.
The Minnesota DNR will utilize the Aquatic Vegetation Cutter around the state to restore the quality of the wetlands which in turn will increase the water quality in streams and lakes in the region.