Sixteen acres of wetlands at the Navarino Wildlife Area will be restored with the project expected to begin this year.
The project is the first to be undertaken by the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association (WWA).
Wisconsin has 1.4 million acres of public land available for hunting and recreation, including some of the best waterfowl habitat in the country. But there are many parts of those public lands that are unproductive and need significant restoration work.
To help that effort, in 2023 the WWA hired two new restoration ecologists to improve public lands in Wisconsin.
“By dedicating staff to develop plans to improve these public lands, we can not only ensure that Wisconsin can continue to maintain a healthy waterfowl population but also help our waterfowl hunters see more success when out on public lands,” said Bruce Ross, WWA executive director.
Working in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), WWA’s public lands ecologists are identifying potentially restorable wetlands and developing restoration plans on DNR managed properties. They are also helping expand wild rice beds throughout the state, particularly in the Ceded Territory.
The program is a multi-year partnership with the Wisconsin DNR, with additional funding from other sources.
WWA’s ecologists completed project identification and evaluation in 2023, setting the stage for breaking ground on wetland restorations in 2024. To date, more than 150 public properties have undergone desktop reviews, with 11 properties under further consideration for restoration. Three other projects are in the planning and design process, and one is moving forward through permitting.
In addition to the Navarino project, additional potential projects totaling nearly 225 acres of wetland restoration include the Brooklyn Wildlife Area (Dane County), Peter Helland Wildlife Area (Columbia County) and Evansville Wildlife Area (Rock County), all in the planning and design process.
Wisconsin has lost about 50% of its wetlands due to drainage, agriculture, development and incompatible land use practices. The restoration of hydrology in these wetlands will improve and increase habitats for waterfowl and other species of wildlife, improve retention of precipitation to prevent flooding in communities, filter groundwater, reduce runoff and erosion, and improve hunting and other recreational experiences.
The public lands initiative also worked to expand wild rice beds throughout the Ceded Territory in northern Wisconsin. Natural wild rice production in Wisconsin is on a long-term decline, and the restoration or establishment of wild rice in suitable state waters will help create more food sources and better covers for wildlife. WWA volunteers collected 230 pounds of wild rice and purchased another 1,500 pounds in 2023 – all of it seeded on priority waters.
“For 40 years, the WWA has been working to create better habitat, educate and advocate for waterfowl hunters here in Wisconsin,” Ross said. “We are excited to expand our efforts to increase habitat for wildlife and provide an even better experience for hunters in Wisconsin.”
The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association is a state-based nonprofit conservation organization.
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