{"id":225,"date":"2024-05-01T21:02:12","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T02:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/?p=225"},"modified":"2024-08-06T06:39:05","modified_gmt":"2024-08-06T11:39:05","slug":"helping-to-bring-more-money-to-wisconsins-wetlands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/atomiccoffee.com\/WWA\/helping-to-bring-more-money-to-wisconsins-wetlands\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping to Bring More Money to Wisconsin\u2019s Wetlands"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Peter Ziegler, Project Director \u2013\u00a0habitat@wisducks.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/header>\n

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This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association\u2019s May, 2024 Newsletter<\/a>\u00a0edition.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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WWA has a long history of partnerships and restoration work throughout the state.\u00a0 We know our programs would not be as successful without our partners \u2013 and that goes both ways.<\/p>\n

WWA partnered with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) on a grant two years ago to tap into funding not previously utilized in Wisconsin\u00a0 for wetland restoration via Natural Resources Conservation Service.\u00a0 By partnering with WDNR on the grant, WWA helped to bring additional funding to the tune of $957,000, for which WDNR is the awardee.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Project site sign in Dane County acknowledges the project partners.<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Last year, the first two projects\u2019 construction phases were completed.\u00a0 These two projects, one in Dane County and the other in Milwaukee County, resulted in 35 acres of habitat restored.\u00a0 This consisted of 28 acres of wetland restoration and seven acres of adjacent upland prairie habitat.\u00a0 Two more projects are in the planning stages for 2024 and into 2025, with a goal of an additional 40 acres of wetland restoration.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Prepping to backfill the ditch draining the site (photo: WDNR)<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Although the initial construction phase is complete, there is more work to be done at each of these sites. Both of these projects have up to five years of active maintenance that will be needed in order to hit performance standards that will ensure the sites are functional hydrologically and are supporting quality native wetland vegetation.\u00a0 Costs for these types of projects are on the higher end, but this includes five years of management and monitoring to assure a quality wetland is the result.\u00a0 I see the benefit in being that these are sites that will become quality habitat not degraded by the invasion of invasive species due to the long term maintenance and the funds allocated to that.\u00a0 Both of these sites are located near urban areas and are open to recreational use for the public (varies by site).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n