Wetland and Shoreline Protection Issue Team
Wetland Restoration Volunteer Monitoring
The RRC is working with the DNR and Madison Audubon Society to establish a citizen wetland restoration monitoring project for two large farms in Jefferson County. Our goal is to eventually expand this program to the whole basin.
Currently, the Rock River Coalition needs interested citizens to help monitor invasive species and collect important information about flowering plants, birds, frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, stream invertebrates, mammals, and water quality. Volunteers can choose the study or studies they wish to participate in and will receive training.
One area of study is Zeloski Marsh, located just west of Rock Lake and Lake Mills. It was agricultural land through 2005 before being restored to a wetland in 2006, thus providing a great before and after opportunity for comparison. Master birder Nolan Kollath identified a Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) at the Lake Mills Wildlife Area Zeloski Marsh Unit in early June 2009. This identification marks the 200th species that visits or uses the marsh, which exemplifies the need to preserve and restore Wisconsin's native areas. All sightings at Zeloski are recorded at www.ebird.org.
While most of the monitoring started during early spring 2005, one important study began in October 2004. Volunteers helped identify and map invasive species — including buckthorn, wild parsnip, box elder, musk thistle and reed canary grass — around the perimeter of the marsh and along the ditches. Information gathered by volunteers was used to develop a plan to control invasive species before restoration.
The second farm is located east of Jefferson and south of the Jefferson Tamarack Swamp. Some volunteers will be needed at this site as well. “We need help from volunteers to collect important baseline information about nesting birds, age and type of trees on the property, frogs and other amphibians, water quality and animals that are currently living on the land or in the water” says Suzanne Wade UW-Extension Rock River Basin Educator. “Without volunteers we can’t begin to collect all of the information that we need. This information will help us determine the value of restorations, how to best restore wetlands and will help us better prioritize areas to restore.”
If you would like to become a wetland restoration monitoring volunteer contact Ed Grunden, Volunteer Monitoring Director at ed@rockrivercoalition.org or by calling (920)674-7443.
If you would like to join an issue team, or would like to receive more information about joining a team, contact Suzanne Wade, call (920) 674-8972, or print out the contact form and follow the directions on the form to return it.
Targeted Wetland Restoration
The team has a third project, “Finding Common Ground” (pdf 151KB). The RRC and DNR desire to work with local farmers, along with other stakeholders, to implement an effective restoration plan to restore water quality and conserve our land and water resources in the Rock River Basin. Currently no funds have been obtained to pursue this project.
Finding Common Ground: A Community-Based Watershed Project to Restore Water Quality, Protect Water & Land Resources, Improve Agriculture Economy and Long-Term Sustainability in the Rock River Headwaters, Wisconsin (pdf 151KB)
Wetland Links
Shoreline Restoration Projects
This team has established twelve native plant restorations on public lands with designs for eight additional restorations. These restorations are located within city and county parks which provides ongoing education about the restorations as well as protects water quality.
Shoreline Links
This team's emphases are:
Wetland/Shoreline Restoration Issue Team Members
- Jim Congdon, WDNR Upper Rock Water Team Leader
- Susan Josheff, WDNR Lower Rock Basin Water Team Leader
- Ruth Johnson, Town & Country RC&D
- Suzanne Wade, UWEX Rock River Basin Educator
- Tom Bernthal, WDNR Wetland Ecologist
- Audrey Greene, Walworth County Lakes Specialist
- Scott Hausmann, WDNR Wetlands Team Supervisor
- Dan Hunt, WDNR Water Management Specialist
- Charlie Luthin, Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin
- Alice Klink, NRCS Wildlife Specialist
- Mark Martin, WDNR Natural Areas Protection Specialist
- Lisa Reas, LJ Reas Consulting
If you would like to join an issue team, or would like to receive more information about joining a team, contact Suzanne Wade, call (920) 674-8972, or print out the contact form and follow the directions on the form to return it.
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