Project: Waterfowl Stamp Projects
By Peter Ziegler, Project Director – habitat@wisducks.org
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s January, 2022 Newsletter edition.
WWA plays an important role in our state Waterfowl Stamp Program. We were one of the leaders in finally getting a waterfowl hunter supported and much-needed waterfowl stamp increase. We also hold a seat on the migratory game bird committee which helps, among other things, select funding for projects with stamp dollars. The Waterfowl Stamp program has successfully supported numerous projects that benefit waterfowl and waterfowl hunters throughout the state. Many of these projects go unnoticed by many hunters or they are unaware of what some of these dollars are doing. Many times, especially when conservation groups like WWA put waterfowl stamp dollars toward projects, it is in partnership with other entities, which increases the value of the dollars going into the ground.
Below is a site WWA worked on in conjunction with US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the landowner in Jackson County. This project was actually applied for by USFWS to the duck stamp program on behalf of the landowner. This is a 90-acre project site, which was in row crop with surface drains and drain tile. WWA helped with the technical work of design, surveying and permitting. We also helped oversee tile line disablement and construction.
Searching for drain tile on the Jackson county project site, winter 2020
Tile line found with lots of water to be put back on the landscape
Filling a ditch on the site.
Shortly after completion in November 2020 the wetlands were reappearing.
The following June, things are looking good
This was a unique site in that it was near a railroad line, but low volume and with 90 acres of mixed wetland and nesting native grassland, it was large enough to be a productive project for wildlife. This area also ranks pretty high for waterfowl use for breeding within the state, making it even more impactful for waterfowl utilizing Wisconsin. Your duck stamp dollars, at work.