Field Trip 1: La Crosse River Marsh and Goose Island
NOTE: This field trip is full as of 1/9/07. Please select another field trip or attend the working group
Leaders: Tim Gerber, UW - La Crosse River Studies Center
Chuck Lee, UW - La Crosse & La Crosse River Marsh Coalition
Kurt Brownell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Jon Sobiech, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
WI Department of Natural Resources staff
Explore two river sites with different kinds of wetland habitats on the north and south sides of La Crosse. Just north of town, the La Crosse River is flanked by an expansive marshy floodplain upstream of its confluence with the Mississippi River. Because of its proximity to the expanding urban area, this dynamic river-wetland system has been the subject of many development controversies over the years. Learn about the natural and recent cultural history of the La Crosse River Marsh at Myrick Park.
Goose Island is a swampy island in the middle of the Mississippi just south of town. Part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, the island has swamp-white oak forests and many backwater wetland habitats because of the complexity of its shoreline. A popular outdoor recreational destination during warmer months, the island has a wonderful canoe trail and offers excellent bird-watching opportunities. Discover the beauty and ecology of these wetlands in winter while gathering ideas for a summer camping trip!
Field Trip 2: Upper Halfway Creek Marsh Restoration Project
NOTE: This field trip is full as of 1/4/07. Please select another field trip or attend the working group
Leaders: Jim Nissen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Jim Knox, UW - Madison
Faith Fitzpatrick, U.S. Geological Survey
Bill Richardson, U.S. Geological Survey
Joe Schubauer-Berigan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Visit this innovative watershed restoration project that was developed and implemented with the involvement of a large team of partner organizations, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Town of Onalaska, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and many others. Halfway Creek, a tributary to the Upper Mississippi River north of La Crosse, drains a small watershed where agricultural land use and expanding residential and commercial development have led to flooding and sedimentation problems in lower parts of the watershed.
This watershed initiative involves restoration/enhancement/creation and management of more than 150 acres of wetland and grassland to address these problems and create habitat for wildlife. Learn more about the project goals, restoration design, and process for obtaining community support. Researchers with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey and University of Wisconsin - Madison will also share the results of their work using methods in geomorphology to piece together watershed history and to evaluate the sediment and nitrogen removal capacity of the project.
Field Trip 3: Wetlands in the City of La Crosse:
History & Mitigation
Leaders: Larry Kirch, City of La Crosse
Adryan Slaght, City of La Crosse
Join the City of La Crosse Director of Planning, Larry Kirch, and Senior Planner, Adryan Slaght, for a tour of wetlands within short walking distance of the conference center. The City of La Crosse is blessed to have more than 1,000 acres of wetland within the City limits, most of which are associated with the La Crosse River Valley. On the north edge of the downtown area near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Black River, and La Crosse River, is a remnant wetland that was once part of a larger wetland complex associated with the La Crosse River. Learn about the history of how this wetland complex has changed as the city grew and tour a recent wetland mitigation project in the area completed by the City. Enjoy these wetlands that are near the heart of the City yet still an area of solitude for migratory waterfowl and home to a state threatened bird species.
Working Group 1: Wetland Threats Analysis Results
Leaders: Katie Beilfuss and Becky Abel, Wisconsin Wetlands Association
By February 2007, Wisconsin Wetlands Association will have partial results for our Wetland Threats Analysis, a statewide analysis of threats to wetlands in Wisconsin that involves contributions of expertise from wetland scientists and professionals from around the state. The Wetland Threats Analysis will identify and rank the top threats to each of twelve wetland types around the state of Wisconsin. Results of the Wetland Threats Analysis will serve as a guide for developing strategic approaches to abating these threats. WWA hopes the results of this analysis will be useful to many partner organizations and agencies working to reverse wetland loss and improve wetland protection in Wisconsin. This working group session is an opportunity for WWA to present results of the analysis, get feedback in order to improve the project products, and recruit partners’ involvement in outreach efforts that will follow publication of results. To learn more about the Wetland Threats Analysis, visit our project webpage.
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