We are pleased to offer four working groups and two field trips as part of our conference.
**Please note that the field trips will go in almost any weather (with the exception of hazardous conditions). We've encountered a wide range of conditions on our February field trips, so please consider this as you decide between indoor and outdoor options, and be prepared to dress warmly if you do register for a field trip.
Economics & Ecosystem Services Working Group
Wednesday, February 22, 10:40 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Maple Lawn A
Facilitator: TBA
Join a conversation with our Keynote speaker, David Batker of Earth Economics, to explore and discuss opportunities to better measure, understand, and promote the economic value of wetlands. The absence of quantifiable information about the economic value of wetlands hinders efforts to encourage the protection and restoration of wetland resources. How can we as wetland professionals help to bring more information on the economic value of wetland ecosystem services into decision-making for projects, land use planning, and policy development? Who will do the analyses? Where should we start?
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Mining Wisconsin’s Penokee Range: An Update and Overview
Wednesday, February 22, 3:10 pm - 4:50 pm
Location: Maple Lawn A
Facilitator: Erin O’Brien, Wisconsin Wetlands Association
This session will include a panel presentation to describe the wetland resources at and downstream from the proposed Gogebic Taconite mine; what the proposed mine would look like and how it would operate (based on other case studies); an overview of current state and federal processes for the review and approval of mining proposals; and an update on the status and content of any pending legislation. Questions for the panelists and group discussion will follow the presentations.
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Practitioners Working Group
Thursday, February 23, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Maple Lawn B
Facilitator: Vince Mosca, Hey & Associates
This session offers an opportunity for wetland practitioners - including consultants, federal, state, and local regulators, land managers, and others - to discuss current issues relevant to their daily work. The agenda will be set with the input of those who participated in a similar working group at the 2011 conference. Topics covered will likely include what’s new with state wetland policies, including how they have or will change the review and approval of wetland development permits and associated compensatory mitigation requirements.
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Wisconsin Chapter Formation - Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC)
Thursday, February 23, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Maple Lawn A
Facilitators: Dr. Gary Casper with assistance from Dr. Mary Linton
This Working Group serves as the official kick-off meeting for the new Wisconsin Chapter of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. Formation of a Wisconsin Chapter was approved by the PARC Joint National Steering Committee on October 27, 2011.
The new Wisconsin Chapter will support the PARC mission and the Midwest Regional Working Group (RWG) at the state level, focusing on conservation of Wisconsin amphibians and reptiles. This session will introduce the PARC organizational structure, explain how the new Chapter will be run, and accept Chapter memberships (free!). The mission of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) is to "conserve amphibians, reptiles, and their habitats as integral parts of our ecosystem and culture through proactive and coordinated public/private partnerships."
The session will then review herp conservation initiatives and products from the Regional and National groups and have a brainstorming session to identify and prioritize the most important herp conservation issues for Wisconsin (bring your ideas). Lastly, task forces or working groups will be formed to take on projects. This Working Group is free and open to the public, including people who are not otherwise attending the conference.
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FIELD TRIPS
Registration for field trips is included in the conference fee. Please sign up for the fieldtrips when you register for the conference (see registration info). If you have questions about your field trip selection or would like to change your selection please contact WWA at 608-250-9971 or register[at]wisconsinwetlands.org.
Turtle Valley Wildlife Area Wetland
Thursday, February 23, 2012, 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Caroline Clarin, Agricultural Engineer, NRCS
Alice Klink, Area Biologist, NRCS
Field Trip Description
This field trip will travel to Turtle Valley Wildlife Area and walk through an area that looks over the empoundment, which provides deep marsh, shallow marsh and wet meadow habitat. During the fieldtrip the guides will discuss the restoration efforts that have taken place in this rapidly urbanizing region and the role a wetland and wildlife area of this magnitude has on this part of the state.
Wisconsin Wetland Association’s Wetland Gems program identified Turtle Valley Wildlife Area as a Workhorse Wetland, which illustrates the functional values of wetlands described in WDNR's Wisconsin Rapid Wetland Assessment Methodology including wildlife habitat, fishery habitat, flood/stormwater attenuation, water quality protection, shoreline protection, groundwater and recreation/educations.
Site Description
The Turtle Valley Wildlife Area contains part of the headwaters of both Sugar and Turtle Creeks. The area was extensively drained by over 130 miles of tile and over 6 miles of deep ditches and straightened and dredged creeks. Twelve wetland areas consisting of over 650 acres of water, more than 950 acres of wet prairie, and more than 200 acres of upland prairie are established.
The Turtle Valley Wildlife Area restoration project began as a collaborative effort between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in 1999. NRCS’s Wetlands Reserve Program offered an opportunity to restore over 1,800 acres to a high quality wetland complex. Two landowners enrolled land into the program. These two parcel form the core of the current 2,300-acre Turtle Valley Wildlife Area, which is now owned and managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
For more information about Turtle Valley Wildlife Area please visit:
**Please note that the field trips will go in almost any weather (with the exception of hazardous conditions). We've encountered a wide range of conditions on our February field trips, so please consider this as you decide between indoor and outdoor options, and be prepared to dress warmly if you do register for a field trip.
Hackmatack and Glacial Park Restoration
Thursday, February 23, 2012, 2:00 - 5:00 PM
Lenore Beyer-Clow, Friends of Hackmatack and Openlands
Field Trip Description
Come tour the glacial landscapes of the proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. We will travel south to see wetlands and watersheds that have been restored to provide habitat, prevent flooding and offer recreational opportunities to the residents of the region. At Glacial Park, a McHenry County Conservation District site, we will learn about the Lost Valley Marsh and how the removal of drain tiles created an amazing habitat for both migratory and local waterfowl. We will also see the remeandered Nippersink Creek, one of the early success stories in restoring a straightened ditch back to its original curving banks. We will see other restored wetlands that are the result of partnerships with Ducks Unlimited habitat programs.
In addition, you will hear the story of how a grass roots group of conservationists and local citizens have moved from the idea of land preservation on a small scale to the potential creation of an urban national wildlife refuge. We will share how the idea hatched and the process it has gone through to be recognized as one of the ideas championed under the America’s Great Outdoors initiative and has widespread local, regional and national support.
Site Description
The proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin is intended to conserve our area’s unique natural landscapes, plants and wildlife; link existing open space areas; create recreational opportunities and provide long-term economic benefits to the residents of our region.
This proposal is lead by a group of local citizens from northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin, working on a rare opportunity to bring a National Wildlife Refuge to the Chicago Metro area to add to the handful of urban refuges nationwide, building on the commitment of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop an informed and involved citizenry that will support fish and wildlife conservation through recreation, scientific research, and environmental education in and near cities.
For more information about Hackmatack please visit:
**Please note that the field trips will go in almost any weather (with the exception of hazardous conditions). We've encountered a wide range of conditions on our February field trips, so please consider this as you decide between indoor and outdoor options, and be prepared to dress warmly if you do register for a field trip.
