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Visit a Wetland
Treasure
 Compared to the mountains and woods that enjoy hikers year round, and the
rivers and lakes that attract boaters and anglers each summer,
wetlands are infrequently visited by outdoor enthusiasts. As a result, they remain one of our most misunderstood, and therefore
threatened, environments.
Common misconceptions of wetlands include the idea that they
are "wastelands," "disease-infested," and
dark and dirty "swamps." Since the 1960's more Americans
have become concerned about our environment and more and more
people have come to understand the important ecological role wetlands
play, but still, few people have actually experienced wetlands
"up close." Wetlands are dramatic landscapes, as varied
as the species that inhabit them - from lowly mud-loving salamanders
and centipedes, to lofty eagles and herons. Sedge meadows, fens,
floodplain forests, cedar swamps, bogs, and marshes - all are
examples of Wisconsin's rich wetland heritage.
Every corner of the state is dotted with wetlands: forested wetlands,
prairie pot-holes, sedge meadows, and lake, river and stream shorelines.
But over the past century we have lost more than half of our state's
wetlands, about five million acres, as these areas were ditched,
diked and drained for agriculture, roads, housing and shopping
centers. Our wetlands continue to be threatened by development
projects throughout the state. We're not just losing our wetland
heritage, we're losing the valuable role wetlands play in our
state's ecology and economy . . .
We're collecting photos and stories of wetland areas around the
state and calling them "featured wetlands." These short
articles are written by members and others interested in sharing
their favorite Wisconsin wetlands with folks like you. So, please
take a minute to review their stories and consider submitting
a short article yourself - we'd love to hear from you.
Wetlands Featured Here:
Tiffany
Bottoms near Eau Claire
Calcareous
Fens of Bluff Creek & Clover Valley in Walworth Co.
Go on a wetland field trip with Wisconsin Wetlands Association!
Click here
to download a simple DNR map of a few special wetland areas from
throughout the state.
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