Wisconsin sites

Wetland Guides:

  • Benyus, J.M. 1989. Northwoods Wildlife: A Watcher's Guide to Habitats. NorthWord Press, Inc. Minocqua, WI. A handy guide that describes 18 different types of wetlands, forests and fields.

  • Braun, Dave, Amy Brown and Sterling Strathe 1994. Project Wetland Understanding Leading to Preservation. Outdoor Skills Center, Inc., Plymouth, WI. Recent publication resulting from a major coastal wetland project.

  • Curtis, J.T. 1959. The Vegetation of Wisconsin. University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, WI. 657 pages. Classic book describing the vegetation and plant communities of the state.

  • Eastman, J. 1995 Swamp and Bog. Stackpole Books. Mechanicsburg, PA Wetland plants, habitats and wildlife communities, beautiful line drawings. Contact: Stackpole Books. 5067 Ritter Road. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

  • Eggers, S.D. and D.M. Reed. 1997. Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin. (2nd Edition). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, MN. 263 pages. Excellent guide to wetland plants with full color photos of wetland plants, field characteristics and ecological notes. See Appendix B for an order form or consult the Corps' worldwide web page on the Links Page.

  • League of Woman Voters of Milwaukee County. 1995. Wetland Tool Kit. The League of Woman Voters — Education Fund. 152 W. Wisconsin Ave. Suite 709G, Milwaukee WI 53203 phone: 414-273-8683. Price: $35. This kit provides all kinds of information including print materials, video and contact lists about wetlands, from functions and values to municipal planning and government regulation.

  • Martin, A., H. Zim, A. Nelson. 1961. Wildlife and Plants: A Guide to Wildlife Food Habits. Dover Publications, Inc. New York, NY. Organized by animals and plants, this book has a wealth of interesting information on the food habits of diverse animal and bird species.

  • Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 1986. Wetlands. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York. 539 pages. This is an excellent college level textbook on wetland ecology.

  • National Audubon Society. 1996. Oases for Wildlife: Small and Farmed Wetlands. National Audubon Society. 1901 Pennsylvania Ave. NW , 11th Floor. Washington DC 20006 phone: 202-861-2242 . Background information on wetlands.

  • Niering, W. 1985. The Audubon Society's Nature Guides: Wetlands. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 640 pages.

  • Tiner, R.W. 1998. In Search of Swampland: a wetland sourcebook and field guide. Rutgers Press. 264 pages

  • Weller, M.W. 1994. Freshwater Marshes — Ecology and Wildlife Management. 3rd Edition. University of Minnesota Press. MN 192 pages.

  • Welsch, D.J., D.L. Smart, J.N. Boyer, P. Minkin, H.C. Smith, T.L. McCandless. Undated. Forested Wetlands: Functions, Benefits, and the Use of Best Management Practices. USDA Forest Service Publication, Radnor, PA Contact: USDA Forest Service, Northeasten Area, 100 Matsonford Rd., 5 Radnor Corp. Ctr. Ste 200, Radnor, PA 19087-4585

  • Wisconsin Department of Administration/Coastal Management Program. 1995. Basic Guide to Wisconsin's Wetlands and their Boundaries. (88 pages). Describes wetlands, and how to determine their boundaries.

  • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 1990. Wetlands, Wonderlands. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources/Wisconsin Coastal Management Program. 16 pgs.

Plant Identification Manuals:

  • Borman, S. R. Korth, J. Temte. 1997. Through the Looking Glass ... A Field Guide to Aquatic Plants. Department of Natural Resources publication: DNR FH-207-97 Wonderful sketches of aquatic plants and descriptions of habitat. Order from: Wisconsin Lakes Partnership, University of Wisconsin Extension, College of Natural Resources, 1900 Franklin St. Stevens Point. WI 54481 715-346-2116

  • Brown, L. 1979. Grasses: An Identification Guide. Houghton Mifflin, New York. A good guide for beginners, with line drawing covering 135 species and a key to families.

  • Chadde, S.W. 1998. A Great Lakes Wetland Flora. PocketFlora Press. Calumet, Michigan. Illustrated guide to aquatic and wetland plants of upper Midwest with keys to species.

  • Courtenay, B. and J. H. Zimmerman. 1978. Wildflowers and Weeds. Simon and Schuster Inc. New York. 144 pages. Excellent guide for the expert and non-expert alike. It is now out of print — look in used bookstores. If you have one, treat it with care.

  • Eggers, S.D. and D.M. Reed. 1997. Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin. (2nd Edition). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul, MN. 263 pages. Color photos, excellent guide to wetland plants, describes plant, associates and communities.

  • Fassett, N.C. 1957. A Manual of Aquatic Plants. 2nd Edition. University of WI Press. Madison, WI. 405 pages. Keys and line drawings to aquatic plants. Not for beginners.

  • Hipp, A.L. 2008. Field Guide to Wisconsin Sedges: An Introduction to the Genus Carex (Cyperaceae). University of WI Press. Madison, WI. 280 pages.

  • Hotchkiss, Neil. 1972. Common Marsh, Underwater and Floating — leaved Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications, New York. 124 pages.

  • Knobel, E. 1980. Field Guide to the Grasses, Sedges and Rushes of the United States. Dover Publications, Inc. New York, NY. Line drawings of some members of three difficult groups to identify.

  • Ladd, D. 1995. Tall Grass Prairie Wildflowers. Falcon Press. Helena, Montana. Popular guide with color photos. Order from: Falcon Press at 1-800-582-2665

  • Newcomb, L. 1977. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. Little Brown and Co. Boston. Excellent line drawings and classification system.

  • Newmaster, S. G., A.G. Harris and L.J. Kershaw. 1997. Wetland Plants of Ontario. Lone Pine. Includes 300 color photos and 300 line drawings covering 450 species. Most of the plants also are here in Wisconsin.

  • Peterson, R,T. and McKenny, M. 1975. A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-Central North America. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston. 420 pages. Excellent line drawings.

  • Petrides, G. 1972. A Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs: Northeastern and north-central United States and southeastern and south-central Canada. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston 427 pages.

  • Symonds, G. W. D. 1963. The Shrub Identification Book. William Morrow and Company. New York. 379 pages. Using photos of leaves, thorns, twigs, flower, berries and bark, this book leads to shrub identification in any season. The only drawback is that it is too large to easily carry in the field.

Wetland Restoration:

  • Admiraal, A.N., M.J. Morris, T.C. Brooks, J.W.Olson, M.V.Miller. 1997. Illinois Wetland Restoration and Creation Guide. Illinois Natural History Survey, Special Publication 19. Champaign, IL. Technical guide written for wetland managers. Call 217-333-6880.

  • Bureau of Endangered Resources. Wisconsin DNR. Updated yearly. Native Plant Nursery and Consultant List. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Madison, WI. Updated list of Wisconsin native plant nurseries, seed suppliers, and consultants. Call 608-266-7012. BER/DNR, Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707

  • Bureau of Endangered Resources. WDNR 1997. Wisconsin Manual of Control Recommendations for Ecologically Invasive Plants. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Madison, WI. Discusses the ecology and control of many exotic and invasive species. Call 608-266-7012. BER/DNR, Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707

  • Cole, C., T. Serfass, M. Brittingham, R. Brooks. 1996. Managing Your Restored Wetland. North American Waterfowl Management Plan. 44 pages. Request from: Pennsylvania State University. 201 Willard Building. University Park, PA 16802-2801 phone: 814-863-0471. Discusses wetland restoration and management.

  • Eggers, S.D. 1992. Compensatory mitigation: some problems and suggestions for corrective measures. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — St. Paul District. 53 pg.

  • Hammer, Donald A. 1997. Creating Freshwater Wetlands. 2nd Edition. CRC Press. 289 pages.

  • Henderson, C.L., C. J. Dindorf and F. J. Rozumalski. 1999. Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality. State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources. Very attractive guide to native landscaping on lake edges, to order call Minnesota's bookstore at: 1-800-657-3757

  • Pauly, W.R. 1988. How To Manage Small Prairie Fires. Dane County Parks. Dane County, WI. Excellent resource for burn management. Contact: Dane County Park Commission, 4318 Robertson Road. Madison, WI 53714. 608-246-3896.

  • Riley, A. L. 1998. Restoring Streams in Cities: A guide for Planners, Policy Makers and Citizens. Island Press. Washington D.C. Includes methods to manage erosion from low- to high-tech.

  • Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service. 1990. Locating and Identifing Drained Wetlands For Restoration. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Pamphlet describes how to find restorable land.

Other:

  • Cwikiel, W. 1998. Living with Michigan's Wetlands: A Landowner's Guide. (Third Printing). Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Conway, MI. phone: 231-347-1181. Good general overview of wetlands and their conservation.

  • Issak Walton League. Wetland Stewardship: A Call to Action. Video explains wetland ecology, function and values, and stewardship projects. Isaak Walton League of America , Gaithersburg, MD 1-800-284-4952 or www.iwla.org/sos (click on catalog).

  • Leopold, A. 1949. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press. This beautifully written classic is a call to conserve and steward our resources. Wonderful descriptions of Wisconsin wetlands.

  • The Natural Lands Trust, Inc. 1982. A Handbook for the Landowner: The Use and Protection of Privately Held Natural Lands. The Natural Land Trust, Inc. Philadelphia, PA

Technical Journals for wetland science, restoration and conservation:

  • Wetlands. Journal of the Society of Wetland Scientists.

  • Restoration Ecology. Journal of the Society for Ecological Restoration.

  • Natural Areas Journal. Natural Areas Association.

  • Conservation Biology. Society for Conservation Biology

WWA Office Library
Wisconsin Wetlands Association has a wealth of resources on wetlands in our office including wetland books, field identification guides and technical journals. Call 608-250-9971 to make an appointment to come visit our office library.

UW Water Resources Library
The UW Water Resources Library’s mission is to support the research, education, outreach and technology transfer activities of the University of Wisconsin Aquatic Sciences Center, and has a collection of almost 30,000 volumes of water-related information, with particular emphasis on Wisconsin and the Great Lakes.

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