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Current Issues || Our Newsletter || Wetland Alerts KAKAGON AND BAD RIVER SLOUGHS DESIGNATED A WETLAND OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE - December 2011
Located in the downstream portion of the Bad River Watershed and comprising a large portion of the Lake Superior coastal wetlands, the Kakagon and Bad River Sloughs complex is both culturally and ecologically significant due to its diverse habitats supporting a vast array of species, such as Manomin (wild rice), Ogaa (walleye), and Name (lake sturgeon). This Sloughs complex has a long list of designations and recognitions including a National Natural Landmark, a Wisconsin Wetland Gem™, and an Important Bird Area. This is the first Ramsar designation in Wisconsin resulting from a strategic approach being led by Wisconsin Wetlands Association to nominate worthy Wisconsin wetlands for this prestigious international recognition. In 2009, Wisconsin Wetlands Association convened the Wisconsin Ramsar Committee, which identified the Kakagon and Bad River Sloughs as the #1 priority wetland site for Ramsar designation. Click here for more information about this initiative. Wisconsin Wetlands Association provided assistance to the tribe in preparing the nomination package, and is thrilled with the designation. Click here to see the press release from the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa announcing the designation. WWA WINS INTERNATIONAL WETLAND CONSERVATION AWARD - November 15, 2011
Wisconsin Wetlands Association is being honored for its work to promote and increase the number of designated Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance in Wisconsin and the United States. In 2009, Wisconsin Wetlands Association established the Wisconsin Ramsar Committee to identify globally-important wetlands in Wisconsin and to work toward international recognition and acclaim for these critical sites through designation as Wetlands of International Importance. This initiative is believed to be the first strategic approach to identifying sites for this prestigious designation. To date, one site has been nominated and is in official review and other nominations are in process.
Click here to see WWA's full press release announcing this award and a Fact Sheet about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Click here to view the announcement of the 2012 Award winners on the Ramsar website. WWA HIRES TRACY HAMES AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - October 12, 2011
Hames is a waterfowl biologist who has worked for the past twenty years planning, funding, implementing, and monitoring a large-scale floodplain restoration project in eastern Washington state for the Yakama Nation. The project has restored more than 21,000 acres of wetland, riparian, and grassland habitats in an intensely agricultural portion of the Yakama Reservation to maximize the cultural and natural resource benefits of the land for the Yakama People. "Tracy’s scientific understanding of wetland ecology and restoration is impressive," said Mary Linton, Wisconsin Wetlands Association Board Chair who led the Board’s search for a new Executive Director. "The Hiring Team was also impressed with his respectful relationships with people holding widely divergent views about wetlands." Originally from Minnesota, Hames has a Bachelors degree in Biology and Environmental Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul and a Masters of Science degree in Natural Resources from UW-Stevens Point. "I have loved my work for the Yakama Nation, but I never lost my original love of Wisconsin," said Hames. "Through all of the years, I maintained my Wisconsin identity, even keeping a cheese head in my office to put the fear of the Packers into the local Seahawks fans." "I look forward to providing leadership, enthusiasm, stability, and a sense of wonder to Wisconsin Wetlands Association’s membership, Board, staff, and partners." said Hames, whose work with Wisconsin Wetlands Association will start November 21, 2011. "Wetlands face tremendous challenges today, but at the same time, Wisconsin’s strong conservation ethic and our many collaborations and partnerships offer exciting opportunities for improving wetland protection and restoration in the state," said Linton. "We had an outstanding pool of candidates for this position, and Tracy rose above them all. We’re confident he has the skills and experience to lead our efforts to protect, restore, and enjoy wetlands." Click here to download a pdf version this press release announcing Hames' hire. Click here to read more about the Yakama Nation restoration project with which Tracy was involved prior to coming to WWA. LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT WWA - June 2011
As those of you who are members of Wisconsin Wetlands Association already know, Becky Abel, WWA's Executive Director for the past eight years, stepped down in early July to pursue other opportunities. Wisconsin Wetlands Association had a great run with Becky Abel at the helm. She hired our hardworking staff and made sure they were supported. Together, they helped grow our membership and the appreciation of wetlands among Wisconsin's citizens. We hope you will join us in celebrating Becky's many accomplishments and contributions to our organization and to Wisconsin's wetlands. Wisconsin Wetlands Association has established a strong hiring team with the intention of selecting another capable and gifted leader. WWA staff member Katie Beilfuss has been appointed Interim Director to oversee the organization during the transition. Katie joined the staff in 2003 and has worn many hats, including Membership and Operations Coordinator, Threats Analysis Coordinator and Outreach Programs Director. Katie has a Masters degree in Land Resources from UW-Madison's Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and more than 15 years of nonprofit and environmental experience with organizations including the Gorongosa Restoration Project (Mozambique, Africa), the International Crane Foundation, and The Nature Conservancy. Applications are now being received for WWA's Executive Director position. Click here to view the job description and application process. We hope you will help us in our search by sharing word of this opportunity with your friends and colleagues, and sending terrific candidates our way. The application deadline is August 17, 2011. We look forward to making the next eight years for this organization as exciting as the last eight have been. CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE TURTLE: DOCUMENT TURTLES IN WISCONSIN - May 2011
Many US freshwater turtles and tortoises are little studied, and basic ecological information is lacking including where they occur. The USA Mapping Project aims to change that. This national effort aims to compile new and existing locality data for US turtles and tortoises, with a focus on selected species. The four priority turtle species for Wisconsin are the snapping turtle, painted turtle, red-eared slider, and ornate box turtle. Click here for more information about how you can participate in the USA Mapping Project by submitting turtle and tortoise sightings using forms developed by PARC. The Wisconsin Herp Atlas has partnered with PARC to create Wisconsin maps for these target species. These maps will direct you to counties in Wisconsin for which turtle records are particularly needed. Click on the following species common names to see current maps showing distribution and locations of both verified and unverified records for each of the priority turtle species: Eastern Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentine), Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata ornate). The Wisconsin Herp Atlas also all welcomes species records for Wisconsin turtles that aren’t on PARC’s priority list. Click here for more information about the Wisconsin Herp Atlas Project and how to report sightings. WWA RELEASES BERGSTROM WETLAND CASE STUDY - March 2011
Wisconsin Wetlands Association was the lead opponent to this bill, and the wetland fill permit that preceded it. This six-page case study establishes a record of events related to this dispute and explains the basis for WWA’s intervention. It also provides an analysis of the precedent setting implications of this case. WWA WINS OUTSTANDING CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION AWARD - February 2011 WWA RESPONSE TO GULF OIL SPILL IMPACTS ON COASTAL WETLANDS - August 2010 WWA WINS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD - July 2010 LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAPS UP WITH TWO WINS FOR WETLANDS - May 2010 On May 18, 2010, Governor Doyle signed two important wetland bills into law. One will help reduce unauthorized wetland fill, while the other will help Wisconsin leverage more federal funding for wetland restoration projects. Both address long-standing wetland problems. In both cases, WWA was active in discussions about how to solve the problems long before legislation was drafted, and we played a prominent role in efforts to draft and pass the bills. The story of how these bills came to pass illustrates the critical roles WWA plays to shape and advance pro-wetland policies, and the necessity of combining outreach, education and advocacy to affect such change. Click here for more information on these legislative victories. WETLANDS & WWA IN THE NEWS - March 2010 Two new Wisconsin Wetlands Association initiatives were also featured in radio stories produced by Eric Schubring at WOJB Radio as part of the station’s "A Watershed Experience" project: A Local Decision Makers’ Guide to Wetland Conservation and Wisconsin’s Wetland Gems™. Click on the links below to listen to these stories. Visit WOJB radio to hear other stories produced as part of this project, including a profile of the effort to designate the St Louis River Marshes (a Wetland Gem™) a National Estuarine Research Reserve and an interview with Tom Bernthal about the Ephemeral Pond Project. NEW RESOURCES FOR LOCAL DECISION MAKERS - September 2009 DEFENDING WEST BEND WETLANDS - August 2009 RESTORING FEDERAL PROTECTION FOR ISOLATED WETLANDS & HEADWATER STREAMS WETLANDS AND THE 2009 FEDERAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL NEW WETLAND TOOLKIT FOR PROPERTY OWNERS: LOCATING WETLANDS
Photo at right shows a wetland restored under the Wetlands Reserve Program during the June flooding. This wetland was doing it's job of storing floodwaters, but perhaps in over it's head?
PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT WETLANDS & FLOODING: AUGUST 2007 WETLAND REGULATORY AUDIT FUTURE WETLAND INVADERS LAKE KOSHKONONG WATER LEVEL CONTROVERSY TAXES AND WETLANDS WETLAND ALERTS |
Often called the Everglades of the North, the Kakagon and Bad River Sloughs, a pristine wetland complex located in northern Wisconsin, has been formally recognized as an international treasure. In a letter dated December 13, 2011, the Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the Kakagon and Bad River Sloughs a Wetland of International Importance, or Ramsar site. The site now awaits official addition by the Ramsar Secretariat to the official Contention List of Wetlands of International Importance.
Wisconsin Wetlands Association has been selected to receive the 2012 Wetland Conservation Award by the international Ramsar Convention on Wetlands for the organization's outstanding achievements in the area of wetland education. Wisconsin Wetlands Association is the first ever recipient of this award from the United States, joining previous laureats from Thailand, Australia, Japan, Kenya, Peru, and Canada.
The award also honors Wisconsin Wetlands Association’s outreach and education programs that promote the ideals of the Ramsar Convention, including helping people understand what wetlands are and why they matter. Wisconsin Wetlands Association’s Wetland Gems™ program, launched in 2009, recognizes and promotes 100 high-quality wetland sites that represent the diversity of wetlands in Wisconsin in order to increase public appreciation for all of Wisconsin’s wetlands. Work to identify sites for designation as Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance built on the list of 
Wisconsin Wetlands Association has hired Mr. Tracy Hames as the organization's new Executive Director.
2011 is the Year of the Turtle! 
Wetland supporters from across the state watched with interest and concern as Wisconsin Wetlands Association spent the first six weeks of 2011 embroiled in a futile effort to discourage the state legislature from passing a piece of private legislation that we now refer to as the "Bergstrom wetland exemption bill."
The 
The awards program recognizes efforts in six categories: youth, adult individual, business, industry, organization, and municipality or tribe/First Nations. The Wetland Gems™ program received the only Honorable Mention in the organization category for work on the U.S. side of Lake Superior.
