United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content


 

Wisconsin Wetlands Reserve Program

Wisconsin Wetlands Information

Overview

Photograph

The focus of the Wetlands Reserve Program in Wisconsin is to restore wetlands that have the highest environmental value for the cost involved. Considerations include type of wetland, ease of restoration, location, proximity to other wetlands, and other factors. The most common type of project is restoration of land drained for agriculture with ditches or tile. Usually the restored wetland will have open water in the spring which will be used by waterfowl migrating along the Mississippi Flyway. The WRP sites also offer high quality nesting habitat and year round wildlife habitat.

Currently, there are 20,259 acres enrolled in WRP in Wisconsin. Over 4,000 acres and 47 parcels are on backlog and awaiting funding. Landowner interest is high with new proposals arriving everyday.

In Wisconsin, most wetlands can be easily restored by plugging the ditches or breaking underground tiles that drained the original wetland for crop production. Ditch plugs and embankments are usually constructed out of the soil that was removed to create the ditches. The native soil still holds viable seed to re-establish wetland vegetation.

For many landowners, WRP makes it economically feasible to restore a wetland that had been the source of their income through crop production.

Benefits

  • Ecological - Restored wetlands revert quickly to fully functioning wetlands that provide flood water retention, filtration of sediment and pollutants, and habitat for waterfowl and wildlife.

  • Family farms - In some instances, WRP has allowed farmers to retire and keep the land in the family. The family continues to enjoy the recreational aspects of the land.

  • Impact on the local community - The return of wetland areas often means an increase in tourism and recreational opportunities such as hunting and bird watching. Because the land remains privately owned, the property tax base is not reduced.


Partnerships

NRCS works closely with many partners in Wisconsin to enhance opportunities for landowners and wildlife, including:

  • Wisconsin Waterfowlers Association
  • Wisconsin Wetlands Association
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
  • Wings Over Wisconsin
  • Ducks Unlimited
  • Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Contact

Alison Pena, WRP Manager, 608-276-8732 ext. 254


Last updated: 1/1/00



< Back to State Programs
< Back to Wetlands Reserve Program