On Saturday, July 22, nearly 200 people gathered to celebrate the long awaited completion of the 3,000-acre Rush Lake restoration project. Rush Lake was once one of the most important wetlands for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife in Wisconsin. Extensive stands of bulrush and other aquatic vegetation attracted a multitude of wetland birds including waterfowl, red-necked grebes, and Forster’s and black terns. However, over the past several decades the lake’s aquatic vegetation, water quality, and wildlife have declined dramatically as a result of stable water levels, carp, and excessive sediment and nutrient inputs from the surrounding watershed. The newly installed dam and stream channel grading on Waukau Creek, which was designed and delivered by Ducks Unlimited (DU), will facilitate a planned two-year draw down in an effort to eradicate carp and reestablish bulrush. The drawdown commenced in April and by fall lush stands of head-high bulrush could be found over large portions of the exposed lake bed. A rotenone treatment to eradicate surviving carp is planned for winter. Funding for this project was provided by Ducks Unlimited, Foster Rush Hunting Club, Lower Fox River/Green Bay Natural Resource Trustee Council, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, Rush Lake Watershed Restoration, Inc., Winnebago County Land & Water Conservation Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and supporters of the Dick Steinman Tribute Event.