Ducks Unlimited volunteers, partners and supporters gathered on August 20 th to celebrate groundbreaking of the 310-acre Chaya Marsh project at Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area in Dodge County. Ducks Unlimited engineers developed the project plan, which includes constructing nearly 12,000 feet of new levee and installing two water control structures. The existing Burnett pump station will be modified in order to service the new flowage. These improvements will allow managers to manipulate water levels to control invasive cattail and promote beneficial moist soil plants, which will provide improved habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. Krause Excavating from Markesan was awarded the bid and will commence construction this winter. Ariel Gjertson submitted the winning name (Chaya Marsh, which means "life") for the new flowage through a contest held among area schools. Funding for this project is being provided by Ducks Unlimited, Wisconsin DNR, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, Dr. Charles & Shirley Pechous, Ted & Grace Bachhuber Foundation, Marshall & Ilsley Foundation, and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.