Ducks Unlimited and its partners, the Wisconsin DNR, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Pheasants Forever, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, Sheboygan County Conservation Association, Cleveland Fish & Game Association, Brian King, and numerous private landowners recently completed Phase III of the Southeast Wisconsin Coastal Habitat Initiative. The four-year initiative conserved 3,857 acres of wetland and associated habitat on public and private land in thirteen counties in southeastern Wisconsin. These counties include Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Washington, and Waukesha.
Funding for the Southeast Wisconsin Coastal Habitat Initiative was provided by a $995,638 federal grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (NAWCC) awarded to Ducks Unlimited in 2002. Ducks Unlimited accepted this grant on behalf of the partnership that together provided nearly $4 million in matching funds to obtain the grant.
The purpose of this conservation effort was to protect, restore, and enhance wetland and associated upland habitat to provide breeding and migration habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, neotropical songbirds, federal and state threatened and endangered species, and other wildlife.
Associated benefits of this work include improved water quality and increased recreational opportunity for local residents and vacationers. Nearly 200 conservation projects were completed as a result of this initiative.
The partnership pooled grant and matching funds to acquire and permanently protect 1,367 acres of wetland and upland habitat important for breeding and migrating waterfowl and other wildlife. These acquisitions expanded several state wildlife areas, including the Killsnake, Sheboygan Marsh, and Jackson Marsh State Wildlife Areas.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated a 156-acre acquisition as the Batavia Waterfowl Production Area and nine properties were added to the Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area.
Nearly 1,180 acres of wetlands were restored on public lands including Collins Marsh and Brillion State Wildlife Areas and Chiwaukee Prairie and Cedarburg Bog State Natural Areas. In addition, nearly 200 acres of wetlands were restored on private lands. Additional accomplishments include the restoration of 1,115 acres of native prairie on public and private lands.
The first three phases of the Southeast Wisconsin Coastal Habitat Initiative resulted in the conservation of 13,542 acres of wetland and associated habitat. Phase IV of the initiative, which is in progress, will conserve an additional 2,000 acres of waterfowl habitat in southeastern Wisconsin.
Ducks Unlimited and its partners extend their sincere appreciation to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives for support and funding of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which made these conservation projects possible.