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3,100-Acre Wisconsin Habitat Jewel Dedicated
water control structure at the new 3,100-acre Jefferson Marsh Wildlife
Area (inset lower right) Merlin Bartz NRCS Regional Assistant Chief
Central speaks
at the dedication of the Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area |
As a result of a collaborative effort between NRCS, Pheasants Forever (PF),
and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), the new 3,100-acre
Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area was recently dedicated. All 3,100 acres are now
open for public recreation including, hiking, hunting, and wildlife viewing.
Merlin Bartz, NRCS Regional Assistant Chief Central; Pat Leavenworth, State
Conservationist; Scott Hassett, WDNR Secretary; and Howard Vincent, President and
CEO of Pheasants Forever were on hand to speak. Caroline Clarin, NRCS engineer
in Jefferson, gave an excellent presentation on the restoration.
Owners of the property since the 1940s, the Zeloski family decided to sell their
land for conservation purposes rather than for development. The process began
when they enrolled 2,700 acres in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP). “WRP offers farmers and landowners the opportunity to restore the
land’s original wetland functions, which improves wildlife habitat, water
quality, and reduces flooding,” said Pat Leavenworth, NRCS state conservationist
for Wisconsin. “It also helps relieve some of the financial pressure that
farmers face to sell or develop those lands.”
Wisconsin WRP team (from left) Joe Van Hulle, Alison Pena, Alice Klink,
Caroline Clarin, and Greg Kidd |
PF then coordinated the remaining $1.6 million of the purchase with help from
the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. Following the purchase, PF transferred the
property to the WDNR. The 4.5-mile long tract is now managed by the WDNR and
open to the public, making it the largest public wildlife area between Madison
and Milwaukee.
The new Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area includes 2,700 acres of wetlands and the largest tamarack swamp in southern Wisconsin. It also provides wildlife habitat
for a myriad of game and non-game species; including, pheasants, deer, turkeys,
foxes, coyotes, waterfowl, and song birds. Additionally, there are threatened
and endangered species benefiting from the protected wildlife area including,
showy lady’s slipper orchids, great egrets, American bitterns, king rails, and
Blanding’s turtles.
Your contact is
Renae Anderson, NRCS public affairs specialist, at at 608-662-4422
x 227.
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