Brilla Wildlife / Fish Creek Watershed Restoration. Trees in front of truck towing the tree planter are some planted in 2004. The 2007 restored area is behind the truck. - FWS photograph by Ted Koehler

In May of 2005, approximately 5,000 trees were planted on the Brilla Wildlife Habitat / Fish Creek Watershed Restoration.  This restored an additional 15 acres of a nearly 200 acre restoration site on the Brilla Dairy Farm located in Mason, Wisconsin. 

White pine, red pine, white spruce and red oak were planted to restore forested conditions in the Fish Creek Watershed. 

Fish Creek supports native brook trout and large runs of migratory fish from Lake Superior. 

Studies have shown that deforestation in the area has contributed to the degradation of habitat in Fish Creek and other streams.  In the past, the shading effect of the forest allowed for a gradual spring runoff period and lower peak flows.  Now with the sun beating down on a much more open landscape the spring melt occurs very quickly, eroding banks and sending large amounts of sediment into critical fish spawning areas. 

As outlined in Best Management Practices developed for the area, reforestation is critical to restoring the health of Wisconsin’s Lake Superior tributaries.

Funding and technical assistance were provided by the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ashland Fishery Resources Office.  Other partners included the landowner, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency, and the County Land Conservation Department.  

A tree planter was rented from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the landowner, Dick Brilla and his son Andy, donated equipment, fuel and many hours of labor to get the trees in the ground.

The watershed restoration project will benefit migratory birds such as the golden-winged warbler, Canada warbler, olive sided flycatcher and wood thrush. The project will also help provide much needed travel corridors for other area wildlife including listed species such as Canada lynx and migratory game birds such as American Woodcock. 

A Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Habitat development agreement was signed.  In 2004 the location of the farm where this year’s project occurred was protected from any development under the FSA’s Debt for Nature program and a conservation management plan for a minimum of 50 years.