View of road barrier and existing small culvert located between the Wolf River and the wetland habitat area prior to replacement. Photo by Todd Close of Walleyes for Tomorrow

Three large oval culverts were installed to improve the ability of fish and other aquatic organisms to move between the Wolf River and the wetland habitat area. Photo by Todd Close of Walleyes for Tomorrow

The Lower Wolf River winds through a corridor of extensive and very high quality floodplain forests and open wetlands in east-central Wisconsin.  Heavy springtime flows flood much of the river's associated wetland area, providing critical spawning habitat for many species of fish, particularly walleye.  Access to one of these privately owned wetland areas was restricted many years ago when a road was constructed between the main channel of the river and the wetland habitat.  Except for the opening provided by a single 18 inch culvert, the road was acting as a barrier to the movement of water and aquatic organisms between the river and the wetland.  Recently, Green Bay Field Office Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist Gary Van Vreede worked in cooperation with the wetland owner and members of the local Walleyes for Tomorrow chapter to improve access to this prime wetland spawning site by installing three new large oval-shaped culverts through the road barrier. The increased water flow and accessibility provided by these new culverts will greatly improve the quality of this backwater wetland habitat for fish, waterbirds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.  This project, located adjacent to the Wolf River just east of the City of New London, was partially funded through a U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Habitat Development Agreement.