Fiscal year 2005 was another successful one for the Ashland Fishery Resources Office's work with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.   Four instream fish habitat restoration projects were completed, three culverts which were barriers to fish passage were replaced and 17 wetland restoration projects were completed in the eight county region of the Ashland FRO's area of responsibility.  Upland restorations which will benefit migratory birds also took place on 13 of the wetland restoration projects.  This year there was a nice increase in the number of wetland restoration projects and the office more than doubled the number of fishery related projects. 

Fish and wildlife were the biggest winners, with 239 acres of wetland habitat, 156 upland acres and 13.5 miles of stream restored or enhanced.  Twenty-three miles of stream were also reopened to fish passage.  Stream miles and wetland acres restored far exceed last year's totals due the hard work of numerous agency partners and Service staff, but most of all because of the generosity of many landowners and their commitment to fish and wildlife.  To complete the habitat work, $45,000 from the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program was matched by $433,560 from partner individuals and organizations.  These included iindividual landowners, County Land Conservation Departments, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Tribes and Wisconsin DNR.

This year's restorations and habitat protection not only benefit migratory waterfowl such as wood ducks, and fish such as brook trout, but also scores of other species from aquatic insects to grey wolves.  Working with Galligan Farms and Trout Unlimited, the Ashland FRO improved brook trout habitat on Whittlesey Creek through installation of engineered log jams.  Wetland projects ranged from 1 to 115 acres in size.  Two of the wetland projects were in partnership with tribes.  One with the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and the other with the Forest County Potawatomi Community.  Many of the wetland projects included many acres of enhanced uplands for waterfowl nesting cover.  This year's projects all contribute positively to fish and wildlife resources and will provide habitat for many different species for years to come.