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Restoration experts from Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and the Lower Fox River/Green Bay Areas of Concern will discuss case studies of partnerships turning federal GLRI funding into successful on-the-ground habitat restoration projects that provide a variety of ecological and societal benefits that can be sustained well into the future. Featured case studies include successfully restoring coastal marsh for waterbirds and for northern pike, using watershed-based GIS planning tools to prioritize restoration projects, and the reestablishment of the Cat Island Chain of islands in lower Green Bay. This presentation was given by Brian Glenzinski, Wisconsin Regional Biologist, Ducks Unlimited.
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DESIGNING SYMBIOTIC FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATIONS AND ENHANCEMENTS
Incorporating pike spawning marshes into wetland enhancement design to benefit waterfowl and Northern Pike
Mike Mushinski – Brown County Land and Water Conservation Brian Glenzinski – Ducks Unlimited
Green Bay West Shores
• 70% of wetlands along or adjacent to Green Bay’s west shore have been lost
The reluctant evolution of a Fisheries Biologist
Typical Wetland Enhancement Design
Impoundments with water control structures, managed primarily for waterfowl
Sensiba Unit: 1959 Impoundment
• Started - 2007 • First projects installed – 2008 • 36 contracts to date • Monitoring YOY started 2011
West Shore Northern Pike Habitat Restoration Project
Pike Spawning Requirements
• Small ephemeral streams and wetlands
• Vegetation • Shallow water
( < 10 inches)
Pike Spawning Projects - Mercier
Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012
Project Goals & Accomplishments
Goals • 25 Acres – Buffers • 38 Acres – Wetland
Creation/Restorations • 6 Culvert Impediments replaced • 5 Miles of new stream accessibility • Increase top predator (pike) #’s in Bay • Reduce Green Bay’s impaired uses
for “degraded fish and wildlife populations
Accomplished • 50.9 Acres – Buffers • 33.4 Acres – Wetland Creation/Restorations • 6 Culvert Impediments replaced • 17 Miles of new stream accessibility
Ecological Services
• 2-3 inch fish = $0.52 AFS • 53,901 YOY captured in 2003
at Barkhausen = $28,028 • Habitat restoration pays for
itself quickly
YOY Assessments
Monitoring Results 2011 2012
YOY 2000 300 Traps 21 23 Note: Heavy snow during fry incubation period in 2011 and drought conditions in 2012 resulted in low spawning success Areas of Concern
• Lower Lake Levels • Drought • Flashy nature of spawning wetlands
Sensiba Unit – Green Bay West Shores
• 1,210 acres
• Lake MI Coastal wetlands
• Wisconsin DNR Ownership
• Partnership restoration
Sensiba Wildlife Area
• 1,210 acres • Lake MI Coastal wetlands • Wisconsin DNR Ownership
L.H. Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve
Partnership: Ducks Unlimited Brown County Green Bay Packers USFWS Coastal Program
• Borrow Area • Water Routing • Water Levels
Benefits of cross discipline collaboration
• Cost effective fish access • Separation provides optimal waterfowl
habitat • Water level control provides optimal
hydrology during peak spawning periods • Ephemeral Pike marshes can provide
additional waterfowl habitat during fall migration with increase water level management
• Increased Ecological Services • Increased partner and public support • Improved Green Bay Fishery
Brian Glenzinski Ducks Unlimited Regional Biologist 4511 Helgesen Drive Madison, WI 53718 (608) 221-1206x12 [email protected]
North American Wetlands Conservation Act Wisconsin Initiatives
