Wetlands Media Kit

Fast Facts

• Wetlands all have water-loving plants, wet soils, and evidence of water. Wisconsin has more than a dozen different types of wetlands - everything from forests along lakes and streams, to meadows -- even prairies and shrub thickets.
• Once considered wastelands, wetlands are now recognized for their many benefits and are carefully protected. In fact, Wisconsin became the first state to pass legislation restoring protections to isolated wetlands stripped by a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision. A timeline traces these changing attitudes over the last four centuries: A Timeline for Wetlands [PDF].
• Wisconsin wetlands range in size from tiny seasonal wetlands to vast complexes like those found along the Mississippi River. Small wetlands perform all of the recognized functions of larger wetlands and sometimes perform them better.

Wetlands Benefit People and Nature

• Wetlands play a critical role in maintaining the overall health and functioning of lakes, rivers, prairies and forests because they're located among these landscapes. They also provide critical habitat for Wisconsin plants, fish and wildlife, clean water, protection from floods, recreation, and natural scenic beauty.
• Wetlands reduce flooding peaks by as much as 60 percent and the EPA estimates that an acre of wetlands can store 1 - 1.5 million gallons of floodwaters³.
• Polluted runoff from cities, farms and construction sites is filtered by wetlands before entering lakes and rivers. Clean lakes and rivers are the backbone of Wisconsin's tourism industry, which generated $12 billion in 2009 and supported more than 286,000 jobs.
• The filtering capability of wetlands cuts the cost of treating drinking water. Some wetlands can remove a quantity of pollutants from the watershed equivalent to that removed from a $5 million treatment plant⁶.
• Nearly 40 percent of Wisconsin's 370 species of birds live in or use wetlands and many important game birds, mammals, fish, amphibians and reptiles are associated with wetlands, among them waterfowl, white-tailed deer, ring-necked pheasants, northern pike and walleye⁴. In Wisconsin, bird-watchers and wildlife watchers spend $271 million annually waiting for a glimpse of their favorites⁵.
• One-third of the plants and animals on Wisconsin's state endangered and threatened list depend on wetlands⁷.

How Wisconsin Protects Its Wetlands

• Wetlands are protected by state and federal rules and in some places, by local regulations or ordinances as well. Landowners and developers are required to avoid wetlands with their projects; if the wetlands can't be avoided, they must seek the appropriate permits to allow them to impact wetlands.
• DNR's efforts to improve its wetland permitting program have paid off in shorter waits for landowners on permit decisions and better protection for wetlands. 94 percent of permit applications are approved, although often with conditions that enable the project to go through without impacting wetlands. Landowners and developers get permits in an average of 30 days once a complete application is turned in. The average loss of wetlands due to permitted projects has decreased to 250 acres a year, down from about 1,200 annually before DNR's permitting program began in 1991.
• Sixteen organizations and government agencies created a strategic plan, "Reversing the Loss," to help reverse the destruction of wetlands in Wisconsin/ It calls for all citizens to help "protect, restore and explore" these valuable natural resources. Wisconsin's lost about half of its wetlands at statehood as they were drained or filled to make way for farms, cities, roads and factories. The plan does not seek to restore all of these lost wetlands, but where it makes sense on the landscape.
• Wisconsin is making progress in restoring wetlands. Private individuals and conservation groups have worked in partnership with state and federal agencies to restore wetlands. In 2007, 2,788 acres were restored, and 827 acres of existing wetlands were improved.

1. 2. EPA843-F-06-004 3. EPA843-F-06-001. 4. Wisconsin's Biodiversity as a Management Issue Report, 1995. 5. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation 6.EPA832-R-93-005) 7. Wisconsin's Biodiversity as a Management Issue Report, 1995.

Global Treasure

Upper Mississippi River Gains Worldly Status

The Mississippi River threading its way through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa has been designated an International Wetland of Importance. Only 29 other wetlands in the United States carry that status. Horicon Marsh near Horicon is another, under the Ramsar Convention [exit DNR] on Wetlands, an international treaty to conserve wetlands.

The site is perhaps the most important remaining corridor of fish and wildlife habitat in the Midwest and a globally important bird area. More than 300 bird species use it; 40 percent of waterfowl in the U.S. uses it during migration, and more than 100 native fish species call it home.

Press release

• DNR Secretary Matt Frank statement

Wisconsin Land and Water One-Third of Site

The designation encompasses 300,000 acres of federal and state lands and waters of the Upper Mississippi River floodplain. More than a third of that total, about 130,000 acres, is in Wisconsin:

• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge [exit DNR]
• Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge [exit DNR]
• Tiffany Bottoms State Wildlife Area
• Whitman Dam State Wildlife Area
• Merrick State Park
• Perrot State Park
• Van Loon State Wildlife Area
• Wyalusing State Park
• Wyalusing Unit Lower Wisconsin State Riverway
• Fact Sheet Federal and State Conservation Areas in the Designation Upper Mississippi River Floodplain Wetlands [PDF exit DNR]

Designation Won't Change River Use, Management

The Wetland of International Importance designation does not affect current river uses. Nor does it affect current jurisdictions or on the responsibilities of the federal, state and local governments that manage the river. State officials believe the designation is an important milestone, however, and one that could help secure additional funding to help protect and restore the site.

Modern History of the Upper Mississippi River

The river was a mosaic of braided channels and sandbars when Wisconsin gained statehood, making navigation in larger boats difficult. Dating back to the 1800s, governments sought to transform the river into a reliable navigation highway. The efforts culminated with a series of locks and dams constructed in the 1930s to provide a 9-foot shipping channel.

• Information about the Upper Mississippi River System

Protecting and Restoring the River

The locks and dams completed in the 1930s transformed the river into a series of navigation pools, which formed a stairway of water from St. Paul to St. Louis. This change inundated vast amounts of river valley. Initially the extensive backwater lakes, marshy meadows and deep sloughs created provided abundant habitat for fish and wildlife, but the habitat quality deteriorated over time, particularly in the lower portion of the pools. Now Wisconsin works with other states along the riverway and the federal government to protect what remains and restore where possible.

• Mississippi River Restoration Programs

Exploring A Year-Round Recreation Mecca

The Upper Mississippi River has something for everyone -- any time of the year. Bird watching, camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing -- the river has it and much more.

• Visit the Upper Mississippi
• Drive the Wisconsin Great River Road [exit DNR] Maps, podcasts, and other resources to enjoy the 250 mile road paralleling the river from Prescott to Kieler and passing through incredible scenery and 33 unique communities.
• Get a new Upper Mississippi River Watershed Poster!
  • To order, send a request for Publication CE-471
    Annie Kalson
    (608) 264-6280

Learning About The River Without Leaving Your Home

The Upper Mississippi River, its fish and wildlife, and efforts to protect and restore them are frequent topics in Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. Here are some of the more recent stories:

• Romp on the river, August 2009
• Curious creatures on the Big River, August, 2006
• Miles of isles October 2005
• Taking the Great River's pulse August 1999
• Pelican's Feast June 1999
• Mississippi River rehab August 1998
• Learning on 'Ol Man River June 1997

Toolkit

Since their launch Oct. 28, 2008, new online informational tools have helped thousands of Wisconsin property owners learn whether they have wetlands on property they want to buy or build on -- when wetlands are not readily apparent.

• Locating Wetlands is the gateway to these new informational tools.

A UW survey commissioned as part of the project revealed that Wisconsin residents are concerned about the destruction of remaining wetlands, but knew less about the state's drier type of wetlands.

• Poll Shows Wisconsin Residents Support Wetlands Protection.

The DNR collaborated with the Wisconsin REALTORS? Association, the Wisconsin Wetland Association and government organizations on the tools, which were developed under grant funding from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the Great Lakes Protection Fund and the Natural Resources Foundation. The project was supported and informed by the Wisconsin County Code Administrators, the Wisconsin Towns Association, The League of Wisconsin Municipalities, and the Wisconsin Builders Association.

Components of the Wetland Toolkit

Wetland Indicator Map
This interactive map online shows wetlands that have been officially mapped through the Wisconsin Wetland Inventory process and areas that may be wetlands based on the soils found in federal soil maps. Officially mapped wetlands are outlined in yellow and potential wetlands are shaded in pink.

Physical clues checklist
DNR wetland biologists developed a checklist of plants, soils and other clues that landowners can look for while walking a property. The checklist can be downloaded from the DNR web site, and people can also find photographs of the tree and plant species and other wetland clues.

Real Estate Addendum
The Real Estate Addendum is a legal document that can be filed as an addendum to an offer to purchase. It allows buyers an opportunity to verify that wetlands are present on a property and to negotiate a mutual remedy with the seller, which might include the ability to rescind or modify the offer terms, if wetlands are confirmed.

Web pages and informational video
The wetland indicator maps, real estate addendum and other materials that will help landowners learn if there are wetlands on a property can all be accessed via the DNR's revamped "Locating Wetlands" web pages. People can watch "Waking Up to Wetlands," a video guide that takes a lighthearted look at the steps, or can go right to the individual tools.

Contacts

Wetland Toolkit Contacts

General Information
Cherie Hagen, DNR, (715) 635-4034
cherie.hagen@wisconsin.gov

Online Wetland Maps
Lois Simon, DNR (608) 266-8852
lois.simon@wisconsin.gov

Wetland Addendum
Tom Larson, Wisconsin REALTORS Association (608) 241-2047
Erin O'Brien, Wisconsin Wetlands Association (608) 250-9971

More DNR Wetland Contacts

Wetland Ecology and Functions
Pat Trochlell - (608) 267-2453
patricia.trochlell@wisconsin.gov

Wetland Policy
Cherie Hagen, DNR, (715) 635-4034
cherie.hagen@wisconsin.gov
Liesa Lehmann Kerler (608) 264-8554
liesa.lehmannkerler@wisconsin.gov

Wetland Regulations
Dale Simon (608) 267-9868
byron.simon@wisconsin.gov

Wetland Restoration
Ricky Lien (920)892-8756 ext. 3045
Ricky.Lien@Wisconsin.gov

Wetland Compensatory Mitigation
Pat Trochlell - (608) 267-2453
patricia.trochlell@wisconsin.gov

More Resources

• Wisconsin Wetlands
• Wisconsin Strategy to Protect, Restore and Explore Wetlands
• Tracking Wetland Gains and Losses
• Restoring Wetlands
• Wetland Education for Kids

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