Central Wisconsin Grasslands Conservation Area

The Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area (CWGCA) stretches in an “S” shape from southeastern Taylor County, through parts of Clark and Marathon Counties, between Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids, and south to northeastern Adams County. It includes the Leola Marsh Wildlife Area, Buena Vista Marsh Wildlife Area, Paul J. Olson Wildlife Area, and George W. Mead Wildlife Area.

Photo courtesy of Carol Steinmetz (Marshfield, WI)

Within this area, the Department proposes to protect, primarily through acquisition and easements, up to 15,000 acres of additional grassland habitat.

Much of the area within the CWGCA remains in agricultural production, with shifts over the last 40 years to an increase in row crops (with more and more based on center pivot irrigation) and a decrease in pasture land and small grains. Cranberry beds are being created in a number of areas. In addition, there has been an increase in forest cover here, in part due to tree planting and also due to natural succession as woody growth becomes established in former farm fields. Rural residential development is spreading through portions of the area, fed by the population growth in Stevens Point, Wausau, Marshfield, and Wisconsin Rapids.

Due to the size, quality and distribution of the existing public and private grasslands, this area is particularly attractive to a diverse community of grassland birds. The state’s largest populations of GPC, short-eared owl, and possibly Henslow’s sparrow are found here. A great diversity of other declining or rare grassland birds, including sedge wren, Wilson’s phalarope, blue-winged teal, bobolink, upland sandpiper, Brewer’s blackbird, Eastern and Western meadowlarks, northern harrier, and several rare sparrows (including grasshopper, field, and clay-colored) are found locally. In addition, the regal fritillary butterfly, a State-Endangered species, is common at Buena Vista Grasslands.

Property History

The CWGCA straddles the boundary between the Central Sand Plains and the Forest Transition ecological landscapes. The southeastern portion falls within the Central Sand Plains and is characterized by flat, sandy soils. Much of this area historically was a mix of marsh, prairie, and savanna. In the early 1900s, draining and ditching transformed large areas into pasture, grass seed fields and cropland. The northern and western portions of the CWGCA have loamier soils, are slightly higher, and harbor more topography. As the name implies, the Forest Transition Ecological Landscape marks the beginning of the “northern forest” and historically this area was dominated by maple, hemlock, tamarack, and pine. Following logging in the late 1800s, much of the uplands were converted to agriculture, initially in wheat and later in dairy farming.

Management

Management Objective

Currently, several State Wildlife Areas and other protected lands nested within the Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area (CWGCA) are managed to benefit grassland-dependent species, particularly the Greater Prairie-Chicken (GPC). Despite the establishment of over 22,000 acres of permanent grassland habitat in this large project area, populations of the GPC and many other grassland-dependent species continue to decline here. Although a combination of factors is likely at work, it is believed that the population declines are primarily related to the loss and fragmentation of critical habitat and the shifting of farming operations to “higher-intensity” practices. In addition, there has been an increase in forest cover in the area, both a function of active planting and passive succession. The overall habitat fragmentation and loss has restricted the movement of GPCs and led to a loss in genetic diversity in the remaining population.

As a result, the primary goal of the Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area is to improve the existing protected lands’ ability to harbor viable populations of grassland-dependent species, particularly the GPC. To achieve this goal, the CWGCA’s primary objectives are to:

establish more permanent grassland habitat (primarily focused on lands within 1 mile of active, or recently active, GPC booming grounds), and
maintain a predominantly open, unforested, undeveloped landscape where agriculture is the dominant land use, particularly in areas critical to the life history needs of grassland species.

A secondary goal of the project is to provide a limited amount of low-impact recreation opportunities, primarily wildlife watching and hunting.

Management activities that will be used to maintain a mixed grassland agricultural landscape that minimizes brush and tree encroachment include, planting of native grassland species, planting of cool season grasses and legumes, cropping on a permanent or rotational basis, grazing, prescribed burning, mowing, and herbicide application. Within a grassland landscape, the addition or restoration of wetlands adjacent to grasslands provides critical foraging and nesting habitat for many wetland species. Wetland development and restoration techniques will vary between parcels, groups of parcels, and areas within the grassland landscape. Options available will depend on soils, topography, and hydrology and include the use of wetland scrapes, diked drainages and ditch plugs.

Recreation

The following recreational opportunities exist at Central Wisconsin Grasslands Conservation Area:

Hunting - white-tailed deer, turkey, and small game
Trapping
Hiking
Cross country skiing
Bird watching
Wildlife viewing
Berry picking

Unique Considerations

The CWGCA received very high rankings in both recreational and conservation value in the Land Legacy Report. Due to the size, quality and distribution of the existing grasslands, the DNR’s publication Managing Habitat for Grassland Birds: A guide for Wisconsin ranked the CWGCA in the top five areas for grassland bird conservation in the state. The state’s largest populations of GPC, short-eared owl, and regal fritillary butterflies are found here. Other declining or rare grassland birds, including upland sandpiper, Eastern and Western meadowlarks, northern harrier, and several rare sparrows are found locally.

Partners

In early 2005, agriculture and conservation organizations, and private landowners formed the Central Wisconsin Grassland Conservation Area (CWGCA) Partnership [PDF 690KB]. It aims to restore and create habitat for grassland species, especially the Greater Prairie Chicken. It also seeks to promote a healthy rural economy that provides the open landscape that so many grassland species depend on.

Map

Download [PDF 178KB] a map of this area.

Useful Links

For more information on Central Wisconsin Grasslands Conservation Area contact the property manager.

Questions for Wildlife Management

Last Revised: Monday December 21 2009