Mazomanie Unit – Lower Wisconsin State Riverway

Mazomanie Unit – Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is an 3,550 acre property located in Dane County. The property consists of bottomland hardwood forest, wetlands, prairies, savanna, sloughs and flowage. Find it 2 miles North of Mazomanie on County Hwy Y and 3 miles south of Sauk City on Hwy 78. Scattered parcels located along South shore of Wisconsin River between Mazomanie and Sauk City. Mazomanie Bottoms State Natural Area and Mazomanie Oak Barrens State Natural Area are located within the Mazomanie Unit.

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is located in the Western Coulee and Ridges Ecological landscape. It is a Conservation Opportunity Area and a Large River Corridor of Continental Significance in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan. [PDF 103KB]

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a Land Legacy Place.

Management

Management Objective

The goal of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway as stated in the 1988 Master Plan is to provide a quality public use area for unique river corridor activities and compatible recreational pursuits; maintain the generally natural and scenic landscape of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway, and manage the corridor’s natural resources for the long-term benefit of the citizens of the area and state.

Management objectives include prairie and oak opening restoration and maintenance, management of flowages, wetlands and floodplain forest, management of the Class 1 dog trial/training grounds, and control of invasive species. The native prairie and wetland species are managed actively through tree/shrub control using tree harvest, brushing and especially fire to mimic natural disturbance patterns.

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, [Exit DNR] a unique and separate State agency, is responsible for the scenic protection of the river valley.

Over 285 bird and 45 mammal species are abundant within the LWSR.