Duck Creek Watershed Model
Status: Complete Location: Northeast WI, within the Duck Creek Watershed Description: The final goal of this project is to develop a strategy for restoring wetlands within the Duck Creek watershed. The University of Wisconsin, Department of Engineering developed a wetland model for the entire watershed that indicates that approximately 750 acres of wetland restoration is necessary to stabilize the flow of the Duck Creek to a point that will support a sustainable fishery. The purpose of this model is to prioritize the five sub-watersheds, that comprise the Duck Creek watershed, for restoration work. This model will direct restoration efforts for the Tribe relating to wetlands within the Oneida Reservation. A major objective of the Duck Creek wetlands restoration is to create a sustainable fishery for Tribal members. Benefits: This project will begin to compensate the Oneida Tribe for injuries to the reservation fishery and assist the trustees to restore lost wetland habitat in the restoration area. Construction of wetlands within the Duck Creek watershed will allow the Oneida Tribe to return to the traditional, and culturally significant, use of the resources. Time estimates to full restoration of a healthy baseline flow of the Duck Creek vary from 5 - 20 years, dependent upon restoration efforts and funding availability. Development of a strategic plan for wetland restoration will allow for cost benefit analysis to estimate/determine the ecological & economic value for specific projects prior to the funding. Restoring the sustainable fishery will be partial compensation for the Oneida Tribe. It will be decades before natural attenuation of the PCB-contaminated sediments and restoration of the Green Bay fishery, which is a source of fish for the Reservation waters. Because it takes restored wetlands decades to mature, replacing Duck Creek wetlands now will provide suitable spawning and waterfowl habitat for a restored Fox River & Green Bay ecosystem. Restoration Goal(s):Tom Nelson
The Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
Last Revised: Tuesday March 01 2005
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