Fox River National Wildlife Refuge Native Grassland Restoration
Status: In Progress Location: Upper Fox River, Marquette County, Wisconsin Description: The Fox River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a 1,001-acre satellite refuge administered by the Horicon NWR. The Fox River NWR consists mainly of wetlands with associated uplands along the riparian floodplain of the upper Fox River. The refuge was established to protect nesting and loafing habitat for the sandhill crane. Waterfowl and other migrant birds also use the area for nesting, feeding and as a rest area during migration. Prior to federal ownership, a portion of the land was artificially established as a red pine plantation. This type of habitat is not native and limits use of the area by grassland migratory birds, waterfowl and sandhill cranes. The requested funds will be used to remove the trees and reestablish native grassland, making the habitat more conducive to what was historically found in the area. Benefits: This project will reestablish native habitat in the Fox River ecosystem used by grassland birds, waterfowl, and waterbirds, specifically the sandhill crane. The use of the waterfowl as a resource was injured from PCBs due to waterfowl consumption advisories. The upper Fox River system has not been harmed from the release of PCBs, and birds reared from this habitat will assist in replacing those that cannot be used. This project will also provide benefits for other migratory birds and establish native vegetation for substantial erosion control for the soil. Restoration Goal(s): Wetland & Associated Upland Habitat Reestablishment Timeline:Tree removal 1/03-3/03
Ground preparation for grass and legume planting (pending winter thaw) 4/03-5/03
Native grass and legume plantings (pending weather) 6/03-9/03 Project Contact:
Patti Meyers
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service
Last Revised: Tuesday March 01 2005
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