Wisconsin's Wetlands

Compiled by Rose Arnold, December 2004

“Wisconsin’s wetlands serve many important functions, including fish and wildlife habitat, water quality protection, flood storage, and erosion control. . . . Wisconsin has lost more than five million, or approximately half, of its original wetland base since European settlement. Wisconsin’s remaining wetlands are critical to the ecological health of the state. . . . [2001] Wisconsin Act 6, Wisconsin’s isolated wetland protection law, authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to administer the water quality certification program for projects in those isolated wetlands that are currently not protected under the federal Clean Water Act. The DNR also administers Wisconsin’s wetland mitigation program.”-www.greatlakesdirectory.org/GLAHNF_wetlands_packet/wetlands_fact_sheets/WI_fact_sheet.htm

Basic Wetland Restoration

Basic Guide to Wisconsin’s Wetlands and Their Boundaries , Wisconsin Department of Administration, Coastal Management Program, 1995. (622.421/W7L/1995) Examples of Wisconsin wetlands and how to recognize their special qualities.

A Data Compilation and Assessment of Coastal Wetlands of Wisconsin’s Great Lakes: Final Report, Eric Epstein, et al., Wisconsin Bureau of Endangered Resources, July 2002. (622.421/W7n) Sixty-four primary wetland areas along the shores of Wisconsin’s two Great Lakes (Michigan and Superior) that contribute to the lakes’ water quality and health of many species of birds, fish, and plants. www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/publications/cw/phase%5F3%5Freport.asp

An Introduction to Wisconsin Wetlands: Plants, Hydrology, and Soils, University of Wisconsin-Extension, Geological and Natural History Survey, 1979. (622.421/X4) Basic overview of wetlands in Wisconsin in the late 1970s.

North Branch Milwaukee River Wildlife and Farming Heritage Area: Feasibility Study, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, March 2003. (333.17/W7g1) A plan to preserve 25,700 acres of farmland and wetlands within 20 miles of metropolitan Milwaukee. www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/milw/nbranch/study%20report.pdf

“Special Issue on Wisconsin Wetlands” by Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, Wisconsin Academy Review, December 1982. (622.421/W75) Important survey of Wisconsin wetlands, their glacial background, and current at-the-time regulation. Includes a discussion of the cranberry industry.

The State of the Upper Fox River Basin: A Report, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, November 2001. (622.21/W7k5) Report on the land, specific lakes, wetlands, and wildlife resources in the Upper Fox River Basin as population and development continue to pressure the natural habitats. www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/gmu/upfox/upfox1.pdf

“Wetlands, Wonderlands” by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Magazine, April 1990. (622.421/W7e4) Pictures the beauty of Wisconsin’s wetlands.

Wisconsin’s Waters: A Confluence of Perspectives, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, 2003. (622.2/W753a) The importance of water to the history, social, and industrial development of Wisconsin. Includes a chapter on wetlands.

Restoration

Evaluation of Three Wetland Restorations Associated with Highway Projects, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Institute for Environmental Studies, 1989. (UW/EvS/e) (noncirculating) Can wetland be saved during or after road construction?

Hydrogeological, Geomorphological and Vegetational Investigations of Select Wetland Creation and Restoration Projects, Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 1999. (Trans/h) (noncirculating) Research on three Wisconsin sites to understand successful wetland establishment, 1989-1997.

Refinement and Expansion of Wetland Biological Indices for Wisconsin: Final Report to USEPA, Region V, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Integrated Science Services, 2002. NatR/IntSS/r) (noncirculating) A study of 80 small wetland areas in Southeast Wisconsin to determine what constitutes a healthy wetland, both undisturbed and restored. www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/es/science/inventory/lillieIBI.htm

Reversing the Loss: A Strategy for Protecting and Restoring Wetlands in Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wetland Team, December 2000. (622.421/W7e6) Basic survey of wetland preservation. www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/fhp/wetlands/strategy.shtml

Wetland Restoration Handbook for Wisconsin Landowners, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Wetlands Association 2004. (622.421/W7j1) “Guidance for landowners interested in the health of their wetlands.”-preface

State and Federal Regulation

Federal Wetlands Policy: Protecting the Environment or Breaching Constitutional Rights? U.S. Congress, House Committee on Government Reform, 2001. (622.421/X8) Testimony on implementation of wetlands regulations under section 4 of the Clean Water Act. http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS14603

U.S. Supreme Court Case on Wetlands, Wisconsin Legislative Council. 2001. (622.421/W7k1) Discusses the legal effects of a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision that limited authority of the states to regulate wetlands. www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lc/jlc01/LM_2001_1.pd

The U.S. Supreme Court Limits Federal Regulation of Wetlands: Implications of the SWANCC Decision, California State Library, Research Bureau. 2002. (622.421/C1a) Effect on California’s wetlands, and implications for other states’ regulatory authority. www.library.ca.gov/crb/02/03/02-003.pdf

Water Quality Certification for Nonfederal Wetlands (2001 Wisconsin Act 6), Wisconsin Legislative Council. 2001. (622.421/W7k2) 2001 Wisconsin Act 6: Legislature reacts to 2001 U.S. Supreme Court decision on wetlands. www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lc/jlc01/LM%5F2001%5F4.pdf

Wetlands Mitigation, Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, June 2000. (622.421/W7o) Discussion of 1999 Wisconsin Act 147 (May 10, 2000) which gave the Department of Natural Resources additional powers over Wisconsin wetlands. www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/pubs/Lb/00Lb6.pdf

Related Web Sites

Wisconsin Sites

www.dodgecounty.com/marsh.html Dodge County, Wisconsin. Information on the Horicon Marsh, one of the most unique wetland and wildlife areas in the country.

http://midwest.fws.gov/foxriver Fox River National Wildlife Refuge. Located in Marquette County, Wisconsin.

http://midwest.fws.gov/horicon/factsheet.html U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Horicon Marsh factsheet.

www.aqua.wisc.edu/waterlibrary/about.asp University of Wisconsin Sea Grant. “Wisconsin’s Water Library.”

www.dnr.wi.gov/org/water/fhp/wetlands/index.shtml Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “Wisconsin Wetlands.”

www.dnr.wi.gov/org/water/fhp/wetlands/links.shtml “Wisconsin Wetland Acreage Facts.” Links to other Wisconsin state government, federal, and private wetland agencies.

www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/wildlife/reclands/horicon/index.htm Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Horicon Marsh history, activities, and education programs.

www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/wrp.html Wisconsin Natural Resources Conservation Service. Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

www.wiscwetlands.org Wisconsin Wetlands Association

Great Lakes Area Sites

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/GLAHNF_wetlands_packet/wetlands_fact_sheets/WI_fact_sheet.htm Great Lakes Directory and project of the Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE) and Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund (GLAHNF)

www.great-lakes.net/envt/air-land/wetlands.html Great Lakes Information Network. Information on wetlands in the Great Lakes Region.

National Sites

www.ducks.org/conservation/wetland_functions.asp Ducks Unlimited. Wetlands for ducks.

www.audubon.org/campaign/wetland/ National Audubon Society. Saving Wetlands newsletter.

www.ncsl.org/statefed/ENVIRON.HTM National Conference of State Legislatures, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Wetlands is one of the issues addressed.

www.csc.noaa.gov/magazine/2002/03/wetlands.html National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Coastal Services Center. “Isolated Wetlands: Wisconsin Steps in with Regulations After (2001) Supreme Court Decision.”

www.nwrc.usgs.gov National Wetlands Research Center.

www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fact sheets on wetlands.

http://wetlands.fws.gov U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National wetlands inventory.

Clippings

(Noncirculating; available for use in the library; clippings prior to 1981 are on microfiche)
• Wetlands, marshes and swamp lands - 622.421/Z

BadgerLink: www.badgerlink.net

Search the ProQuest and EBSCOHost magazines databases for full text articles. Suggested search words: wetlands, swamps, marshes, “wetland mitigation”


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