Column: Restored wetland a marvel for engineers, wildlife
LAKE MILLS -- Not everything "returns to dust" and the proof will be evident Thursday with the dedication of a restored wetland and prairie at the Zeloski Marsh Unit of the Lake Mills Wildlife Area.
What once was a wetland years ago but then was drained and turned into agricultural fields to produce crops is being returned to its more natural state. The 1,500 acres of marginal farmland are now a mosaic of shallow wetlands and a mixture of prairie grasses and flowers, and home to shorebirds, waterfowl and upland birds.
The land, previously owned and farmed by Dennis Zeloski, was enrolled in the Wetland Reserve Program by Zeloski which guaranteed the return to wetlands, and then sold to the Madison Audubon Society (MAS). The Society received Stewardship funds to purchase the land and donated it to the Department of Natural Resources.
The result is a combination of efforts from MAS, DNR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), turning the area into a beautiful wildlife area.
"Madison Audubon was very agreeable to restore wet mesic prairie cover on the lower portions, and on the upland sections we are restoring a prairie savanna," said Charlie Kilian, wildlife biologist with the DNR in Lake Mills. "We have the ability to control water on the impoundments, and will probably make periodic drawdowns for moist soil management to encourage re-growth of waterfowl food and maximize opportunities for shorebirds. The shorebirds here are phenomenal."
A deep artesian well is located between two of the impoundments, and the water can be funneled in different directions without having to pump it.
The area now includes four nesting islands surrounded by water.
One drainage ditch has been completely filled in and the fill for the ditch was taken from areas beside it, creating a row of shallow scrapes that will fill with water. Most of the water in the flowages is only about one foot deep, though lower ends may be several feet deep.
To provide diversity, NRCS constructed a unique hibernaculum for snakes, using old drainage tiles.
Lots of birders have been keeping track of the variety of bird species using the area and Mark Martin, volunteer with MAS, said that an e-bird list compiled by various observers has totaled more than 130 species of birds. A whooping crane was using the area during the spring, and other species that were observed were moorhens, yellow-headed blackbirds, black-crowned night herons and black-necked stilts.
The land is open to the public and has two accesses -- one off of London Road and another off of Alley Road. Two small parking lots are available, though vehicles are not allowed on the area. Visitors must walk to use the area.
The Glacial Drumlin State Bike Trail cuts through the area and will allow bikers a wonderful view of birds and wetlands. Hunting is allowed on the area; however, no hunting is allowed from the bike trail, and shotguns must be carried in cases when on the bike trail.
The restoration is a group effort, with some of the on-the-ground work conducted by Kilian and Dan Weidert of the DNR, Mark Martin of Madison Audubon, and Caroline Clarin and Alice Klink of NRCS. Some biological monitoring will be conducted by the Rock River Coalition.
A similar project preceded the Lake Mills restoration four years ago when Zeloski sold land south of Jefferson to Pheasants Forever, which used Stewardship funds and then turned the land over to the DNR. It has similarly been restored, providing a variety of birding opportunities.
Kilian, like most field people involved in natural resources, takes great pleasure in helping to restore natural areas.
"With the Lake Mills, Jefferson and Princess Point Wildlife Area restorations we have not only been able to restore wetlands and native vegetation, but produce more wildlife and provide hunters with 5,500 more acres of quality public hunting opportunities," Kilian said.
The dedication ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the parking lot on London Road located half way between Britzke Road and County Highway A north of Cambridge.
ZELOSKI MARSH
The Zeloski Marsh Unit of the Lake Mills Wildlife Area includes about 500 acres of water, on a total acreage of 1,700 acres.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, restoration of the area includes:
- filling in two miles of ditches
- disabling 12 miles of drainage tiles
- constructing four miles of berms
- placing seven water control structures in four wetland basins resulting in 560 acres of shallow marsh
- constructing six islands totaling over 19 acres, and four small islands in the southeast pool area
- 151,000 cubic yards of fill were placed to create the berms and islands
- 55 steel sumps and junction boxes were removed
- modifying an artesian well to flow into shallow pools
- major wetland construction began on July 6, 2006, and finished Sept. 5, 2006
Efforts include:
- planting 286 acres of prairie
- planting 270 acres of sedge meadow
- development of 112 acres of emergent wetland habitat
- restoration of 64 acres of shorebird habitat
Tim Eisele is a full-time freelance outdoor writer and photographer.
