Wisconsin Waterfowl Association Inc

IN WHAT IS NOW THE NECEDAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE AND ADJACENT MEADOW VALLEY STATE WILDLIFE AREA, EXTENSIVE DRAINAGE EFFORTS IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY STRAIGHTENED THE LITTLE YELLOW RIVER AND CREATED LARGE DRAINAGE DITCHES THAT CHANGED THE HYDROLOGY AND VEGETATION COMMUNITIES. THOSE DITCHES--EACH UP TO 20 FEET WIDE AND 5 FEET DEEP--DRAIN WETLANDS AND CONSOLIDATE WATER, ACCELERATING FLOW RATES AND INCREASING FLOW QUANTITY, PARTICULARLY DURING INCREASINGLY COMMON FLOOD EVENTS. THIS WATER FLOW STRAINS OR DAMAGES MUNICIPAL ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE (ROADBEDS, CULVERTS, AND WATER OVERPASSES) WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO OTHER DOWNSTREAM FLOOD DAMAGE. BY DISABLING A KEY DITCH NETWORK TO SLOW WATER FLOWS, RETAIN MORE WATER UPSTREAM, AND RESTORE ASSOCIATED WETLAND BENEFITS, THE STRAIN ON DOWNSTREAM ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE REDUCED. CONTEMPORANEOUSLY, OTHER DOWNSTREAM IRA-FUNDED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED ON THE LOCAL, RURAL ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE MORE RESILIENT ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE, REDUCED SURFACE WATER OUTFLOWS, IMPROVED WETLAND FUNCTIONING, ENHANCED WILDLIFE HABITAT, GREATER CARBON SEQUESTRATION, AND IMPROVED EVAPOTRANSPIRATION RATES. AN APPROACH PROTOTYPED BY THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE WILL BE EMPLOYED TO DISABLE THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THESE LARGE DITCHES THROUGH A SUCCESSION OF 132 DITCH PLUGS WITH VERY LOW HEAD (LESS THAN 6 INCHES EACH). EACH DITCH PLUG IS APPROXIMATELY100 FEET LONG, WITH FILL CREATED BY REMOVING BANK SPOIL BARRIERS THAT PREVENT DITCH WATER CONNECTIVITY TO THE SURROUNDING FLOODPLAINS. THIS PROJECT WILL RESTORE OR ENHANCE OVER 1700 ACRES OF WETLANDS ALONG MORE THAN 14 MILES OF EXISTING DITCH.

WISCONSIN WATERFOWL AND WETLAND PARTNERSHIP III FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO CREATE WETLAND AND UPLAND HABITAT IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE AND THE WISCONSIN PARTNERS PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN (FOCUS AREAS). THE WISCONSIN WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION (WWA) WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SERVICE IN THE PROJECT AREA TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES ON PRIVATE LAND. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE HABITAT RESTORATION GOALS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE, A BROAD COALITION OF CONSERVATION AGENCIES OF WHICH THE SERVICE AND WWA ARE MEMBERS. FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT MEET THE SERVICE'S 640 FW 1, PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM POLICIES. GOALS ARE TO ENHANCE 125 ACRES OF WETLAND AND 222 ACRES OF UPLAND HABITAT IN HIGH PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.

MONITOR EASEMENTS AND CRP AND PROVIDE CRP SIGNUP OUTREACH ALL PRIMARILY IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN WISCONSIN GLACIAL HABITAT RESTORATION AREA.

PROJECT TITLE WISCONSIN WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION WETLAND PARTNERSHIP PHASE VOVERVIEW WWA WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SERVICE IN THE PROJECT AREA TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES ON PRIVATE LAND. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE GRASSLAND AND WETLAND RESOURCES IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE AND THE WISCONSIN PARTNERS PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN (FOCUS AREAS). FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT MEET FWS 640.1 PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM POLICIES. GOALS ARE TO RESTORE 75 ACRES OF WETLAND AND 140 ACRES OF UPLANDS IN HIGH PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN. ON AVERAGE, WETLAND PROJECTS WILL COST NO MORE THAN 1500 ACRE AND UPLAND PROJECTS NO MORE THAN 600 ACRE.PROJECT LOCATION STATEWIDE IN HIGH CONSERVATION PRIORITY AREAS PROJECT FOCUS WETLAND AND UPLAND HABITAT TO BENEFIT MIGRATORY BIRDS.DEGRADATION RANKING WETLANDS AND GRASSLANDS ARE IMPERILED ECOSYSTEMS IN WISCONSIN. THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE (UMRGLJV) HAS SET HABITAT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR WISCONSINS BIRD CONSERVATION AREAS, AREA 12, 22, AND 23 RESPECTIVELY. THIS PROPOSAL WORKS TO ASSIST IN ACHIEVING RESTORATION ACRES FOR THESE GOALS.FISH PASSAGE BARRIERS FISH PASSAGE PROJECTS ARE TBD.PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND BENEFITS QUANTIFIABLE OBJECTIVES INCLUDE PROVIDING 75 ACRES OF WETLAND AND 140 ACRES OF UPLAND TO HIGH PRIORITY AREAS IN WISCONSIN. 75 ACRES OF WETLANDS WILL EQUATE TO APPROXIMATELY 20 BROOD REARING, PAIR BONDING AND MIGRATORY STOP OVER PONDS FOR WATERFOWL AND OTHER WETLAND DEPENDENT BIRDS. THESE 20 BASINS WILL PROVIDE NEARLY 4,500,000 DUCK USE DAYS DURING SPRING AND FALL MIGRATION AND RAISE 40 BROODS OF DUCKS PLUS ADDITIONAL GOOSE, CRANE AND OTHER WETLAND DEPENDENT WILDLIFE WILL BENEFIT DURING ALL THEIR LIVE CYCLES.ACCOMPLISHMENTS WETLAND RESTORED ENHANCED, ACRES, 75 UPLAND RESTORED ENHANCED, ACRES, 140 TOTAL ACRES 215SPECIES BENEFITED, MIGRATORY BIRDS, POLLINATORS (MONARCH), RUSTY PATCHED BUMBLE BEE, FEDERALLY ENDANGEREDCLIMATE CHANGE WETLAND AND GRASSLAND HABITAT WILL PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY TO EXISTING HABITATS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS WILL REDUCE IMPACTS FROM EXTREME PRECIPITATION EVENTS.PROJECT DESCRIPTION WWA AND THE PFW PROGRAM WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE WETLAND AND UPLAND HABITATS TO BENEFIT MIGRATORY BIRDS. SITES WILL BE REVIEWED BY STAFF BIOLOGISTS, PLANS DEVELOPED, LANDOWNER AGREEMENTS WILL BE SIGNED COMMITTING THE SERVICE AND THE LANDOWNER TO THE WORK IDENTIFIED IN THE AGREEMENT. PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2023 2027. IF ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE NEEDED, A MOD WILL BE DEVELOPED TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDING.PARTNERS INCLUDE WISCONSIN WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION PROJECT OFFICER FOR THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, STAFF WILL WORK WITH THE PFW STAFF TO IMPLEMENT HABITAT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. PRIVATE LANDOWNERS PRIVATE LANDOWNERS WILL SIGN A 10 YEAR LANDOWNER AGREEMENT (SUB AWARD) AND MAINTAIN THE PROJECT THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE AGREEMENTUSFWS PFW STAFF WILL DEVELOP PROJECTS WITH PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, DESIGN RESTORATIONACTIVITIES, ENSURE CONSTRUCTION IS DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FWS 640.1 PFW POLICY. USDA WETLAND STANDARDS WILL BE FOLLOWED.MONITORING MONITORING WILL FOLLOW FWS 640.1 POLICY

WWA PARTNERSHIP

WWA WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SERVICE IN THE PROJECT AREA TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES ON PRIVATE LAND. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE GRASSLAND AND WETLAND RESOURCES IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE AND THE WISCONSIN PARTNERS PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN (FOCUS AREAS). FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT MEET FWS 640.1 PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM POLICIES. GOALS ARE TO RESTORE 100 ACRES OF WETLAND AND 190 ACRES OF UPLANDS IN HIGH PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN. ON AVERAGE, WETLAND PROJECTS WILL COST NO MORE THAN $1250/ACRE AND UPLAND PROJECTS NO MORE THAN $500/ACRE.

WWA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT 2015

FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO CREATE WETLAND AND UPLAND HABITAT IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE AND THE WISCONSIN PARTNERS PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN (FOCUS AREAS).

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO RESTORE 197 WETLAND ACRES AND 15 UPLAND ACRES, AND ENHANCE 20 WETLAND ACRES IN ADAMS, COLUMBIA, DANE, FOND DU LAC, GREEN LAKE, AND WINNEBAGO COUNTIES, WI. RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE REMOVAL OF DRAINAGE DITCHES, SPOIL BANKS, AND BERMS, AND PLANTING OF WARM SEASON NATIVE PRAIRIE SPECIES. COMPLETION OF THESE ACTIVITIES WILL INCREASE BREEDING, FORAGING AND MIGRATORY RESTING HABITAT FOR WATERFOWL AND NONGAME WETLAND-ASSOCIATED MIGRATORY BIRDS.

WISCONSIN WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SERVICE IN THE PROJECT AREA TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES ON PRIVATE LAND. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE GRASSLAND AND WETLAND RESOURCES IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE AND THE WISCONSIN PARTNERS PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN (FOCUS AREAS). FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT MEET FWS 640.1 PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM POLICIES. GOALS ARE TO RESTORE 34 ACRES OF WETLAND AND 80 ACRES OF UPLANDS IN HIGH PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN. ON AVERAGE, WETLAND PROJECTS WILL COST NO MORE THAN $1500 ACRE AND UPLAND PROJECTS NO MORE THAN $600 ACRE.

PRIORITY AREA RESTORATIONS II, WI

RESTORATION OF 155 ACRES OF UPLAND AND WETLAND

WWA CONSERVATION AGREEMENT PHASE VI

WWA CONSERVATION AGREEMENT PHASE V

PROPOSAL IS RESTORE WETLAND AND ENHANCE GRASSLAND TO GROW AND MAINTAIN WATEFOWL POPULATIONS. WETLANDS RESTORATIONS WILL TARGET AREAS WHICH ARE IMPACTED BY NEGATIVE HYDROLOGY TO RESTORE PROPER FUNCTION TO THE WETLAND BASINS. A SINGLE LARGE TRACT OF GRASSLAND ON A WPA WILL BE ENHANCED THROUGH WOODY INVASION CONTROL. A TOTAL OF 137 ACRES WILL BE RESTORED AND 165 ACRES ENHANCED.

WISCONSIN WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION, INC. (WWA) WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SERVICE IN THE PROJECT AREA TO ASSIST WITH ADMINISTERING THE PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE (PFW) PROGRAM FOR THE BENEFITS OF FEDERAL TRUST RESOURCES ON PRIVATE LAND. OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE GRASSLAND AND WETLAND RESOURCES IN HIGH PRIORITY AREAS AS IDENTIFIED IN THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI GREAT LAKES JOINT VENTURE AND THE WISCONSIN PARTNERS PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN (FOCUS AREAS). FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE LANDS THAT MEET FWS 640.1 PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE PROGRAM POLICIES. GOALS ARE TO RESTORE 13 ACRES OF WETLANDS AND 40 ACRES OF UPLANDS IN HIGH PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN. ON AVERAGE, WETLAND PROJECTS WILL COST NO MORE THAN $2000 PER ACRE AND UPLAND PROJECTS NO MORE THAN $600 PER ACRE.WWA AND THE PFW PROGRAM WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE WETLAND AND UPLAND HABITATS TO BENEFIT MIGRATORY BIRDS. STAFF BIOLOGISTS WILL CONDUCT SITE VISITS AND DEVELOP HABITAT RESTORATION PLANS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARTICIPATING PRIVATE LANDOWNERS. LANDOWNER AGREEMENTS WILL COMMIT THE SERVICE AND LANDOWNER TO THE HABITAT WORK IDENTIFIED IN THE AGREEMENT. PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2025-2027.

WISCONSIN WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION WILL WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES REMOVAL PROJECTS ON WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AREAS WITHIN THE GREAT LAKES WATERSHED. OUR GOALS ARE TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE AND DENSITY OF NON-NATIVE PLANT SPECIES THAT ADVERSELY IMPACT WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AND OTHER MIGRATORY BIRD PURPOSES ON THESE PROPERTIES. FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED AND SPENT ON PROJECTS COORDINATED AND APPROVED BY THE LEOPOLD WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT PROPERTY MANAGERS. THE GOAL IS TO ACCOMPLISH PROJECTS THAT RESTORE 350 ACRES OF GRASSLAND HABITAT. WISCONSIN WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION WILL TRACK FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND EXPENSES, INTERFACE WITH SERVICE BIOLOGIST PARTNERS ON EACH PROJECT, AND COORDINATE INVOICE PAYMENT AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES. PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2025-2028.

PRIORITY AREA RESTORATION I, WI