Wisconsin Wetlands Association Inc

DEDICATED TO PROTECTION, RESTORATION, AND ENJOYMENT OF WETLANDS AND ASSOCIATED ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH SCIENCE-BASED PROGRAMS, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY

WETLAND OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: IN 2021-22 WWA DEVELOPED AND PRESENTED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO DIVERSE AUDIENCES OF LAYPERSONS AND EXPERTS AND ADVANCED THE USE OF WETLAND SCIENCE ON MATTERS RELATED TO WETLAND CONSERVATION. PROGRAMS INCLUDE ADVISING LANDOWNERS ABOUT WETLAND PRESERVATION, RESTORATION, AND MANAGEMENT; AN ANNUAL WETLANDS SCIENCE CONFERENCE (VIRTUAL DUE TO COVID CONCERNS); WORKSHOPS, FIELD TRIPS, AND PRESENTATIONS; AND DISTRIBUTION OF A TWO BOOKS, "MY HEALTHY WETLANDS," TO HELP LANDOWNERS CARE FOR THEIR WETLANDS, AND A "FIELD GUIDE TO AMPHIBIAN EGGS AND LARVAE OF THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES". NEARLY 400 PEOPLE ATTENDED AND PARTICIPATED IN WWA'S 2022 WETLAND SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

PUBLIC POLICY ADVOCACY: IN 2021-2022, WWA WORKED COLLABORATIVELY TO HELP LOCAL AND STATEWIDE DECISION MAKERS TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WETLANDS AS SOLUTIONS TO THE WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY ISSUES THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING. OUR WORK INCLUDES HOSTING FIELD VISITS FOR STATE LEGISLATORS TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WETLAND PROTECTION AND RESTORATION CAN PROVIDE ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIETAL BENEFITS. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SERVED AS VICE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNOR'S WETLAND STUDY COUNCIL. THIS COUNCIL, REPRESENTING PRIVATE, AGRICULTURAL, CONSERVATION, AND OTHER DIVERSE INTERESTS IS CHARGED WITH DISCUSSING AND DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS ON TIMELY WETLAND ISSUES IN A MANNER THAT CONSIDERS THE NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES OF DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS. WWA WORKED WITH STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING WDNR AND DATCP, TO ADVANCE THE CONSIDERATION OF WETLAND CARE AND RESTORATION IS THE PURSUIT OF THEIR MISSIONS..RECOMMENDATIONS ON TIMELY WETLAND ISSUES IN A MANNER THAT CONSIDERS THE NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES OF DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS. WWA ALSO HELPED STATE LEGISLATORS DEVELOP A BILL CREATING A GENERAL PERMIT FOR HYDROLOGIC RESTORATION PROJECTS. THE BI-PARTISAN LEGISLATION, WAS UNANIMOUSLY ENACTED INTO LAW AND DEVELOPMENT OF THIS GENERAL PERMIT IS NOW UNDERWAY.

PLACE-BASED PROJECTS: OUR PLACE-BASED WORK IN SEVERAL AREAS ACROSS WISCONSIN HELPS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IMPLEMENT WETLANDS AS SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADS, CULVERTS, DWELLINGS, ETC FROM FLOODS. IN 2021-22 WWA WORKED WITH THE VILLAGE OF PLOVER, LOCAL GROWERS, AND OTHERS IN THE LITTLE PLOVER RIVER WATERSHED USING WETLAND CARE AND RESTORATION TO RESTORE RIVER FLOWS AND CONSERVE GROUNDWATER; AND CONTINUED PARTICIPATING IN A MULTI-PARTNER EFFORT TO STUDY WATERSHEDS IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN TO SHOW HOW WETLAND RESTORATION CAN BE USED TO SOLVE RUNOFF AND OTHER WATER ISSUES IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR BASIN. WWA HAS ALSO BEEN ACTIVE BUILDING LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AIMED AT DEVELOPING A FLOODPLAIN RECONNECTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ALONG FANCY CREEK IN RICHLAND COUNTY.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: IN 2021-22 WWA INCREASED ITS WORK HELPING AGENCIES, UNIVERSITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, TRIBES, AND OTHERS FURTHER DEVELOP PROGRAMS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE WETLANDS. THIS WORK HELPS OUR PARTNERS UNDERSTAND HOW TO INSERT WETLAND CONSIDERATIONS INTO CURRENT PROGRAMMING.