Restoration experts from Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and the Lower Fox River/Green Bay Areas of Concern will discuss case studies of partnerships turning federal GLRI funding into successful on-the-ground habitat restoration projects that provide a variety of ecological and societal benefits that can be sustained well into the future. Featured case studies include successfully restoring coastal marsh for waterbirds and for northern pike, using watershed-based GIS planning tools to prioritize restoration projects, and the reestablishment of the Cat Island Chain of islands in lower Green Bay. This presentation was given by Brian Glenzinski, Wisconsin Regional Biologist, Ducks Unlimited.

1. DESIGNING SYMBIOTIC FISH AND WILDLIFE
RESTORATIONS AND ENHANCEMENTS
Incorporating pike spawning marshes into wetland enhancement design to
benefit waterfowl and Northern Pike
Mike Mushinski – Brown County Land and Water Conservation
Brian Glenzinski – Ducks Unlimited

2. Green Bay West Shores
•
70% of
wetlands
along or
adjacent to
Green
Bay s west
shore have
been lost

3. The reluctant evolution
of a Fisheries Biologist

4. Typical Wetland Enhancement Design
Impoundments with water control structures, managed primarily for waterfowl
Sensiba Unit: 1959 Impoundment

5. West Shore Northern Pike
Habitat Restoration Project
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•
•
•
Started - 2007
First projects installed – 2008
36 contracts to date
Monitoring YOY started 2011

6. Pike Spawning Requirements
• Small
ephemeral
streams and
wetlands
• Vegetation
• Shallow water
( < 10 inches)

7. Pike Spawning Projects - Mercier
Spring 2011
Fall 2011
Spring 2012

8. Project Goals & Accomplishments
Goals
• 25 Acres – Buffers
• 38 Acres – Wetland
Creation/Restorations
• 6 Culvert Impediments replaced
• 5 Miles of new stream accessibility
• Increase top predator (pike) # s in Bay
• Reduce Green Bay s impaired uses
for degraded fish and wildlife
populations
Accomplished
• 50.9 Acres – Buffers
• 33.4 Acres – Wetland Creation/Restora
• 6 Culvert Impediments replaced
• 17 Miles of new stream accessibility

9. Ecological Services
• 2-3 inch fish = $0.52 AFS
• 53,901 YOY captured in 2003
at Barkhausen = $28,028
• Habitat restoration pays for
itself quickly

10. YOY Assessments
Monitoring Results
YOY
Traps
2011
2000
21
2012
300
23
Note: Heavy snow during fry incubation
period in 2011 and drought conditions in
2012 resulted in low spawning success
Areas of Concern
• Lower Lake Levels
• Drought
• Flashy nature of spawning wetlands

11. Sensiba Unit – Green Bay West Shores
• 1,210 acres
• Lake MI Coastal wetlands
• Wisconsin DNR Ownership
• Partnership restoration

12. Sensiba
Wildlife Area
• 1,210 acres
• Lake MI Coastal wetlands
• Wisconsin DNR Ownership

13. L.H. Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve
• Borrow Area
• Water Routing
• Water Levels
Partnership:
Ducks Unlimited
Brown County
Green Bay Packers
USFWS Coastal Program

14. Benefits of cross discipline
collaboration
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cost effective fish access
Separation provides optimal waterfowl
habitat
Water level control provides optimal
hydrology during peak spawning periods
Ephemeral Pike marshes can provide
additional waterfowl habitat during fall
migration with increase water level
management
Increased Ecological Services
Increased partner and public support
Improved Green Bay Fishery

15. Brian Glenzinski
Ducks Unlimited
Regional Biologist
4511 Helgesen Drive
Madison, WI 53718
(608) 221-1206x12
bglenzinski@ducks.org

16. North American Wetlands Conservation Act
Wisconsin Initiatives