Success Stories
Bad River Fish
Production Ponds
Completed
Watershed Projects
Protect From Floods
A Closer Look at
Lake Water
(8K,pdf)(conservation
education)
1800 Acres of
Wetland Returning to
Southeast Wisconsin
Glacierland RC&D
leverages small
grant into hugely
successful community
gardens
(247K,pdf)
Conservation Research Applied to Save
Lives in Iraq
Agencies Lend a Hand
to Hmong Gardeners
Wetland Restoration
and Interpretive
Trail
"Ice Land Moving
River" new soil
series on Ho Chunk
Tribal Land
Science Teachers
Love Soils
Soil
Survey
Interpretations for
Smart Growth in
Southern Wisconsin
NRCS geared up for
the Great Outdoors
with Ducks Unlimited
State Land Judging Contest
Wisconsin Farm
Progress Days
EQIP Project Attracts New Aquaculture Facility for Red Cliff Tribe
Volunteers Make the
Washburn Walking
Trail a Success
Castle Rock Creek to
be Restored
Bad
River and Red Cliff Tribes Start Community Gardens
Restored
Depressional Wetland
Restoration
of Native Prairie
Conservation
Video Series
Invasive
Plants Association Forms in Eau Claire
Community
Garden Outreach
Soil
Education Part of Children's Prairie Workshop
NRCS
Works on Karner Blue
Butterfly Habitat
The Bad River River Tribe just completed a $500,000 fish rearing pond project.
The project consists of 2 one-acre ponds and a half-acre pond. NRCS provided the
engineering design and on site construction spot checks. Civil Engineering
Technician Keith Sengbusch was the lead on the project assisted by Ashland Field
Office CET Paul Johnson. This project has been in the planning stages for over
five years and represents a giant step forward for the Tribe in its fish
re-stocking efforts. The ponds will be primarily used for production of perch.
Contact Tom Cogger, Tribal Liaison.
Learning about wetland ecosystems, the tribal history of the Ho-Chunk People
and their traditional use of native plants are just a part of the White Otter
Wetland Restoration and Educational Trail. With a grant from NRCS, this
interpretive trail and observation deck will also help explain other
conservation practices that are making this property unique.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides funding and
technical help for environmental enhancements. Some of the projects here will
include stream crossings, streambank restoration, trout, habitat improvement and
extensive oak savanna and prairie restorations.
Originally purchased for housing for the tribe, this 270-acre property will
now offer more opportunity for the Ho-Chunk people. As the project is completed
this area will be hosting environmental education classes for tribal and
non-tribal youth. In appreciation for the efforts of NRCS, the Ho-Chunk Nation
presented a plaque of appreciation to Don Baloun, ASTC, during a ribbon cutting
ceremony on September 10, 2002.
Contact Greg Wheeler, District
Conservationist-Juneau County.
As NRCS soil scientists were working on the update of the Richland County Soil
Survey, they sampled a property owned and operated by the Ho Chunk Nation of the
Winnebago Tribe of Wisconsin. This Bison Ridge Project is located near
Muscoda on the Wisconsin River and has cultural significance for the tribe.
The soil survey classification indicated that this landform is situated in a
very unique position and it was discovered to be a new soils series. The new
series was named by Ho Chunk Elder, Jim Funmaker as Nux Ma Ruha Ni Xete,
literally translated as "Ice Land Moving River." NRCS has created a soil
monolith and an interpretative display for the Ho-Chunk that will be housed at
their Executive Building in Black River Falls.
Over 750 science teachers from Wisconsin participated in the "Science Safari"
Convention held in March. NRCS was one of 70 exhibitors at the convention and
the 13th consecutive show that NRCS has participated in. Teachers
from all grade levels found useful information available from NRCS. The
popularity of the NRCS exhibit has increased significantly over the years. This
year teachers were sharing their "success" stories with us about utilizing NRCS
ideas and lessons in their classrooms and on field trips. The soil curriculum is
a vital part of the earth science curriculum and who but NRCS Soil Science
professionals know better how to teach kids about soils. Contact:
Barb Jansen, or
Jim Barnes
The Upper Fox River Basin Partnership is hosting a series of open house
outreach activities throughout the basin. The meeting held in Pardeeville,
Wisconsin was attended by approximately 40 people including private citizens,
state, federal, county agencies, and non-profit groups. The NRCS exhibit on Farm
Bill programs was very informative and well received. Smart Growth is a
high-interest topic in southern Wisconsin, and NRCS's information and displays
on Soil Survey Interpretations, including Building Site Potential, LESA, Septic
System Potential, and Sub-stratum Permeability, provided sound information to
help in the decisionmaking.. Twyla Kite, DC, Portage FO was present to explain
NRCS programs. Dave Roberts presented information using soil survey data in
Smart Growth applications. This Open House is just part of the activities
that celebrate 2003 as the Wisconsin Year Of Water. Contact:
Dave Roberts, Area Resource Soil
Scientist, Juneau Area Office.
A successful multi-agency outreach effort to help the Hmong community in the Eau
Claire area with pesticide and soil conservation issues was featured in the
Sunday Eau Claire Leader Telegram (Aug. 17,2002) NRCS,
together with the State Dept of Ag, the Farm Service Agency, UWEX, DNR and the
Eau Claire Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, held a meeting to find out
what concerns Hmong gardeners might have that the agencies could help with.
The Hmong gardeners are a sizable economic force in the community, comprising
60% of the Farmers Market members, with sales estimated at $300,000. From
that initial meeting, concerns about safe pesticide use, control of potato
beetles, and erosion control are being discussed with the Hmong growers.
Mai Vue Xiong, UWEX Hmong gardening liaison, worked throughout the summer with
gardeners to let them know about services offered by NRCS and other agencies.
For more information, contact Jeff
Knowles, DC in Altoona.
The 2002 Ducks Unlimited Great Outdoors National Festival was held in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Over 72,000 people enjoyed hands-on outdoors experiences.
The Festival cove rs several hundred acres and is made up of 200 tents in nine
villages: 4x4, Archery, ATV, Biking & Camping, Conservation, Exhibitor, Fishing,
Hunting Dog and Shooting Sports. The NRCS Exhibit showcased the Wetlands Reserve
Program (WRP), very popular with DU members. Wisconsin has over 38,000 acres
enrolled in WRP. The NRCS staff provided information and technical advice to the
many attendees who stopped by the display area in the Conservation Village.
Ducks Unlimited, the largest private-sector waterfowl and wetlands
conservation organization in the world and the Natural Resources Conservation
Service have formed a successful partnership to restore wetlands and wildlife
habitat in Wisconsin.
Over 200 students from 22 high schools in Wisconsin participated the 2002
Wisconsin State High School Land Judging Contest, held in Richland Center,
Wisconsin. Rick Lange, NRCS District Conservationist, Dave Omernik, NRCS Soil
Scientist, and Grant County LCD Soil Conservationist Kevin Lange were the
official judges for the contest, which was hosted by Vocational Ag teacher
Francis McCaulley and the Richland Center FFA.
Contestants were asked to describe the soil profile, land capabilities, and
best management practices at 4 pit locations.. NRCS employees Jean Stramel, Barb
Marshall, Matt Otto, along with Richland County Conservationist Cathy Cooper
also assisted.
Another successful show for NRCS, hosted this year in Richland County.
Displays included a brief history of our agency highlighting the Coon Creek
Watershed. New Farm Bill information was available as well as information
highlighting grazing, buffers and the Wetlands Reserve Program. The soil
scientists held computer demonstrations of the recently release digital Soil
Survey for Richland County. CD’s were distributed to over 100 interested
parties. The soil pit displayed the Lower Wisconsin River soils and was quite a
popular spot.
A wetland filtration system installed by NRCS through the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program proved to be a deciding factor in the selection of the site for Wisconsin's new aquaculture training facility. The Red Cliff Indian Reservation was competitively selected as the home for the state's
![Photo of fishery at Bad River EQIP project [NRCS photo]](images/EQIPBADRIVERFISHHATCHERY2.jpg) new $3 million cold-water fish farm demonstration facility. The facility will include laboratories, offices, a resource center, classrooms and meeting rooms, as well as rearing ponds, raceways and wastewater settling ponds. The Red Cliff site was chosen over several other sites because it offered existing supplies of suitable well water, an existing water-filtering wetlands system to treat fish production effluent and a connection to a municipal sanitary sewer system at an existing fish hatchery facility.
The wetland filtering system was built as part of a Coaster Brook Trout Restoration Project with $75,000 in EQIP funds. Additional funds were leveraged from several sources to help pay for the project. The Aquaculture facility will be a great asset to the area and an economic boon, offering year-round jobs and attracting visitors to this northernmost part of Wisconsin. Tom Cogger, Ashland
Volunteers Make the Washburn Walking Trail a Success
Over 35 volunteers, Boy Scouts, and the Washburn High School Ecology Club spent a day planting
trees along the city lakeshore. Volunteers planted over 350 trees along the walking trail in an effort to beautify the lakeshore and
establish a land legacy for future generations to enjoy. Local
Boy Scout Troop 344 provided a valuable community service by helping plant, mulch and mark the trees along the trail. This planting effort is
Phase One of a larger restoration effort created by a partnership with the City of Washburn, the Walking Trail Committee, Washburn High School Ecology Club and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Park District staff
installed three new bridges and other improvements on
the trail to increase accessibility for the disabled to the park. Gary Haughn, Ashland.
Castle Rock Creek to be Restored
A two-year project is now underway in the Castle Rock Creek/Doc Smith Branch watershed in Grant County, focused mainly on
stream bank protection. Working with local landowners and Castle Rock Creek workgroup, NRCS and the Grant County Land Conservation Department were able to provide 90%
cost-sharing to install 6,494 feet of stream bank protection, three dams, and one barnyard
runoff control system. Nearly $150,000 in cost-sharing was provided by
DNR, with additional funds from the county
LCC, Trout Unlimited, Woods and Water Organization, Badger Fly Fishers, and $15,375 provided by
EPA. Landowner costs totaled $24,430. Mike Lieurance, Lancaster.
A new Community Gardening effort launched this spring focused on healthy foods and improved
nutrition for the Bad River and Red Cliff Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. The tribes received
funding through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to set up gardens, provide training and education to tribal members.
Funding also provided food distribution systems and food banks for elder centers. The Pri-Ru-Ta Resource Conservation and Development Council
planned to hire a
Garden Coordinator to organize and direct the effort. The Community Gardens
serve as demonstration sites on successful
gardening techniques for northern climates, as well as produce healthy foods for tribal members. Education on food safety and diet is also
part of the gardening initiative. Tom Cogger
, Ashland.
NRCS helped a Green Bay area farmer restore a depressional wetland for wildlife
habitat, a rare opportunity in this rapidly urbanizing part of Wisconsin. The landowner
grew corn in this tiled, muck soil field for the last 20 years. NRCS developed a restoration plan, and the landowner broke the drainage tile and excavated some of the area to create open water. The restoration, surrounded on two sides by woods, is now impressively beautiful. Wild geese and ducks use the site continuously.
Jim Hunt, Green Bay.
NRCS and the state DNR are working closely with a St. Croix County landowner to help him reach his goal of creating a landscape that preserves and restores rare and declining habitat. The native prairie and oak savannah restoration lies along a lakeshore in St. Croix County, which is rapidly urbanizing due to the growth of the Twin Cities Metropolitan area only 30 minutes away. The project involves a mix of several USDA programs that will assist with financial and technical resources. Last year,
a CRP contract on 31 acres included 26.4 acres of prairie plantings
using a diverse mix, and 4.2 acres of shrub plantings. Twenty-one acres are enrolled in
WHIP, which will be seeded to prairie. An additional 5.2 acres of Riparian Forest Buffer will be established through the Continuous CRP signup. A planting of burr, black oak,
and additional plantings of leadplant and New Jersey Tea will complete the Oak
Savanna restoration. Steve
Pernsteiner, Baldwin
Trempealeau County is one of the few rural counties in the U.S. that have a local public
access cable TV station. The Trempealeau NRCS staff produced three half-hour videos dealing with
conservation issues which are broadcast on the local station. The series, entitled "NRCS--Working with
Land and People," has been very well received. A new segment, "Buffer It",
describes the design, installation, and maintenance of filter strips. The staff plans to continue their film making efforts to bring more conservation programs and ideas to
producers. Diane Sczepanski, Whitehall.
NRCS and partner agencies are reaching out to the Hmong community in the Eau Claire area. Many Hmong farmers and vegetable growers
recently attended a USDA meeting organized with translators to determine the Hmong needs and how USDA could help.
Nearly 20 separate concerns were brought forward, some as simple as
sedimentation covering new seeding or ponding destroying seedlings. A majority
of the growers participated and were open to how agencies could help. A
number of opportunities will be pursued in the near future with the Hmong including
land rentals, marketing opportunities, loans, field days, and land-buying cooperatives.
Clearly, the meeting opened doors of communication and emphasized that area agencies have much to offer the
Hmong. Jeff Knowles,
Altoona.
Jane Anklam, Soil Conservationist in the Altoona Field Office, is working
with the state and the US Fish and Wildlife Service in managing for the Federally listed endangered Karner Blue Butterfly. Because NRCS has such a strong connection with private landowners,
NRCS is well positioned to help implement the state's Habitat Conservation Plan for the Karner Blue.
Anklam, and several other natural resource managers, took an aggressive approach to determine how to best establish the habitat needed by Karner Blue in the Lower
Eau Claire River Basin. We now have information to share with other land managers who also work in the Karner Blue high potential range. NRCS also assisted with strategies on how to
efficiently use the USDA programs to help reach habitat goals. Sharing successes and failures will
help Wisconsin reach the goal of removing a species from the list of threatened and endangered species
much sooner. Jeff Knowles, Altoona.
NRCS was proud to play a role in Wisconsin's "Plants Out of Place
Conference". Over 140 scientists,
land managers, landscape industry representatives, conservation organizations, and private citizens
gathered to discuss and create the Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
worked closely with the USDA in pulling together a balanced group of convergent and divergent opinions in the invasive species arena. A lively discussion resulted in an organization that will
represent the timely issue of invasive plant management. The USDA is eager for states to develop such
associations following the President's Executive
Order calling for stepped up awareness of its agencies' role in species control and
eradication. NRCS will play an advisory role for the new Association and rely on the association's input regarding species introduction,
eradication, control measures, and inventory through NRCS programs. Jeff Knowles, Altoona.
The Annual Prairie Enthusiasts Spring Conference included a session on soil chemistry
and morphology for children. The "Kids Konference" included
discussion and props to bring prairie soil into the total picture of the prairie.
The children took part in texture, soil chemistry, and sedimentation experiments to
learn more about the world beneath their feet. Conference staff used soil surveys
to discuss prairie soils vs. forest soils right in their own neighborhood. This
year's adult program included a session on soil/fungi interaction. Next
year's adult program will include a session on prairie soil. Jeff
Knowles, Altoona.
Multi-agency cooperation has resulted in a highly successful
community garden in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has dedicated a 15 acre parcel for the project, which includes a five acre community garden, a demonstration area, contour buffer strips, field borders, and a six acre prairie grass and wildflower planting. Approximately 80
Hmong families use garden plots to grow many vegetables from their homeland which are not available here. Approximately 90% of the 182 garden plots available have been planted by
Hmong. Other tenants are from the Oshkosh area who do not have adequate garden space available. Partner agencies, include NRCS, University of Wisconsin Extension,
ADVOCAP, Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department, Winnebago County
Parks Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Scott Christie, Oshkosh.
Conservation Research Applied to Save
Lives in Iraq
Aicardo Roa, Urban Conservationist with the Dane County Land Conservation Dept
assisted the US Marines in the Persian Gulf during the war in Irag. Aicardo has worked for
years with a special polymer that binds soil as a method of erosion control in
special situations. He went to the Persian Gulf with the Marines and
developed the right mixture of polymer and water that would bind the dust and
sand in order for helicopters to land safely. The polymer mixture provides
safe landing sites at very low cost, much less than the costly and
time-consuming paved sites that were used before Mr. Roa's research was applied
to the problem.
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