A Wisconsin wetland restoration plan that’s poised to calm troubled waters

Long-term Douglas County initiative takes aim at flooding and erosion issues

Washed-out roads. Overflowing streams. Flash floods.

Incidents like these are on the rise in northern Wisconsin’s rainy season, and the wetland landscape, once a shield from storms, is no match for the excess water.

Historically, the northwest part of the state was covered with wetland, a natural sponge that stores excess water and reduces runoff that can cause erosion.

But as the wetlands have been developed or filled in for agricultural uses, the landscape has “lost its natural ability to buffer these storm events,” says Christine Ostern, county conservationist for the Douglas County Land and Water Conservation Department (LWCD).

Because of the loss of wetlands, areas of Douglas County, particularly in the Lake Superior Basin, are prone to flooding and erosion. Animals and insects have lost vital habitat, and the community faces water quality issues caused by runoff.

No one can control the rainfall, of course. But the conservation department can manage the land’s restoration—and, to that end, the LWCD, working with stakeholders, is creating a watershed plan that will help restore lost wetlands and ease the pressure on the landscape.

“Because this area had a lot of wetlands, we can turn the land back into wetlands with local input through the watershed plan. This plan is the best way that we can help the watershed and the people who live here,” says Ostern.

A $100,000 grant from Enbridge’s Ecofootprint Grant Program will help the LWCD complete and implement this ambitious plan.

Developed in partnership with scientists, natural resource managers and geospatial analysts, the LWCD’s plan includes:

• an assessment of historical wetlands in the area;
• information about how land in the area is being used (e.g. agriculture); and
• a process for prioritizing the restoration of vulnerable areas.

Enbridge’s funding will also help the Douglas County LWCD develop a second key document—a wetland compensation planning framework—which will include priority locations for restoration and best practices to achieve restoration.

Wetland restoration has become an important issue in Douglas County, says Ostern: “We’ve had devastating storm events. Flooding, erosion . . . it’s added fuel to the fire in terms of talking about better planning for these events.”

The planning documents will be available to the public, but will be used primarily by developers whose projects impact wetlands and who must mitigate the losses accordingly. The Ecofootprint grant will also allow LWCD to deliver educational programs for community stakeholders, and complete one restoration project as an example of how the planning documents can be used.

“This project will increase the county’s understanding of wetland function and help the community restore the landscape and habitat,” says Cindy Finch, Enbridge’s senior public affairs advisor based in Duluth-Superior.

“We’re pleased to partner with the Douglas County LWCD to help the landscape do what it does best—control water levels, harbor creatures, and purify water.”

(TOP PHOTO: Members of the Douglas County LWCD stakeholder group take a tour of the area's wetlands.)