Rush Lake and Winnebago Systems

Rush Lake and Winnebago Systems Receive $1 million grant for migratory bird habitat restoration, easements, and land acquisition.

OSHKOSH, Wis. – On September 8th, 2004, the U.S. Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved $1million for the Winnebago System - Rush Lake Initiative Project. The project area encompasses Rush Lake, the western portion of Lake Winnebago, and Lakes Poygan, Winneconne, and Butte des Morts along with their surrounding wetland and upland habitats in Fond du Lac, Waushara and Winnebago counties. Funding is authorized under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

The focus of this project is to implement two resource management plans: The Winnebago Comprehensive Management Plan and the Rush Lake Strategic Action Plan. These plans were developed by a coalition of citizen groups, local governments, and resource professionals. In total, project partners will protect, restore, and enhance over 6,000 acres of critical migratory bird habitat through wetland and prairie restoration, shoreline stabilization, conservation easements, and land acquisition.

The largest habitat project is the Rush Lake Initiative Project which will utilize partner and grant funds to restore Rush Lake, a 3,000-acre prairie pothole wetland located in southwest Winnebago County. Thousands of Mississippi Flyway waterfowl and migratory shorebirds, songbirds, and waterbirds will benefit from partners´ efforts. Several federal and state-listed endangered and threatened species will also benefit.

The project area is within 75 miles of 2.5 million people and receives heavy recreational use by boaters, hunters, trappers, anglers, and birdwatchers. The public will have access to additional lands from this project and will benefit in many ways from the water quality improvements it brings.

Project partners received the $1 million federal grant and the partners are matching it with $2,531,928.

Partners include Ducks Unlimited; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bureaus of Endangered Resources, Wildlife Management, and Fisheries and Habitat Protection; Fox River Natural Resource Damage Assessment; Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department; Pheasants Forever - Fox River Valley Chapter; Winnebago County Conservation Club; Lake Poygan Sportsman’s Club; Lake Butte des Morts Conservation Club; Tri-County Powerboat Association; Oshkosh Area Community Foundation; Rush Lake Watershed Restoration, Inc.; five private landowners, and one private corporation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added another $57,888 in non-matching funds.

Funds will be available to conduct habitat work on private lands as well as to purchase conservation easements and public lands. Habitat work will consist primarily of shallow wetland restoration projects coupled with native prairie restoration and will not include excavation of deep ponds.

To be eligible for wetland or prairie work, landowners must be willing to preserve the land for a minimum of ten years. All wetland projects will also need to include providing secure grassland cover around the wetland. Private landowners within the project area that are interested in pursuing wetland and grassland habitat projects, conservation easements, or selling land for conservation should contact Tim Lizotte, DNR Wildlife Biologist, (920) 424-7886.

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