FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nancy Nabak, 920-793-4007
8/27/21
Two Rivers, WI. – Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are welcoming the public to attend a ‘sneak peak’ opening of the Woodland Dunes/Henry In-Lieu Fee Project in Manitowoc, WI.
The Woodland Dunes project, located south of HWY 310 on Woodland Dunes Road is a restoration project of about 80 acres of wetlands to near pre-settlement conditions as part of a DNR grant program. The Sneak Peak will take place on September 11, 2021, between 9 and 11 AM. Experts will be on site to explain the importance of this restoration project and to share their knowledge of some of the new species of plants and birds on the site.
“The WWCT (Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust) is a great example of private entities and the DNR working together. It’s a ‘win-win-win’ for developers, environmental groups and municipalities because development projects can be implemented while still protecting watersheds,” said Josh Brown, DNR wetland in-lieu fee program coordinator.
The restoration of the existing agricultural field was completed with funds from the WWCT. The WWCT is a wetland mitigation program administered by the DNR.
Site planning began in 2017 and restoration activities began in fall of 2020. This project also requires a conservation easement on the 80-acre area so that it will remain protected wetland in perpetuity. Long-term management will be funded through an endowment managed by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.
Public and private partnerships were critical to transforming this former farm field, proposed for industrial development, into a mosaic of diverse habitat types, including native grassland, and shrub and forested swamp.
Nearly 3.5 miles of drain tiles were broken, shallow wetland pools were excavated, and the site was planted with native grasses, wildflowers, trees and shrubs. This area is now home to over 65 different bird species and provides both nesting and stopover habitat for netropical songbirds, raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl as well as pollinator habitat or insects.
The restoration is located directly across from Woodland Dunes property. Expanding on existing protected natural areas will further improve the health and resiliency of the local watershed. The site will be open to the public for nature-based outdoor activities such as hiking and birdwatching.
Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve. is a 501(c)3 non-profit that restores, protects and sustains Woodland Dunes habitat by building partnerships to advance projects that benefit Manitowoc County watersheds.