Article by Marci Hess; Drone photos by Jim Hess (see larger versions in the article at swtu.org)

Falk Wells Wildlife Area, south of Verona, is situated in rolling farmland with a mixture of hay and row crops. It is a 379 acre property with 3 miles along the Sugar River. The pictured wetland restoration is one of the most ambitious of the projects undertaken in this ecological system. It includes 33 acres of previous row crop farming; the drainage tiles making this possible will be removed, returning the land to a healthy wetland.

This area was part of the Bruce Company tree nursery for many years and was sold to the county to protect the area from development. Much of the acreage was planted in nursery trees to be used in landscaping; other areas were in row crops. The river had been dammed at the southern end of the property resulting in the loss of many natural features of the land and water: wetlands, prairies, oak savannas, and a healthy river channel.

To the south of this project, is a wetland restoration Dane County, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited have been restoring with funding from the Waterfowl Stamp. Additionally, Dane County did intensive restoration of the river channel and has converted 35 acres of crop land to nesting habitat and 20 acres of restored savanna habitat.

Falk Wells is a minor migratory corridor with year round mallard and wood duck populations. Restoring wetlands and nesting habitat adjacent to the river will increase migratory and breeding capacity, provide habitat for many native bird, plant, and insect species, while providing a lovely and healthy setting for the outdoor recreation. This wetland restoration will keep it as an excellent trout stream in the face of climate change.

Funding for these projects has come from USFWS, DNR Waterfowl Stamp and Pheasant Stamp, Dane County, and North American Wetland Conservation Act Grant administered by Ducks Unlimited.