TO:
Marsh Management Committee
FROM: Andy Nelson, Wildlife Team Leader
SUBJECT: October 3, 2001 Meeting Minutes
Hello!
As usual, our meeting got rolling around
6:30 p.m. and comprised a full agenda.
We began with a series of management
updates from around the Marsh.
Diane reports that bird numbers on
the Refuge are good. However, the Main
pool is not as heavily used as it was
last year. The Federal Carp trap has
been active. Crews have cleaned several
thousand pounds of large carp out of
the trap, along with several dozen large
northern pike. Construction projects
on the Refuge are winding down with
the end of paving in sight.
Andy reports that the public use surveys
are available at all boat landings.
So far returns have been modest. Hopefully,
more will come in before our November
meeting when we try to resolve this
question. Waterfowl numbers on state
end are a little thin going into the
season. Even prime habitats are holding
relatively few birds at this time.
Water levels in all sub-impoundments
are nearing fall targets. Pumping has
been temporarily stymied at the Bachhuber
due to a mechanical glitch with the
pump. Falling rain until more migrant
ducks move in so that food supplies
can be used to maximum value will restore
levels in the goose pond. Premature
flooding will only enable geese to clean
out the seed before the ducks move in.
Hunting reports from those in attendance
were very favorable for the youth hunt.
Apparently the youth found good numbers
of birds using potholes and the burned
area by Steamboat Island. Opening day
results were more mixed with marginal
luck in many areas.
Water levels were a concern for several
attendees. Specifically, some were concerned
with the apparent drop of levels prior
to opening weekend. To answer questions
in this regard, Andy reviewed the September
water log records as recorded at the
dam in Horicon.
In a nutshell, the levels had been
too high (75.6) earlier in the month
and DNR crews were trying to slowly
bring the level down to goal. Due to
masking effects by strong north winds,
the levels fell 0.2 feet (74.9) more
than desired (75.1) at the dam. This
may have exaggerated effects upstream
on the Marsh. The problem was identified
within 24 hours and the dam was closed
to bring levels back as quickly as possible.
The discussion was concluded with a
consensus understanding that staff would
continue to operate the dam to achieve
our 75.1 target. As always, we will
try to negotiate wind, weather, and
upstream water management activities
as best we can.
Looking ahead, the Committee began
a discussion of long-term water management
on the Marsh. As the committee has done
in the past, we are trying to lay out
our water plans for the upcoming year.
We began by reviewing the results of
recent water management practices. These
can be summarized as being low summer
levels with modest increases in the
fall. This strategy, coupled with carp
control has helped produce modest growth
of submerged plants, expansion of water
lily, abundant wild rice, and moderately
expanding cattail. Overall, wildlife
response has been favorable, especially
among shorebirds and waterfowl. Muskrat
numbers have yet to show much response
to these habitat improvements. From
a management perspective, this water
scheme allows for effective summer burning
of cattails and decent navigation access
for fall users. Concerns about the current
water management plan involve cattail
expansion and the lack of a muskrat
response to date.
As we began to discuss alternatives,
Keith White aptly pointed out that the
range of water management options is
very narrow considering the limitations
of the dam in Horicon. Specifically,
the range of levels is approximately
0.9 feet.
In general, there was agreement that
the current water management scheme
had been productive in improving habitat
conditions and that continuation of
low summer/high fall levels would be
desirable. There was specific concern
for having high water levels in the
fall/winter to encourage muskrat use
of dense cattail. Likewise, there was
support for using low summer levels
to aggressively burn cattails during
the growing season. It was noted that
low summer levels help keep sunlight
on the marsh floor and aid in submerged
plant growth.
While there was support for continuing
the current cycle of water management,
the group decided to present their feelings
as a recommendation to the rest of the
MMC mailing list. In so doing, it is
hoped that other members would have
an opportunity to consider this information
and add to the discussion at the November
meeting. Pending the results of the
November discussion, we hope to finalize
a 2002 water management plan at our
next meeting.
Andy also reported on the Nest Success
Initiative and the Delta Waterfowl visit.
Serge Lariviere and John Devney of Delta
flew Horicon Marsh on September 10,
participated in a ground tour of sites
on HNWR, met with agency staff, and
provided an evening public program to
summarize the results of their work
on predator management from North Dakota
and Saskatchewan.
Delta liked what they saw around the
Marsh and sees much potential for a
scientific study. They see the Horicon
landscape as a new challenge featuring
a huge wetland complex and vastly more
intricate and abundant predator communities.
As a result, they have indicated they
would like to come to Wisconsin to do
a graduate study for 2 years. They have
even suggested that they can provide
most if not all of the funding required
to complete the study, provided WDNR,
USFWS, and other prospective partners
at WWA and WTA can provide appropriate
support. At this time the respective
partners are considering the proposal.
We expect some indication of whether
the project will begin moving forward
by our next meeting.
As fall progresses we continue to work
on some meaty issues at the MMC. Thankfully,
we’ve had a fresh influx of new
energy and ideas from some of the recent
additions to our group. We will need
veteran and rookies alike to continue
to build on the momentum we have achieved
to date.
As we have discussed with some regularity
in recent months, funding is a continuing
issue we need to address to achieve
our goals. To be effective at obtaining
grants, donations, and raising funds
the MMC needs to become more organized
in its approach to financial matters.
Specifically, Andy is requesting that
all MMC members consider forming and
participating on a Fundraising Committee.
Ideally, this committee will have 5-10
members who are capable of identifying
potential funding sources, working with
partners to apply for grants, soliciting
donations, and overseeing various independent
fundraising efforts that would benefit
the management and restoration of Horicon
Marsh. This committee needs people who
can be passionate, informed advocates
for the Marsh and the various MMC projects
designed to improve it. Ideal Fundraising
Committee members will have several
of the following strengths: business
savvy, organization skills, local knowledge,
ability to cooperate with others on
projects, extensive personal contact
networks, past fundraising experience,
high energy, determination, sales and
marketing skills, and many philanthropic
friends.
If you know someone who would be a
great member of this committee, please
consider making a nomination at our
next meeting. Self-nominations will
be gladly accepted.
Looking ahead to our next meeting on
Tuesday, November 6, we will try to
bring the issue of a Wetland Wilderness
Area to some final MMC recommendation.
The question of whether to establish
a non-motorized use area on the state
end of the Marsh has sparked much debate
all summer. At our next meeting we will
discuss the survey results and opinions
among those gathered.
Our goal will be to reach a consensus
decision on whether to ask the Conservation
Congress to continue to pursue this
matter on the Spring 2002 questionnaire,
or to reject the proposal at this time,
thereby ending the Conservation Congress
efforts in this regard.
I anticipate that we will all have
different personal opinions on this
matter. We all know from past debates
that there are strong emotions on both
sides of this issue. However, I hope
we can all look past our own concerns
and try to reach a consensus on what
course will best serve the interests
of the Marsh. Then, when this matter
is decided, we will need to move forward
with our continuing mission to improve
the Marsh ecosystem in a cooperative
manner.
Other agenda items include:
Management Updates
Water Management Planning
Fundraising Committee Membership
Vegetation Survey Results
I look forward to seeing everyone on
Tuesday, November 6th!
