Jon Gumtow, Senior Wetland Scientist, was recently invited as a guest lecturer at the Restoration Ecology class on the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (UWSP) campus.   Jon gave a presentation to 30 students focusing on the 18 month site feasibility studies, public involvement, and design features of the Moses Creek wetland and stream restoration project, followed by a tour of the site.  The 40 acre project site is located in an urban setting within the Schmeeckle Reserve, an outdoor natural classroom and recreational area located on the UWSP campus.  The project design includes restoring a sedge meadow/scrub shrub wetland complex and naturalizing approximately 1-mile of a channelized segment of Moses Creek. 

This project is a joint effort between UWSP and Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) that will restore drained wetlands and historic stream channelization.  Restoration of this ecosystem has been a  20-year vision of UWSP and was realized in cooperation with WisDOT need to mitigation wetland impacts in the local watershed.  NRC staff trained and supported UWSP involvement with data collection during the feasibility studies.

Project construction will occur this summer and will include an interactive trail system.  When completed, the project will reduce localized flooding and continue to serve as an outdoor classroom to UWSP students.