ASHLEY FURNITURE - WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT
Project Highlights
- Designed and gained regulatory approval of 33-acre wetland compensatory mitigation plan
- Baseline site monitoring
- Hydrology monitoring and analysis
- Installation of native seed, plants & trees
- Grading construction oversight
- Educational opportunity for local 3rd graders
Summary
NRC completed development a wetland compensatory mitigation design involving more than 30-acres of wetland restoration and enhancement and mesic prairie restoration within a drained agricultural field. The restoration was developed to meet the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers compensatory wetland mitigation requirements under WI Administrative Rule NR 350 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The compensation design included restoration of agricultural cropland within the floodplain of the Upper French Creek by restoring hydrology, eradicating invasive plant species, and reestablishing native wetland plant communities. Hydrologic restoration included filling the numerous ditches and minor grading to remove recent sediment deposition, increase soil saturation duration, and protect water quality. Native wetland plant community restoration included persistent treatment of reed canary grass, establishment of 21-acres of wet meadow communities and 1.8 acres of tall grass mesic prairie by seeding and plug installation, and 7-acres of hardwood lowland forest.
The construction phase was recently completed in collaboration with Ashley Furniture employees, which included seeding over 500 lbs of native wetland plants, installation of 44,000 live wetland plants and 6,000 native wetland trees.
A class of local 3rd graders recently had the opportunity to tour the wetland restoration site. NRC ecologists gave the class a crash course introduction to wetland ecology as they toured the site. The class enjoyed getting their shoes wet crossing Upper French Creek, observing the millions of tadpoles within the open water areas, and getting some hands on experiences with wetland restoration.
The La Crosse Tribune recently featured this wetland restoration project.
Click here to link to the article.
Project Benefits
- This large scale wetland restoration will lead to improved water quality protection of Upper French Creek
- Establishment of a diversity of native wetland plants will provide important wildlife habitat
- Elimination of drainage ditches and drain tile will improve infiltration and promote groundwater protection
