(DODGE COUNTY) Public lands in several southern Wisconsin counties will get a habitat boost thanks to more than $100,000 in new state conservation grants.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin announced that funding from the Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund will support six habitat projects. Including major efforts in Dodge, Dane, and Fond du Lac counties, as well as regional work in Columbia, Jefferson, Waukesha and Walworth counties.
In Dodge County, the Horicon Marsh Wildlife Area will receive $10,540 to restore native prairie and expand the marsh’s largest grassland complex. The work aims to improve nesting and migratory habitat for waterfowl, grassland birds, bats and pollinators — and will also enhance opportunities for pheasant hunting.
In Fond du Lac County, a $15,596 grant will fund the first phase of a multi-year habitat improvement project at the Kettle Moraine State Forest’s Northern Unit near the Ice Age Visitor Center. Crews will remove invasive plants like glossy buckthorn and poison ivy and use prescribed burning to promote native growth, benefiting several at-risk species. The area is open to hunting, fishing and hiking, including 32 miles of the Ice Age Trail.
Dane County will receive $14,400 for habitat restoration at Governor Nelson State Park, where crews will remove invasive brush, plant native species in 40 acres of oak woodland and restore 30 acres of pollinator habitat after prescribed burns. The park’s trails and access to Lake Mendota make it a popular spot for fishing, hiking and skiing.
Another $16,600 grant will support volunteer-driven restoration work across Dane, Columbia, Jefferson, Waukesha and Walworth counties. Funds will help purchase an enclosed trailer with tools, safety gear and seed-collection supplies to equip community volunteers for larger-scale habitat projects.
The grants are part of a public-led effort that allows Wisconsin residents to support conservation when buying hunting or fishing licenses. “Protecting and preserving critical habitat in Wisconsin helps ensure that these locations will remain accessible to hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts for generations to come,” said DNR Secretary Karen Hyun in a statement.
The Cherish Wisconsin Outdoors Fund, created by the state Legislature in 2012, provides permanent funding for caring for public lands and waters. It’s primarily supported through voluntary donations made on the state’s Go Wild licensing system or directly to the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.
