Program Notes from the Feb 24, 2009 Meeting of LKWA
February 24, 2009 at 6:00 pm
- The meeting was called to order by Vice-chair Ms. Susan Yates at 6:15 PM. 22 members were present.
- Minutes of the previous two meeting (Oct. 21, 2008 and Jan 24, 009) were approved as written. On January 24, 2009 we made nest boxes and hen houses. 25 Wood duck nest boxes were assembled and 6 Hen Houses and cradles were also assembled
- Treasurer’s report from Penny Shackelford was approved.
- Sightings around the lake:
*Sandhill cranes observed in field off Vogel road
*Gadwall ducks
*Black ducks are around
*American Mergansers on Rock River between Afton and Janesville - Old business:
Co-op Weed Management Area:
*popular program in some Western states and there is Federal money available
*Green, Rock, and Jefferson counties will be included in the plan
*A Steering Committee is set up and is pushing foreword
*Introducing 'beetles' into the Marsh will be started this Spring to get rid of the Purple Loosestrife
Update on water levels in Lake Koshkonong:
*no real current information as of this meeting
*present lake level is about 1 1/2 ft higher than the summer level
Reported from LKWA board meeting of Nov. 11, 2008:
*reviewed annual report
*Next Board meeting to be held in June, 2009
*Board meeting to be held in June will be a 'open Board meeting'
*Bill Zeman has been elected to the Board and is also the new Secretary
Lake Koshkonong Wetlands Association Annual Report for 2009 was presented by Penny Shackelford - Next meeting will be Tuesday, March 31. It will be at the Tall Grass Prairie office on Hwy 59 near Newville. The program will be concerned about Lake Mendota water management and Cherokee marsh. It will be presented by Russ Hefty, Director of Parks for Madison
- Special event-"Discovering the Koshkonong Creek-an unknown treasure" To be held on Sunday, April 26 at 1:00PM-6:00PM at Amundson Center, Cambridge. More information on this event will follow
- Program: "Koshkonong Marsh, its History and Future"
Presented by Charles Killian-Biologist with Wisconsin DNR.
Due to unfortunate circumstances Mr. Killian's slide presentation was somehow wiped out of his computer so he had to make his presentation without any pictures of the area, however he did hand out some maps which detail the areas he talked about.
General information: *During the last 5 years Jefferson county has restored 5500 acres of wetland/marshlands. The monies for the restoration work has come from ~75% Govt. funds and ~25% State funds. Monies where also obtained from Duck Stamp funds, Audubon Society, and Pheasants Forever.
*Reclaiming these wetlands has been beneficial to producing ducks and also other species such as Coots, Grebes, Gallinules, and other wetland/marshland birds.
Princess Point Marsh-two wetland ponds were installed. One was 300 acres and the other was 200 acres. These have been highly attractive to ducks in the past with an estimated 20,000 duck in the area in past spring migrations. However last year’s high water has washed out these areas and they will need extensive repairs to again be attractive to waterfowl.
Jefferson Marsh-Includes about 2700 acres of restorable wetland. Presently about 1300 acres of wetlands have been restored and also about 600 acres of upland/prairie.
Zeloski Marsh-about 1700 acres are being restored and also about another 20 acres of adjacent land.
Koshkonong Marsh project-also called "Koshkonong Wildlife Area". The Wisconsin DNR currently owns about 800 acres and would like to increase their holdings to about 2000 acres. This is a relatively remote area with very limited public access. At this time the DNR has no detailed plans on further development of the area, however they would like to purchase more upland acres. The DNR will conduct three public meeting this coming summer concerning future development of this area and also more talk on the overall "Glacial Heritage Plan". Meetings will be held in Fort Atkinson, Waterloo, and Lake Mills. No meeting dates have been set.
Respectfully submitted,
William Zeman
Secretary, Lake Koshkonong Wetlands Association