Lake Koshkonong Wetland Association - Press Release
Lake Koshkonong Wetland Association Wins Award
October 13, 2006
The Lake Koshkonong Wetland Association (LKWA) received the Wisconsin Citizen-based Monitoring Program of the Year Award for 2006 at the annual Citizen-based Monitoring Conference held at Rowleys Bay October 5-6. Andy Paulios, Citizen Monitoring Network liaison for the Bureau of Endangered Resources, and Scott Hassett, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources, presented the award.
The Citizen-based Monitoring Program of the Year Award recognizes outstanding projects, organizations, or communities exhibiting innovation in the development or expansion of citizen-based monitoring programs that have had direct impact on DNR natural resource management.
LKWA received the award for its work to have the Greater Lake Koshkonong Area recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The IBA program is an international effort to protect birds and their habitat. In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative is implementing the IBA program.
In 2004 and 2005, LKWA spearheaded multiple surveys of nesting and migratory birds in the Lake Koshkonong Area. Forty-four volunteers participated in the surveys, including LKWA members ornithologists from the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative, members of other local groups including the Friends of Rose Lake and the Ned Hollister Bird Club, and interested citizens who enjoy the birds of the lake and its wetlands.
The surveys documented the importance of Lake Koshkonong for migrating waterfowl. Over 20,000 ducks were found resting and feeding on the lake during the spring migration. Surveys during May and June revealed that many birds of conservation concern use the area for nesting and raising young. These include prothonotary warblers, black terns, cerulean warblers, Acadian flycatchers, and sedge wrens. Bald eagles, osprey, and white pelicans frequently were observed on the lake.
A scientific panel reviewed the data and approved designation of the Greater Lake Koshkonong Area as an IBA. On September 16, Yoyi Steel, Wisconsin coordinator of the IBA program, formally dedicated the IBA at a ceremony on Carcajou Point. In the future, the IBA program will be available to assist in evaluation and management of habitats for long-term conservation of birds within the area. All participation in the IBA program is voluntary on the part of landowners and managers.
According to the Who’s Who of Citizen-based Monitoring Directory, "Citizen-based monitoring has a long and successful history in Wisconsin. There are more than 150 volunteer monitoring groups in the state which contribute over 300,000 man-hours of labor each year – an estimated value of 20 million dollars annually."
Citizens monitor everything from zebra mussels and worms to water quality and invasive plants. The primary goal of citizen-based monitoring is to gather data to support natural resources decision-making by governmental, university, and conservation organizations. Involvement of citizens in monitoring promotes informed citizen involvement in these decisions and benefits local communities by providing relevant community-specific data.