Wetland project in Brillion State Wildlife Area funded

BRILLION, Wis (WISS) – A wetland project to dredge portions of the marsh on the North Branch of the Manitowoc River in the Brillion State Wildlife Area has the go-ahead and funding from the Evers Administration. 

Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced this week that they are undertaking a wetland project with the assistance of Ducks Unlimited. The project seeks to remove excess cattail mats and sediment from portions of the channel to improve flow in the river and the surrounding marshlands. 

“The river channel has become closed off due to the presence of dense mats of invasive and hybrid cattail. As a result, these thick mats are slowing stream flow and degrading habitat quality for waterfowl and other species of wildlife,” a press release from the DNR said.

The Evers Administration will fund the project using existing and available state resources, including a mix of state Waterfowl Stamp funding. Funding also comes from a portion of the DNR’s Wildlife Management program’s Segregated Conservation funds designated for development projects.

Wisconsin Ducks Unlimited staff will assist the DNR by providing project design and leading construction contracting and oversight. The DNR and Ducks Unlimited plan to begin engineering work on the project this fall, with dredging anticipated to start in 2026.

The extent of the hydrologic improvements is anticipated to be limited to wetlands within the west side of the Brillion Wildlife Area and the surrounding private lands.