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Wisconsin Conservation Projects

	RESTOCKING LAKE WAZEECHA Your support was part of a $6,000 grant to help restock Lake Wazeecha near Wisconsin Rapids in central Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had reclaimed the 140-acre lake increasing its depth, stabilizing shorelines and reconstructing the dam that created the man-made lake. In order to carry out this project, the water level was substantially drawn down and that severely impacted the lake’s predator species. To re-establish this part of the food chain quickly, this Wildlife Forever grant helped stock the lake with large size fish such as 10-inch northerns. Other fish stocked included walleye and largemouth bass. To ensure sufficient food supplies, 50-gallons of minnows were also added to the lake. The fishing in central Wisconsin is better thanks to this Wildlife Forever grant and your support.
	WHOOPING CRANE RECOVERY IN WISCONSIN In 1941, only 21 whooping cranes existed in the world. Due to the hardiness of the bird and the persistent efforts of conservationists, today’s whooping crane population stands at nearly 400 – but the whooping crane’s future in not yet secure. Wildlife Forever is helping to write the next chapter of the whooping crane’s recovery by supporting a project that is creating a new flock migratory flock of whooping cranes in central Wisconsin. For the first year, a trial run of the migratory flock was conducted with sandhill crane chicks as test subjects. Eleven chicks were trained to follow an ultralight plane that eventually led them from Wisconsin to Florida for their annual migration. The following April, without the aid of the ultralight, the sandhill flock returned to the very same landing strip they had left from six months earlier. After the success of that test-run, six whooping cranes were led by the ultralight to Florida, and the next year, sixteen made the flight.
	AERATOR RESTORES WISCONSIN LAKE A degraded central Wisconsin impoundment has been restored to fish-producing status, thanks in part to Wildlife Forever. Created with flood control and fishing in mind, 240-acre Sportsmen’s Lake once held fishable populations of bass and pike – until a recent hard winter decimated predator numbers, leaving yellow perch, bullheads, and little else. Working with members of the Abbotsford Sportsmen’s Club, Wildlife Forever was able to reduce the risk of winterkills with the installation of an aerator to prevent oxygen depletion. Additionally, Sportsmen’s Lake has been restocked with panfish and northern pike, and plans to reestablish bass are on the drawing board.
	1,100 MORE ACRES FOR FISHING, HUNTING AND WILDLIFE WATCHING Your support helped a community conservation group save 1,100 acres along the St. Croix River. Developers had proposed a 200-house subdivision and golf course on the Englewood property. Instead of pavement and putting greens, the area is now managed for hunting, fishing and nature studies. The property includes two ponds surrounded by wetlands, woodlands, blufflands and prairie. The Englewood property is a part of the 52 mile long Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. According to Doug Grann, President & CEO of Wildlife Forever, "This was one of our best projects because it had something for everyone. Wildlife received more habitat, hunters got more access, anglers got more places to fish and there is conservation education for the children." The project was near Oceola, Wisconsin.