PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2009

Contact:
Katie Beilfuss
608-250-9971
Katie.Beilfuss@...

WISCONSIN WETLANDS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 100 WETLAND GEMS

MADISON, WI. Today, with a backdrop of Cherokee Marsh and the Yahara River and
amidst calls of Sandhill cranes, Wisconsin Wetlands Association announced its
statewide list of 100 Wetland Gems.

"Wisconsin is lucky to be home to thousands of acres of wetlands, and we hope
these Wetland Gems will help the people of Wisconsin get to know the wonderful
diversity and extraordinary beauty of these natural communities," said Becky
Abel, Wisconsin Wetlands Association Executive Director.

Wetland Gems are high quality habitats that represent the wetland
riches—marshes, swamps, bogs, fens, and more—that historically made up a quarter
of Wisconsin's landscape. Located throughout the state of Wisconsin, the
Wetland Gems are high-quality representatives of each type of wetland found in
each part of the state.

The Wisconsin Wetlands Association embarked on the task of selecting Wetland
Gems as part of the organization's work to increase appreciation for and
protection of wetland resources. The 100 Wetland Gems all represent high
quality wetland habitats and collectively represent Wisconsin's wetland
heritage.

Since the early 1800s, nearly half of Wisconsin's 10 million acres of wetlands
have been drained or filled to make way for land uses like agriculture,
forestry, and urban and suburban development. A large portion of the 5 million
remaining acres have been altered and degraded.

"Historically, wetlands were not recognized and valued as natural treasures, but
were instead generally considered wastelands and obstacles to progress," said
Abel. "The fact that so many of our wetlands have been destroyed only heightens
the value of the high quality wetland treasures that remain."

Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton, who spoke at the event, connected critical
water issues facing the state with the importance of wetlands. "Wetlands used
to be routinely filled in for new subdivisions and other growth. Now we
understand them not only as flood protection, but as nature's kidneys to clean
up farm run-off and the like, and a necessary home to wildlife and fish," said
Lawton.

"We've seen clearly in recent years in Wisconsin how damaging and expensive
floods can be, to individual property and to regional and state economies.
Wetlands are an essential first strategy to prevent catastrophic flooding,"
Lawton continued.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank, Chief of Staff
for the Dane County Executive Topf Wells, and Madison Parks Department Director
Kevin Briski also spoke at the event, which was attended by more than 100
people.

Wisconsin's 100 Wetland Gems were selected from a long list of sites recognized
by an array of conservation planning efforts that identified critical habitats,
threats, and conservation actions to protect the state's natural communities,
species and special places. These include plans by groups including The Nature
Conservancy the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Wisconsin
Bird Conservation Initiative. Sixty-four of the Wetland Gems are in state
ownership (including State Parks, State Forests, and Wildlife Areas).
Seventy-seven of the Wetland Gems are also designated as State Natural Areas.
Other key Wetland Gems landowners include city, town, and county governments,
land trusts, and tribes.

Several of the sites on the Wetland Gems list are important not only at the
statewide level, but also internationally. In a special announcement made as
part of Wetland Gems event, Tex Hawkins, Watershed Biologist for the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, announced that the Upper Mississippi River Wetlands has
just been officially designated a Wetland of International Importance under the
International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. This designation brings to two the
number of Wetlands of International Importance in Wisconsin; Horicon Marsh
received the same designation in 1990. Nationwide, the United States has so far
designated 27 Wetlands of International Importance.

Wisconsin Wetlands Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the
protection, restoration and enjoyment of wetlands and associated ecosystems
through science-based programs, education and advocacy. Established in 1969,
WWA is the only statewide organization focused exclusively on wetland
protection. More than 1400 members include wetland scientists and educators,
conservationists, hunters, concerned citizens, and local and regional
organizations.

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