Owen's Wetland Restoration

Located at the corner of U.S. Highway 69 and County Road 17, the project included disabling and plugging drain tile and installing a water level management structure to hold water in the Pickerel Lake sub-watershed and reduce the rapid water level rise on Pickerel Lake. This project also included the planting of native prairie species to create upland habitat on the site to complement the wetland restorations. Funding for this project was the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

Wetland restorations are often planted with diverse native vegetation that supports pollinators throughout the growing season.

Benefits of native prairie plantings include:

• Nectar sources for native bees and butterflies
• Host plants for monarch butterflies
• Nesting habitat for native solitary bees
• Increased insect diversity that supports birds and other wildlife

Restored wetlands increase habitat diversity by creating a mosaic of:

• Open water
• Emergent vegetation
• Wet meadows
• Native prairie uplands
• Shrub wetlands