The first designation of a Wetland of International Importance in Wisconsin in nearly 20 years was announced by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on June 1, 2009. In making the announcement, Secretary Salazar said, "The ecological, social, and economic values of the Upper Mississippi River make it one of the crown jewels of this nation's wetlands. This marks the 27th U.S. wetland designated under the Convention on Wetlands. The U.S. became a party to the convention in 1987, which now includes 150 countries. It’s certainly fitting that this area has now officially received international recognition."
The Upper Mississippi River is the 2nd Wisconsin Wetland designated under the International Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Wisconsin's other Wetland of International Importance, Horicon Marsh, was designated in 1990.
The designation includes just over 300,000 acres of federal and state lands and waters of the Mississippi River floodplain, including more than 130,000 acres in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Parks, Refuges, and Wildlife Areas within the designation include:
The Upper Mississippi River was also recently designated one of Wisconsin's 100 Wetland Gems by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association.
A Wetland of International Significance designation aims to strengthen public awareness of and appreciation for the role wetlands play in sustaining environmental health, economic development, and recreation. The designation does not affect current jurisdiction, authority, or management responsibility of federal, state or local governments that partner on management of the river.
The Upper Mississippi River's wetlands provide habitat for more than 200 nesting pairs of bald eagles, 120 species of fish, and 42 species of mussels, and provide migration habitat for up to 50 percent of the world's population of canvasback ducks.
WOA Nature & Art Center 118 N Main Street, Alma, Wisconsin (608) 685-3303 center@wingsoveralma.orgHours: 10am-5pm Copyright (c) 2007-2012 Wings Over Alma All rights reserved. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are courtesty of Katherine Goodman and all rights are reserved.
