Sessions
Concurrent Session: Wetlands and people
1:30 PM - 2:50 PM Wed
Concurrent Session: Effective wetland conservation partnerships
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Thu
ORAL PRESENTER
PRESENTATION ONE (Wetlands and people session)
CO-AUTHOR: Ben Wojahn, Vernon County Land and Water Conservation
TITLE: Goat guardians: How Vernon Co volunteers use goats to remove invasives in wetlands
ABSTRACT: The Friends of Vernon County Parks and Forest and partners have wrapped up another successful season of shepherding near Viroqua! This project is focused on using a sheep and goat herd to do brush control in wetlands. What started as a kid project for Ben Wojan of the Vernon Water County Land and Water Conservation District to control invasive species and maintain forests has turned into the Goat Guardians, a full community of volunteers and professionals dedicated to using this novel and pesticide free approach to land management. Work is achieved at a very low cost due to a synergistic public/private partnership. Volunteers tend the herd as they move from location to location to make sure they are contained and have enough forage to stay content. The diverse crew served conservation easements, public trails, and new campsites by munching problem plants like wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), non-native thistles, and other riparian and wetland invasive species that can crowd out native vegetation. Program manager Matt Wallrath will talk about the history, details, and impact of the projects.
PRESENTATION TWO (Effective wetland conservation partnerships session)
CO-AUTHOR: Wade Moder, Upper Sugar River Watershed Association
TITLE: Tangible steps forward: Diversity equity, inclusion and justice lessons learned by a watershed group
ABSTRACT: Upper Sugar River Watershed Association (USRWA) has been working on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) issues for years, alongside an increased focus on environmental justice in conservation practice. Staff and board have taken on a number of initiatives to better ally the organization with people of color and those underrepresented in our programing. USRWA has made shifts to board documents, offered free admission to events, and engaged the PEOPLE program of UW-Madison, and we are in the process of completing a science observer backpack program to encourage youth to explore the outdoors. These are all ways to explore rivers and wetland areas with increased preparation to foster comfort in the outdoors and to introduce citizen science projects such as macroinvertebrate diversity and water clarity testing to foster future learning. USRWA is growing and in transition, and programs are part of a focused shift to allow staff to invest in DEIJ issues as a partner in sharing the watershed with all. Program manager Matt Wallrath and Board President Robert Bonahan will discuss the success and challenges of implementing these initiatives, with lessons learned from when the paddles hit the water.
BIO: Matt Wallrath is a conservationist with the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association. A Milwaukee-born and Wisconsin-educated ecologist, he now specializes in invasive species management. Matt is proud to have helped found the Orcas Island Youth Conservation Corps. When he is not at work, you will find Matt teaching modern board games, playing ultimate frisbee, hiking, canoeing, and playing the tuba.