By Blake Bartels, Wetland and Upland Technician – bbartels@wisducks.org
This article appeared in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s December 2025 Newsletter edition.
Peter Helland Project Update
The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, in partnership with the Wisconsin DNR, restored approximately 125 acres of wetland this past winter within the Peter Helland State Wildlife Area. The project included a 1,000-foot ditch fill, four ditch plugs, installation of a water control structure, and construction of half a dozen shallow eyebrow berms and associated scrapes. These improvements to the landscape will help restore the natural hydrology and vegetation within the wildlife area, creating better habitat for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife.
The wetlands are responding well to the work so far, but with limited precipitation in the second half of this year, we have yet to see the full effects. The scrapes are holding some water, and although the eyebrow berms are currently dry, the noticeable improvement in vegetation surrounding them indicates that soil hydrology is changing. With more rainfall, these low berms will capture surface flow and create small pockets of water. The ditch plugs and water control structure have spread water laterally across the restoration area, and we’re seeing more open-water habitat and a healthier plant community. For duck hunters, this restoration provides essential nesting and brood rearing habitat to increase local bird numbers, as well as creating some open water habitat to hunt over.
