Location: Marinette County

Area Protected: 24 Acres

Protection Strategy: Conservation Easement

In late March of 2011 Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust was contacted to find out if we had any interest in helping preserve a property at the confluence of the Little Peshtigo River and the Peshtigo River. We responded with a resounding, “Yes!” Things progressed quickly after that. Land Trust staff toured the property as soon as the winter’s heavy blanket of snow had melted. “When we arrived both rivers were at flood stage, the entire floodplain that exists on the property was underwater. It was evident this wetland forest was very high quality. There were many large silver maples and a few large white cedars. On the slightly higher ground, we could see many ephemeral streams leading to the rivers and balsam firs regenerating nicely,” stated Jim Klinkert, Director of Land Acquisition. A follow up visit after water levels dropped revealed a rich diversity of plants in the understory.

The caretakers of this special property expressed their long held view and desire to preserve this land in its natural, undeveloped condition, “We can’t pave the whole earth. Without wild land there can be no life. We don’t own the land. We are only caretakers. This conservation easement with Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust will enable us to preserve and protect this special part of the earth now and into the future.”

The Peshtigo River is a Wisconsin Land Legacy Place and one of America’s great rivers. Both the Peshtigo and Little Peshtigo rivers provide habitat and recreational fishing opportunities for northern pike, walleye, and bass. The intact floodplain forest and wetlands provide exceptional habitat for the large array of wetland and river-dependent wildlife including mink, otter, snowshoe hare, flying squirrel, bear, porcupine, wolf, red-headed and pileated woodpeckers, wood duck, sandhill crane, horned owl, and bald eagle. Protecting this property contributes to the conservation of the intact and natural landscapes that currently characterize the Little Peshtigo and Peshtigo Rivers corridor in this area, and ultimately the health of Green Bay.

Notable species include:

• northern pike
• walleye
• bass
• mink
• otter
• snowshoe hare
• flying squirrel
• bear
• porcupine
• wolf
• red-headed and pileated woodpeckers
• wood duck
• sandhill crane
• horned owl
• bald eagle