Horicon Marsh

Last updated
Horicon National Wildlife Refuge/Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
HoriconMarshBoardwalk.jpg
A boardwalk in the marsh
USA Wisconsin relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Horicon Marsh
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Horicon Marsh (the United States)
Location Dodge, Fond du Lac counties, Wisconsin, United States
Nearest city Waupun, Wisconsin
Coordinates 43°32′59″N88°39′21″W / 43.5497141°N 88.6559380°W / 43.5497141; -88.6559380 [1]
Area21,400 acres (87 km2)
Established1941
Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Website Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge

Designated12 April 1990
Reference no.511 [2]

Horicon Marsh is a marsh located in northern Dodge and southern Fond du Lac counties of Wisconsin. It is the site of both a national and a state wildlife refuge.

Contents

Geological history

Horicon Marsh was created by the Green Bay lobe of the Wisconsin glaciation during the Pleistocene era. The glacier, during its advance, created many drumlins (a glacial landform) in the region, many of which have become the islands of Horicon Marsh. The marsh and surrounding Dodge County have the highest concentration of drumlins in the world.

During the glacier's retreat, a moraine was created, forming a natural dam holding back the waters from the melting glacier and forming Glacial Lake Horicon. The Rock River slowly eroded the moraine, and the lake drained. As the levels of silt, clay and peat accumulated in the former lake's basin, the Horicon Marsh was formed.

The Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area is one of nine units of the Ice Age National Scientific Reserve system, being considered to contain unique, representative evidence of the Ice Age of the Pleistocene era. [3]

Inhabited history

The Horicon Marsh area has been inhabited by humans, including the Paleo-Indians, the Hopewellian people and the Mound Builders, since the ending of the last Ice Age. Dozens of 1200-year-old effigy mounds were built by the Mound Builders in the surrounding low ridges. [4] Arrowheads have been found dating to 12,000 years ago. Later the region was inhabited by the Potawotomi, primarily to the east of the marsh, and the Ho-Chunk to the west. Seven well-traveled Native American foot trails met at the southern end of the marsh at the present location of Horicon.

When Europeans first arrived in the area, they named the marsh "The Great Marsh of the Winnebagos". The first permanent modern settlement along the marsh was the town of Horicon. In 1846, a dam was built to power the town's first sawmill. The dam held the water in the marsh, causing the water level to rise by nine feet. The "marsh" was called Lake Horicon, and was, at the time, called the largest man-made lake in the world.[ citation needed ] In 1869, the dam was torn down by order of the State Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of landowners whose land had been flooded. [5] The area became a marsh once more. In 1883, two sportsmen's clubs reported huge flocks of geese in the marsh, and stated that 500,000 ducks hatched annually, and 30,000 muskrats and mink were trapped in the southern half of the marsh. [6] Both birds and hunters flocked to the area, and the local duck population was devastated. From 1910 to 1914, an attempt was made to drain the marsh and convert it into farmland; these attempts failed, and afterwards the land was widely considered to be useless. [7] In November 1933, an accidentally caused wildfire would destroy much of Horicon Marsh; necessitating a restoration project. [8] It was re-opened to the public in April 1935. [9]

Horicon National Wildlife Refuge

In 1927, the Wisconsin State Legislature, after pressure from conservationists beginning in 1921, passed the Horicon Marsh Wildlife Refuge Bill, providing for the construction of a dam to raise the water to normal levels and for the acquisition of the land by the government. During the 1940s, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service bought the northern portions of the marsh. [10] Today the northern two-thirds, approximately 21,400 acres (87 km2), forms the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Presently, the marsh is 32,000 acres (130 km2) in area, most of it open water and cattail marsh. The southern third, approximately 11,000 acres (45 km2), is owned by the state of Wisconsin and forms the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area, which was established as a nesting area for waterfowl and resting area for migratory birds. It is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Millions of waterfowl, including over 200,000 Canada geese, migrate through the marsh. [4]

The refuges are habitats for many species of birds, especially ducks, pelicans, great blue herons, and Canada geese (which have become increasingly common since the 1980s), as well as fish, frogs, snakes, turtles, muskrats, insects and plants.

Horicon Marsh was designated a Ramsar site on December 4, 1990. [11]

Miscellaneous

In 1976, the brass band of Walden III Middle and High School in Racine, Wisconsin was named the Horicon Horns Band after school co-founder and co-Director Jackson Parker compared the new band's sound to the honking of geese at Horicon Marsh. The band would improve greatly over the years, and went on to become a staple of musical entertainment in Racine, even performing at the state capital for Kimberly Plache and at Disneyworld.

Horicon Marsh in the Spring.jpg
Horicon Marsh in the Spring

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock River (Mississippi River tributary)</span> Tributary of the Mississippi River in the US

The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 299 miles (481 km) long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Illinois. The river was known as the Sinnissippi to Sauk and Meskwaki peoples; the name means "rocky waters".

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, encompassing part of the Montezuma Swamp at the north end of Cayuga Lake. The 10,004-acre preserve is composed of swamps, pools and channels and is a stopping point for migratory birds. It is the largest contiguous wetland complex in the northeastern United States and comprises a portion of the larger Montezuma Wetlands Complex, which is a partnership between the USFWS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, as well as several other non-profit support organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quivira National Wildlife Refuge</span> Wildlife refuge in Kansas, United States

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in south central Kansas, United States, includes rare inland marshes. Located near the town of Stafford, it lies mostly in northeastern Stafford County, but small parts extend into southwestern Rice and northwestern Reno Counties. Its proximity to the Central Flyway migration route and the salt marshes on the refuge combine to endow the refuge with a large variety of birds. Many of these birds are uncommon in other parts of Kansas or even the central part of the continent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peace–Athabasca Delta</span> River delta in Northeast Alberta

The Peace–Athabasca Delta, located in northeast Alberta, is the largest freshwater inland river delta in North America. It is located partially within the southeast corner of Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada's largest national park, and also spreads into the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, west and south of the historical community of Fort Chipewyan. The delta encompasses approximately 321,200 ha, formed where the Peace and Athabasca rivers converge on the Slave River and Lake Athabasca. The delta region is designated a wetland of international importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The region is large enough that it is considered one of twenty distinct natural subregions of Alberta by the provincial government's Natural Regions Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driftless Area</span> Geological region in the Midwestern US

The Driftless Area, also known as Bluff Country and the Paleozoic Plateau, is a topographical and cultural region in the Midwestern United States that comprises southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the extreme northwestern corner of Illinois. The Driftless Area is a USDA Level III Ecoregion: Ecoregion 52. The Driftless Area takes up a large portion of the Upper Midwest forest–savanna transition. The Blufflands refers to the eastern section of the Driftless area in Minnesota, due to the steep bluffs and cliffs around the river valleys. The western half is known as the Rochester Plateau, which is flatter than the Blufflands. The Coulee Region refers to the southwestern part of the Driftless Area in Wisconsin. It is named for its numerous ravines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge</span> National wildlife refuge in Minnesota, United States

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is a 240,000-acre (970 km2), 261-mile long (420 km) National Wildlife Refuge located in and along the Upper Mississippi River. It runs from Wabasha, Minnesota in the north to Rock Island, Illinois in the south.

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of South Dakota and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Created in 1935, it is a wetland of international importance and a Globally Important Bird Area. Over 260 bird species are found in the refuge, including many migratory bird species and the world's largest breeding colony of Franklin's gulls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge</span>

Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge is located in the fertile Willamette Valley of northwestern Oregon, 12 miles (19 km) south of Salem. The valley was once a rich mix of wildlife habitats. Valley wetlands were once extensive, with meandering stream channels and vast seasonal marshes. Today, the valley is a mix of farmland and growing cities, with few areas remaining for wildlife.

The Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge is an American wildlife refuge. It is located in the Cache River watershed in southernmost Illinois, largely in Pulaski County, but with extensions into Union, Alexander, and Johnson counties. The refuge was established in 1990 under the authority of the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986. The refuge protects over 16,000 acres (65 km2) of the Cache River wetlands, and has a purchase boundary of 36,000 acres (146 km²) contiguous.

The Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge is a 11,122-acre (45.01 km2) wetland wildlife refuge located in Waterford Township in Fulton County, Illinois across the Illinois River from the town of Havana. Only 3,000 acres (12 km2) are currently managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish Refuges Complex. It is in the Central forest-grasslands transition ecoregion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheyenne Bottoms</span>

Cheyenne Bottoms is a wetland in the central Great Plains of North America. Occupying approximately 41,000 acres in central Kansas, it is the largest wetland in the interior United States. The Bottoms is a critical stopping point on the Central Flyway for millions of birds which migrate through the region annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crex Meadows</span> State Wildlife Area in Burnett County, Wisconsin

The Crex Meadows Wildlife Area consists of marshes, wetlands, brush prairies, and forests. Crex Meadows is located near the village of Grantsburg, Wisconsin, in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Its 30,000 acres (120 km2) are home to 270 species of birds and 600 species of plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge</span> National wildlife refuge

Located in Coos County, New Hampshire and Oxford County, Maine, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge is a northern treasure in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The diversity of exceptional habitats provides excellent breeding and foraging areas for migratory birds, endangered species, resident wildlife, and rare plants. The refuge protects over 25,650 acres (103.8 km2) of wetland and forested upland habitat along Umbagog Lake. About 70% of its area is in New Hampshire and 30% in Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge</span> Protected area in Oregon and Washington, US

The Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge is located on and around the Columbia River about 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Hermiston, Oregon and includes 8,907 acres (3,605 ha) in Oregon, and 14,876 acres (6,020 ha) in Washington. It was established in 1969 to help mitigate habitat lose due to the flooding that occurred following the construction of the John Day Dam. The refuge is popular with birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox River National Wildlife Refuge</span>

Fox River National Wildlife Refuge, managed by staff at Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, encompasses 1,054 acres (4.27 km2) of wetland and upland habitat along the Fox River in the Town of Buffalo, in Marquette County, Wisconsin.

Slade National Wildlife Refuge is a 3,000-acre (12 km2) National Wildlife Refuge in Kidder County, North Dakota. It was established in 1941 when the property was donated by G.T. Slade, a Northern Pacific Railroad executive. It is managed under the Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge. It contains Harker Lake and Upper Harker Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Lake Wildlife Area</span> Wildlife refuge in Oregon

The Summer Lake Wildlife Area is a 29.6-square-mile (77 km2) wildlife refuge located on the northwestern edge of the Great Basin drainage in south-central Oregon. It is administered by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. The refuge is an important stop for waterfowl traveling along the Pacific Flyway during their spring and fall migrations. The Summer Lake Wildlife Area also provides habitat for shorebirds and other bird species as well as wide variety of mammals and several fish species. The Ana River supplies the water for the refuge wetlands.

Calamus Creek is a minor tributary of the Beaver Dam River, about 23.7 miles (38.1 km) long, in southeastern Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Beaver Dam, Crawfish, and Rock rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River. Its watershed lies almost entirely within Dodge County with a small portion in neighboring Columbia County.

The Paradise Marsh Wildlife Area is a 1,588 acres (643 ha) tract of protected land located in Columbia County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). Land to be used for the Wildlife Area was first acquired in 1962 with the hopes of improving the habitat conditions for various waterfowl. In addition to conservation of wildlife, plans for further draining the marsh were laid out, with the marsh previously being drained as early as the early 1900's.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service .

  1. ↑ "Horicon Marsh". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved Jan 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Horicon Marsh". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Geology of Horicon Marsh". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 26, 2018.,
  4. 1 2 Will, Tracy (1997). Wisconsin . Oakland, California: Compass American Guides. p.  83. ISBN   1-878867-49-0.
  5. ↑ "Enjoy Horicon Marsh". EnjoyHoriconMarsh.com.
  6. ↑ Thomas E. Dahl; Gregory J. Allord (1996). History of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States (Report). United States Geological Survey Water Supply Paper, 2425. United States Geological Survey. ISBN   978-0-607-85696-5 . Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Human history of Horicon: From wetland to wasteland and back". Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Horicon Marsh Fire Still Raging". Racine Journal-Times. November 23, 1933. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Horicon Marsh to be Dedicated at Elaborate Program Saturday". Racine Journal-Times. April 19, 1935. p. 1.
  10. ↑ About the Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Accessed April 26, 2018.
  11. ↑ "The Annotated Ramsar List: United States of America" Archived 2013-09-04 at the Wayback Machine , "The Ramsar Convention of Wetlands", January 14, 2011, accessed February 22, 2011
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.