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Changes for Birds, Fish Flowing Through Marsh

Posted on: Sunday, 26 August 2007, 14:05 CDT

By DARRYL ENRIQUEZ

Recent rains have helped fill the Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area, making it ready for the early waterfowl season, but state officials are holding off on stocking its impoundment with predatory game fish to prevent the possible spread of a deadly fish virus.

In May, the state Department of Natural Resources opened the water control structure that creates the compound between Highway 83 and the Frog Alley Flowage earthen dike, just north of Mukwonago.

Draining the area killed hundreds of large carp and dogfish.

Many of the game fish escaped into an outlet stream that empties into the Fox River, while the rough fish swam into the shallows of the draining compound, state wildlife biologist Brian Glenzinski said.

Over the summer, Glenzinski and his crew worked to resurrect a large part of the 4,596 acres of marsh, flowages and lowland forests that had become overgrown with cattails.

In mid-August, before the recent rains, the DNR applied a fast- acting poison to areas that continued to hold water, killing another 500 carp, wildlife program manager Tami Ryan said.

A carp barrier was installed at the water control inflow to prevent the return of rough fish.

On the mud flats, an excellent habitat for shorebirds and wading birds, such as yellowlegs, sandpipers and the great egret, new vegetation grew that when submerged will be an excellent food source for water fowl, such as ducks and geese, Glenzinski said.

About 60 acres of cattails were sprayed with a herbicide to increase open water for waterfowl nesting and brooding sites, Glenzinski said. Cattails along the dike were mowed.

About 7 inches of rainwater has accumulated since early last week in the marsh, which is also fed by a tributary to the east and replenished with springs, Glenzinski said.

The DNR wants to restock the impoundment with northern pike but will hold off, possibly until the spring.

The concern is that northern would have to be captured from other lakes and transported to the impoundment, Ryan said.

Fish virus concern

With the emergence of a fish virus called viral hemorrhagic septicemia in other areas of the state, wildlife biologists are concerned about spreading the disease, which causes fish to bleed to death, by moving them from one body of water to another, she said.

"That's not going to happen because of VHS, not this fall," Glenzinski said of restocking the marsh. "Maybe it will happen in the spring. We're still waiting to see how VHS could affect restocking."

The state is monitoring "high-risk" waters used by anglers and pleasure boaters where the virus might be present.

Those waters include Oconomowoc, Okauchee and Pewaukee lakes and Lac La Belle in Waukesha County, Big Cedar Lake in Washington County and Delavan and Geneva lakes in Walworth County.

Any of those lakes could be tapped for transplant northerns to the Vernon Marsh.

The virus is responsible for major fish kills in the eastern Great Lakes.

In Wisconsin, the virus has been found in Little Lake Butte des Morts in the central part of the state.

Tests might also show the virus has killed fish in connecting Lake Winnebago.

Anglers and pleasure boaters are being asked to drain boats, bait buckets and other equipment before leaving boat landings or fishing areas. Also, anglers should not move live fish or use minnows purchased outside Wisconsin.

As for hunting, Vernon Marsh will be ready for the early goose season that runs from Sept. 1 to 15, Glenzinski said.

"Hunters will find that the marsh is a little different and they'll have to navigate around, but it'll be worth their while," he said.

Copyright 2007, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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