Scotch Creek Restoration Project

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The Village of Edgar is embarking on a 2–3 year wetland restoration in the heart of Edgar WI. The project involves the restoration of Scotch Creek, its watershed, wetlands and its main tributaries.

These sites are in critical need of restoration and enhancement to improve their ecological health and wildlife habitat value. The watershed & wetland ecosystems have suffered from stream impairments, including decades long phosphorus levels exceeding EPA safe levels, physical impairments that have further decreased stream aquatic and invertebrate life, invasive plants, sediment accumulation, and degraded wetland habitat conditions. All these impairments have reduced the stream and wetlands' ability to support diverse wildlife / pollinators, native plant communities, and seasonal flooding for the village community.

 

First, this project will result in a comprehensive management plan for 7.57 Miles, Scotch Creek and Omar Creek. Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc, a water resource-based engineering and environmental consulting firm has been hired to summarize existing baseline data, describe historical management actions, identify stakeholder values and goals, model nutrient loads, determine watershed management, identify storm water contributions, and identify sources of stressors and threats to ultimately recommend activities that will protect and restore Scotch Creek and Omar Creek.

 

Second, this project is to significantly enhance 9 acres of palustrine emergent wetland areas in Edgar, Wisconsin to provide critical habitat for bird species. These sites are currently degraded by invasive plants and sediment that impair native plants and water quality. The goal of this project is to improve wildlife habitat by reducing invasive plant competition and promoting a diverse array of native plants. This will significantly enhance the ecological health of these wetland and upland areas, providing improved food and habitat for birds.

 

The program is to be accomplished via a two-phase strategy:

1)      Phase 1: Started in Q1/2024, a collaborative, public-private restoration/enhancement plan began for 9 acres of formally delineated wetland/upland within the Village of Edgar adjacent to Scotch Creek Park. This 2024 effort unveiled the broader issues at hand, helped foster public engagement, gathered key stakeholders/partners, whom all helped to define the program was described within the grant applications, and the recommended steps for a best possible outcome. These activities were privately funded, including the planning, conservation easement, and now collaboratively received corporate donations. 

1. A 2025 NAWCA small grant request was submitted Q4/2024 to aid in accomplishing that specific scope of work; however, it was communicated in Feb 2025 the grant was not awarded within the highly competitive funding round.
2. A DNR Surface Water Grant – (Comprehensive Planning for Lakes & Watersheds category) was also submitted in Q4/2024, however, it was also communicated in Feb 2025 the grant was not awarded within that highly competitive funding round.

 

2)      Phase 1a: Started in Q4/2024, activity began to create a Comprehensive Management Plan for Scotch Creek and its primary tributary, Omar Creek; through an assessment of the stream impairments by qualified professionals (Civil Engineers, Environmental Engineers, Biologists), WI Department of Natural Resources, US Corp of Engineering, vendors, partner collaborators, the Village of Edgar and its local citizens. This plan will define clearly what the impairments are within the stream and watershed broadly and offer an implementation plan for resolution in Q3/2025, and subsequent project plan to take corrective actions in Q4/2025-2026. This multi-year Comprehensive Management Plan will also be the foundation for maintaining the gains accomplished during the project execution phases and be in full alignment with the Marathon County Comprehensive Management.  

 

3)      Phase 1b – Q1/2025 The Invasive Management Planning (IPM) activities began with the removal of fill dirt, invasive flora species and a prescribed burn within the local 9 acres of wetland.

 

4)      Q2 /2025 Further IPM activities will complete, and flora acquisition, delivery and planting will occur. 

 

5)      Phase 2- Q3/2025 From the completion and acceptance by the DNR of the aforementioned Comprehensive Management Plan. Necessary permitting identified in the Comprehensive Management Plan, will begin to be requested for in parallel in 2025.

 

 

6)      Phase 2a - Q3/2025 Another funding request to the DNR for Surface Water Grant - Management Plan Implementation of those approved and funded activities will then take place directly for Scotch Creek and Omar Creek starting in Q1/2026.  Additionally, an opportunity to begin construction of the engineer-stamped design / boardwalk is estimated to begin in Fall 2025 by volunteers and contractors. Layout and funding requests will begin in Spring 2025.

 

The following are folks who are collaborating with us to make this happen:

WI Marathon County (Comprehensive planning collaboration)
WI Department of Natural Resources (Comprehensive planning collaboration, biologists, permitting, funding)
Joint Venture: UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER-GREATLAKES (conservation collaboration)
Non-Profit: GOLDEN SANDS RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEV COUNCIL INC. (stream invertebrate survey, education)
Non-Profit: Aldo Leopold Audubon Society (migratory bird survey, (spring & fall migration, breeding), education)
Non-Profit: Central Wisconsin Conservation Club (stream and management planning)

 

The Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture (UMGL JV) is involved in this project and has provided
insight around the project’s wildlife benefits. This project will further
the implementation of UMGL JV’s plan to conserve habitat for wetland-associated waterbird, waterfowl,
shorebird, and landbird species to meet their breeding, migration, and wintering needs (UMRGLR JV.,
2007). It will also advance the 2020 Wisconsin Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Strategy, which seeks to
retain and restore wetland waterfowl habitat and designates the project area as a high-priority conservation zone (Straub et al., 2019)

 

1. Gold Sponsors

• Funding: $25,000 +

• In-Kind Donations: Significant supplies, professional services

• Benefits: Logo on project materials, social media mentions

1. Silver Sponsors

• Funding: $5,000 - $24,999

• In-Kind Donations: Moderate supplies, volunteer hours

• Benefits: Logo on website, project signage, social media mentions

1. Bronze Sponsors

• Funding: $1,000 - $4,999

• In-Kind Donations: Basic supplies, small services, volunteer hours

• Benefits: Mention in newsletters, event programs, project recognition

1. Community Sponsors

• Funding: $100 - $4,999

• In-Kind Donations: Minor supplies, local services, volunteer hours

• Benefits: Name listed on website, thank-you notes, project recognition

 

CURRENT SPONSORS:

(SILVER) Pfizer Foundation

(SILVER) Wisconsin Public Service Foundation

(COMMUNITY) State Farm Insurance, Fleet Farm