HOG ISLAND WETLAND ENHANCMENT PLAN

Loon's Foot Restoration Area

Goals and Objectives:

To create fish and wildlife habitat by restoring a .59 acre site near Loon's Foot Landing in Superior, Wisconsin. In recent years the emergent zone of the adjacent bays have been invaded by Typha angustifolia, a non-native cat-tail from Eurasia. This has crowded out beneficial emergent vegetation such as bur-reeds, bulrushes and lake sedge.

Project Description: 

During the fall and winter of 2009-10 approximately 550 ft of shore line the invasive cattails have been cut and excess vegetation removed. A 6 ft wide planting strip along this shoreline, jutting out from the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) will be the most effective for wetland enhancement activities.(See attached maps and drawings). The approximate restored area is 3,500 ft². Northern wild rice (Zizania palustris) may be harvested from Allouez or Pokegama Bay and seeded during late summer in the northern portion of the restoration area to evaluate its ability to grow in the seiche effected waters of Loon's Foot Landing. The following species are recommended for planting: 

*The spacing in the above table is an estimation based on observations of general growth habit for each species listed.  

These species will be planted sporadically at the recommended spacing outlined in the chart below. Plant stock will be of local origin and in "deep rooted" cylinders. If necessary they will be anchored down in the sediments (below OHWM) by placing the roots in small mesh bags filled with rocks. Typha angustifolia will be removed or cutback under the water throughout the restoration area above and below the ordinary high water mark at a minimum of three times during the growing season. It is anticipated that natural recovery of native emergent and submergent plants will spread and thrive amongst and between the plantings thereby increasing substantial the total square foot area restored. 

Long-term Management

On- going monitoring of Loon's Foot landing will occur 2-4-6-8 and 10 weeks after the planting. If plants fail, they will be re-planted during the growing season.

Over the next two years (2010-2011) cat-tails will be managed by mechanical removal and disposed of in a landfill and/or cut below the OHWM in late summer/fall. On- going monitoring of Loon's Foot landing will occur 2-4-6-8 and 10 weeks after the planting. If plants fail, they will be re-planted during the growing season.

Loons Foot Restoration Map