Importance of wetlands is topic of June meeting program

By | May 30, 2018

 

The importance of isolated wetlands will be the topic of the Friends of the Black River’s June meeting program. The meeting will be held Wednesday, June 13, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. in the Jackson County Bank’s community room.

Tracy Hames, executive director of Wisconsin Wetlands Association, will present the program about the history of the state’s wetlands and the ways the wetlands benefit people as well as wildlife.

Isolated wetlands are natural habitats that seem to have no connection to other surface waters such as streams, rivers or lakes. Of the remaining 5 million acres, more than 20 percent are identified as isolated.

 Hames’ presentation will discuss how isolated wetlands are determined and address the types of wetlands in Wisconsin, where they’re located, why they’re important and how concerned residents can help protect and care for these valuable resource.

Wetlands provide wildlife habitat, flood protection and water filtration. Hames presentation will discuss the how recent state sponsored legislation concerning wetlands will impact the environment.

Hames has a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental studies from Macalester College and a master’s degree in natural resources from the UW– Stevens Point.

In 2012, Hames accepted the executive director position with WWA.  In this position, he works throughout the state to help communities understand how wetlands can be solutions to the habitat, water quality, flooding and other issues they face. 

The FBR meeting is free and the public is encouraged to attend. For more information, email info_fbr@yahoo.com.

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