UW-Green Bay, community partners prepare for fall wild rice seeding (Nov. 4-8)

Green Bay, Wis. — Monday, Nov. 4 through Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 marks the return of the fall wild rice seeding. Media is invited.

Coordinator Amy Carrozzino-Lyon, explains the process in a previous video.

A team of conservation professionals and volunteers from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, UW-Madison Division of Extension and others, will brave the weather to seed more than 2000 pounds of wild rice at coastal wetlands in the bay of Green Bay during the week of Nov. 4.

This year marks the third year of seeding effort as part of the restoration project, informed by UW-Green Bay aquatic vegetation research in lower Green Bay.

Wild rice benefits waterfowl as an important food source during fall migration and contributes to fish nursery habitat and ecological diversity in coastal wetlands. Wild rice also holds important traditional, economic and cultural value in the region for Wisconsin’s First Nation tribes. Historical records suggest the wetland grass occurred in the waters in the bay of Green Bay. However, rice has been uncommon in coastal wetlands in recent decades. UW-Green Bay graduate student research helps conservation partners learn more about wild rice seeding success and environmental conditions impacting aquatic vegetation. Rice re-establishment is one of a series of restoration projects in lower Green Bay and along the Green Bay west shore to enhance coastal wetland habitats for fish and wildlife and improve the health of the bay.

Participants will hand seed the rice at five sites in lower Green Bay and along the Green Bay west shore on the following dates:

Monday 11-4, Seagull Bar State Natural Area and Peshtigo River Wildlife Area (Marinette Co)
Tuesday 11-5, Lower Green Bay: Duck Creek and Peters Marsh
Wednesday 11-6, Suamico: Dead Horse Bay and Sensiba Wildlife Area
Thursday 11-7, Oconto Marsh (Oconto Co)
Friday 11-8, Weather make up day

Media members may join on the boats or view seeding from an observation point on land at select sites. To reserve a space or get more information about the project, contact Green Bay Restoration Project Coordinator Amy Carrozzino-Lyon by email at carrozza@uwgb.edu or 920-465-5029.

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