|  08/28/2017

Build A Wildlife Area Profile: Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area


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714-acre Land Acquisition Adds Access and Acres to Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area

 

714-acre project in Rock County is the second largest land acquisition project completed by Pheasants Forever in Wisconsin. Officially dedicated as the H&L Farms Wildlife Management Area, the project was made possible, in part, by a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Knowles Nelson Stewardship grant, a North American Wetland Conservation Act grant, Pheasants Forever’s Build a Wildlife Area fund, and many other partners and donors. The area will be managed by the Wisconsin DNR and open to public hunting and outdoor recreation.

“This acquisition was a challenging undertaking, but it shows that partners working together can accomplish great feats," stated Doug Fendry from Pheasants Forever. “Acquisition projects, such as the H&L Farms addition to Avon Bottoms, provide exceptional public wildlife habitat for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy for many years to come.”

The H&L Farms addition builds upon the Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area —a designated Important Bird Area of Wisconsin and part of the Wisconsin DNR’s Wildlife Action Plan. The H&L Farms project adds 714-acres to the Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area creating a contiguous 3,549-acre complex of permanently conserved upland and wetland habitat benefiting a variety of wildlife. In addition to adding acreage to the Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area, the acquired land has significant road frontage that will provide access to areas of Avon Bottoms that were not readily accessible prior.

The H&L Farms property, located in the sandy floodplain of the Sugar River, features sprawling acres of restored grasslands and wetlands that provide critical habitat for a variety of wildlife including pheasants, quail, cranes, ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds. In total more than 30 partners collaborated on the project. Additional partners include the Rock River Valley Pheasants Forever, Walworth Pheasants Forever, Fox River Valley Pheasants Forever, Southwest Pheasants Forever and Southeast Pheasants Forever chapters, the J.A. Woollam Foundation, Green-Rock Audubon Society, Fort Atkinson Wisconservation Club, Green County Conservation League, National Wild Turkey Foundation and many more.

“I am very proud to be part of such a large undertaking,” stated Jim Cole, the president of the Rock River Valley Pheasants Forever chapter, the group who spearheaded the project. “It is a great accomplishment for so many donors and organizations to work together and protect a very important outdoor resource for future generations. The level of collaboration by all parties involved was truly remarkable.”


AVON BOTTOMS WILDLIFE AREA OVERVIEW

Initial Size

714 acres - 3,549 contiguous complex


Location

The H&L Farms Wildlife Management Area is located directly southwest of Avon, Wis.


Land Use and Habitat

sprawling acres of restored grasslands and wetlands that provide critical habitat for a variety of wildlife including pheasants, quail, cranes, ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds.