JOHNSONBURG — Rolfe Beagle Club, an active bird dog and sportsmen’s group in Johnsonburg, completed another important piece of its wetland improvements for 2025.

“It became necessary for us to slowly draw down our front wetland to repair some beaver damage,” said Ray Erich, vice-president of Rolfe Beagle Club. “At the same time, we had the opportunity to repair an eroding section of our access road that was contributing sediment to the wetland. So, we repaired the road in the last couple of weeks while we continue to slowly draw down the wetland for outlet repair.”

Buddy Decker, an active member of the club, did the repair work to the access road.

JoAnn Schiafone, habitat coordinator for the club, explained, “We seeded our restored access road to clovers, switchgrass and wildflowers, and then mulched all the disturbed areas to protect the seed and reduce erosion until the seeds sprout and start holding the soil. The switch grass roots, in particular, will develop strong holding capacity for the soil on the bank.

“We are hoping that once we complete the slow drawdown to the wetland that we can get in there to repair beaver damage, and develop a goose nesting platform and turtle loafing platforms into our wetlands over the next year,” she said.

The club members anticipate completing all wetland work in the front area by spring of 2026.