Baraboo River Waterfowl Production Area

A collaborative effort between state and federal agencies and several conservation organizations resulted in the restoration of approximately 1.000 acres along the Lower Baraboo River close to its confluence with the Wisconsin River.  The Baraboo River Waterfowl Production Area is a floodplain area bounded to the west and south by Cascade Mountain Road (parallel to I-90/94) and to the east by I-39.  Although the property is primarily set aside as a waterfowl production area and there are no trails, it is a good spot to view waterfowl and other wetland bird species.  Access to the property is from Cascade Mountain Road.  There is a parking lot at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Leopold Wetland Management District Headquarters.  Embedded within the WPA is the 22-acre Baraboo River Floodplain Forest State Natural Area, a high quality representation of riparian forest.  There is no easy access to this natural area, but it can be viewed from I-39 on the east side of the WPA where the highway crosses the Baraboo River.