UPDATE AS OF 10/02/2025:

There is good news on the front: the pressure of our collective e-mails made the village of Whitefish Bay rethink their decision, currently saying they are going to leave the wetland habitat. However, the campaign was not a complete win with reports of a pipe installation in the works that will prevent standing water for longer than a few days and will surely eliminate any habitat for frogs and other species that require consistent water availability. While the latter is a loss, we are still counting the campaign as an overall success as the habitat itself will not be turned into biologically dead and inept lawn grass but rather be left standing to continue to support the now over 100 species documented in and immediately around the wetland, help filter pollutants before they reach Lake Michigan, and much more.

In fact, our collective voice seems to have pressured the village to the point where the village president is backtracking completely and claiming they were never going to demolish the habitat to begin with. As much is not true and can be easily disproved between various village meeting notes, correspondences, and more. While the falsities are a disappointment, we hope leadership will keep their word and keep the wetland otherwise intact as it stands if not work to enhance it. Should they backtrack and pose a threat to the habitat again, we will let you all know.

I, Charlotte, now want to take a moment to give you all my sincerest thanks for taking part in the effort. I also want to thank Emily Grandy, Jessica O., Therese G., Kay E., and Laura H. for all the help through this process. Also, thank you to Kelsey Bell of Bird City Wisconsin/LMBO for the assistance and for crafting the letter of support for my small but vital local wetland, and also thank you to Kyle Magyera of the Wisconsin Wetlands Institute for the essential assistance throughout the process, especially early on.

Thank you for being a part of my grassroots effort to save a little slice of nature in my neighborhood, whether you live locally or are far flung. Our collective voices, all 387 of you that took the time to send an e-mail, made a difference, and I hope you continue to stand up for what you believe in.

Sincerely,
- Charlotte Catalano

ORIGINAL:

The Village of Whitefish Bay, WI, intends to destroy the biologically rich Cahill Park cattail marsh by turning it into an ecological desert of lawn grass, which will cost $61,000 in tax-payer dollars to decimate an increasingly-rare ecological gem and lifeline for countless species.

The official report from the contractor, Aqualis, lists the reasons for the removal of the wetland as follows: “The Village of Whitefish Bay hopes to eliminate the standing water and nuisance vegetation within the swale to promote a more functional and aesthetically appealing public space.” However, countless residents and individuals find great appeal in a marshland and prefer it to more unnecessary lawn. In fact, the majority of residents would say they find wildlife to be appealing–wildlife viewing and birdwatching in particular have become increasingly popular pastimes nationwide, activities that have been proven to strengthen local economies.

While maintaining open public green space is important, the wetland occupies less than 2% of total land area in a park that is otherwise highly manicured and designed to accommodate a variety of recreational activities. The wetland represents another: an opportunity for people to engage with nature. Watching and listening to birds, insects, and other animals that inhabit the wetland is not only a relaxing and engaging pastime for people of all ages and ability levels, it also offers exceptionally rich habitat for wildlife in an otherwise highly developed suburban area.

The State of Wisconsin takes a strong position on wetland protection, prioritizing their preservation, restoration, and management. Wisconsin's approach goes beyond federal regulations, ensuring protection for "isolated" wetlands not covered by the Clean Water Act. We should join the DNR in their commitment to protecting isolated wetlands like the one at Cahill, the only marshland available for miles. Additionally, Bird City Wisconsin and representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are both going to provide written letters of support for the preservation of the Cahill wetland.

According to The Wisconsin Wetlands Association, 75% of all Wisconsin wildlife depends on wetlands. At Cahill, over 80 species of plants and animals have been documented using the marsh. Wetland-dependent birds, including Least Bittern, Virginia Rail, and Sora, and natural pest control species like dragonflies that lay their eggs in wetlands, have also been recorded at Cahill, but these and many others continue to face habitat loss and species decline due to urban sprawl.

The Midwest has lost over 50% of its historical wetlands and the Cahill wetland is an opportunity to restore a tiny fraction of what was lost. According to historical photographs, water used to flow through the Cahill area. As it has been replaced by development, concrete, and lawn, flooding events become more frequent and water runoff becomes increasingly toxic.

Wetlands have been scientifically proven to decontaminate water, helping to keep our lakes and streams clean. As Whitefish Bay lies along one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, we have a unique opportunity to protect our waters by allowing marsh plants to do what they do best: filter out pollutants that would otherwise enter Lake Michigan.

The wetland occupies only 0.18 acres of the nearly 9 acre park, a fraction of total land surface area, but one that supports a thriving ecosystem. Destroying this functioning ecosystem will not only eliminate an important and increasingly rare habitat, it will narrow the recreational activities people can enjoy at Cahill. Instead of spending $61,000 to demolish it, a fraction of that cost could be used to add attractive signage, benches for visitors, or even a small path to highlight the beauty of this natural wonder.

Scientists warn we must conserve our remaining natural areas to preserve our fragile web of life. Other cities and countries are taking it a step further, revitalizing native landscapes that were lost. Affluent communities like Whitefish Bay have a responsibility to lead by example. I urge the city to amplify the message of conservation by maintaining the Cahill marsh while also protecting this wetland for recreational nature viewing.

For additional information see:

https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2025/07/17/whitefish-bay-mcgovern-park-wetlands-marsh/84643023007/

https://awealthofnature.org/cahill-square-park-finding-whats-hidden-in-plain-sight/

You can check out the park and wetland for yourself at: 1001 E Fairmount Ave, Whitefish Bay, WI, 53217.