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Land Resources of the Sugar-Pecatonica BasinThe Sugar-Pecatonica basin lies in the "driftless" region of the state, an area not covered by the last glacier. Soils in the driftless region are generally moderately to excessively well-drained mineral soils that have a high mineral content and low organic matter content. Farming occurs on the ridge tops or in the stream valleys with the region's steep hillsides often left wooded. Wetlands usually only occur along stream and river margins. While there are some larger wetland complexes along the Pecatonica and Sugar rivers, the percentage of wetland to upland areas in the basin is significantly less than for basins outside the driftless region. The Sugar-Pecatonica Basin has some of the most productive farmland in Wisconsin. Most of the agricultural activities in the Sugar-Pecatonica Rivers Basin are dairying, cash cropping, and livestock feeder operations. The occurrence of wetlands in the Sugar-Pecatonica Rivers Basin varies as one goes from west to east in the basin. Wetlands only comprise approximately 29,000 acres, representing about 2.5% of the total land cover of the basin. The wetlands play an important role in the ecology of the basin, as they provide vital habitat for terrestrial and aquatic animals, including some on the state's threatened and endangered species list, such as Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans blanchardi). They also provide water storage to recharge groundwater, and to prevent flooding and protect shorelines.
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