■1845 - A dam was built across the Rock River at the outlet of the marsh to
power the first sawmill
■1870-1900 - Increased waterfowl habitat led to the establishment of two
forms of unregulated hunting:
*Market: harvested as many ducks as possible to sell
commercially
*Private: developed the first forms of wildlife conservation
(25 duck/day bag limit)
■1910 - The marsh was ditched and drained for agricultural use
■1920 - Exposed peat soils dried and caught fire across the marsh
■1927 - Remediation process began when Wisconsin passed the Horicon
Marsh Wildlife Refuge Bill
■1941 - Federal government designated the marsh as a National
Wildlife Refuge
■1991 - The marsh was recognized by the Ramsar Convention under the
UN as a Wetland of International
Importance
