Gene Matzat retired as our Extension Coordinator last year and returned to the Awards Dinner as our Main Speaker to update us on his work since retirement. Besides farming his land for hay, he has been coordinating the Matzat Wetlands Project. He and his wife purchased their original 80 acre farm many years ago, and added on an adjoining farm recently. Much of the land was Classified Forest and much Wildlife Habitat. 

There was a small meandering stream and some small ponds on the properties, and lots of the invasive plants that occur everywhere. For the past years, Gene and his wife have worked to eliminate many of those, but some needed more concentrated work. 

With state and county expert help, they launched the project to eliminate much of the wet land without good drainage, remove the invasive plants that were stopping the more productive native plants from growing, and increase habitat for migrating and native wildlife. They filled in and created a more efficient drainage ditch and created better ponds to sustain healthy wildlife. This also will prevent pollution and silt from washing downstream. This control helps not only the environment on their own land, but benefits downstream lands as well. Results quickly showed up as sandhill cranes and others appeared soon to make their home in the new place.

Once that huge project was finished, they build a 4’ by 4’ nesting box and applied to local county agencies for help to erect a 50’ tall pole to put the nesting box high in the air near the ponds in hopes of attracting osprey.

Gene repeated that he is working hard, harvesting hay and taking care of his land and enjoying seeing the results as nature responds to the improved environment. He invited the Master Gardeners to come for a field trip to see the results, but encouraged us to be prepared to help pull garlic mustard as we hike his trails on our visit.

Photo Credit: Leadership Life, “A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Eugene Matzat,” Nov. 9, 2016