Wisconsin fort working to improve fish habitat

MADISON, WI (AP) — Wildlife officials are trying to improve fish habitat at a sprawling western Wisconsin military base.

The project at Fort McCoy calls for removing dams, culverts and concrete flood-control barriers on the base to help fish move more freely to spawning areas. The plan also includes upgrading stream habitat to provide more space and cover for brook and brown trout as well as erosion-reduction work along stream banks.

The fort, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began the project last month. Officials plan to finish work for this year by the end of the week and resume in the spring. They hope to finish the project by next summer.

Fort McCoy is a military training base located between Sparta and Tomah.