Although wetlands are not common in the Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin, the wetland at Pleasant Valley Conservancy is relatively large. Over 140 acres are present in the immediate vicinity, but the whole wetland is considerably larger.

Only 35 acres of this wetland is actually part of the Pleasant Valley Conservancy property, but the whole 140 acres, in five ownerships, can be treated as a unit. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a major prescribed burn on this whole wetland in 2005, and all owners signed 10-year access/permission agreements.

Pleasant Valley Creek, a spring-fed watercourse, runs through Pleasant Valley Conservancy. However, most of the water to the wetland is supplied by the numerous springs which rise throughout the wetland. The source of these springs is the ridge to the east, via the Tunnel City Sandstone, whose porous rock is present at the wetland level. See geology.

The wetland contains substantial amounts of sedge meadow and cattail. Muskrat houses are common, and beaver come and go. Sandhill cranes nest on the wetland every year. Red-winged blackbirds, belted kingfishers, great blue herons, and other wetland birds are seen or heard.

The wetland is in the drainage system of East Blue Mounds Creek, a trout stream that eventually drains into Black Earth Creek, which feeds into the Wisconsin River.

Some of the principal plant species are shown in the photo gallery below. The species check list gives a detailed look at the diversity.

Photo Gallery of Wetland Plants at Pleasant Valley Conservancy