SWTU, P.O. Box 45555, Madison, WI 53744-5555 president@swtu.org

Stream Workdays – one cancellation, but many planned

workday

By Jim Hess

The Saturday, October 9, workday is CANCELED due to the ground being too wet. We’ll shift that work to the spring, but for now please plan to attend one of the other events planned for this fall. Please plan to attend one or all of the other upcoming workdays.

September 18 – Davidson Property on the Sugar River, just south of Verona on Hwy 69 at 1855 Hwy 69. There is no road sign or fire number, it is the first road past Riverside Rid. Turn right (west) on Oak Grove Rd and go about 600 feet to the end of the road, you will see an old stone building on the right. Cut honeysuckles and other invasive woodies and use the waste materials to build brush bundles in the river.

October 9 – Smith Conley Creek at 2800 Cty Rd H, south of Barneveld. This will be a joint workday with the Harry and Laura Nohr Chapter – clearing box elders and invasive woodies on a new easement. This is a beautiful stretch of Smith Conley, connecting to several easements upstream. Details to follow.

October 23 – Sawmill Creek, Severson Easement (another new DNR easement) at N8490 Hay Hollow Road, Blanchardville – clearing box elders, invasive woodies, and two large trees that have fallen into the stream. This will be another joint workday with the Harry and Laura Nohr Chapter and I am reaching out to the Blackhawk Chapter and Pecatonica Pride to see if they want to join us. There will be a cookout at the end of the workday.

November 6 – Badger Mill Creek, at the Old PB Park and Ride – mainly clearing large box elders and some honeysuckles along Badger Mill Creek. We are coordinating this project with Lars Higdon, Dane Co Land and Water Resources Department, in their efforts to create a native area along this section of the stream. Details to follow.

December 4 – Williams-Barneveld Creek, within the 103-acre Shea Prairie unit in the Mounds View Grassland Preserve owned and managed by The Prairie Enthusiasts. Williams-Barneveld Creek is a tributary to the East Branch Pecatonica.  Access is from Mounds View Rd.  We will be meeting at the parking lot at 3095 Mounds View Rd, Barneveld. We will be clearing lots of willows to help create a native prairie grassland. There are a lot of trout in this small stream – you will want to check it out. Details to follow.

Note: It is respectfully requested that anyone who is not vaccinated against COVID-19, please do not attend our workdays. We recognize the pandemic is causing stress and uncertainty and that people have widely differing opinions about the vaccine. We also know that we have a responsibility to provide as safe a workday event as we can. Thank you.