By Jim Hess, Conservation Chair
We’ve had a strong start to the fall and need every helping hand we can get for our remaining workdays. The work is straightforward and no experience is needed … you’ll be an expert in no time. It’s a great way to meet people, learn about streams and make a real difference for our coldwater resource.
October 12, 2024 – Falk Wells Sugar River Wildlife Unit
Time: 9am to 12 noon (Sawyers – must have completed a chainsaw safety course and have all safety gear – please arrive at 8:30).
Where: Falk Wells Sugar River Wildlife Area. Take Hwy 69 south out of Verona, about 2 miles south of Hwy 151. It is located just south of Sunset Rd, across the bridge and to your left. We will meet at the parking lot just south of the bridge.
Here is the Google Link to this location: https://goo.gl/maps/5UEZxQ5LrJkNBiPc9
What: We will be clearing invasive brush and box elders along the streambank. This area was cleared by a forestry mower, but the mower could not get to the brush along the streambank. Burn piles will be created, which will be burned this winter. We will also be checking for any re-sprouts from previous workdays at this site. Bring: Work gloves, sturdy shoes, eye and ear protection, and reusable water bottles that can be filled from our 5-gal water jug. Stay hydrated. Also, there may be some wet spots, bring your rubber boots if you have them.
Parking: There is plenty of parking at the parking lot on Hwy 69, a pickup will be used to access the workday, hauling equipment and some personnel. Read More
Welcome to the New Fisheries Biologist
Posted: November 3, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Hi everyone, I’m Kyle Olivencia and I’m thrilled to be a part of the Fitchburg team as the newest fisheries biologist! I’m originally from New York, where I graduated from SUNY Cobleskill with an Associates in Fisheries and Wildlife Technology and a Bachelor’s in Fisheries and Aquaculture. As an undergrad I gained lots of field experience working on several projects throughout New York as a fisheries technician for USGS for two summers. Some highlights were monitoring invasive Round Goby movement and their effect on native populations as well as monitoring the recovery of native Brook Trout in acid rain impacted Catskill Mountain streams. Read More
Posted: November 3, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Fight to Protect Badger Mill Creek Continues
By Topf Wells
The City of Verona has sued the DNR over its decision to approve an amendment to a water quality plan. That decision made it likely that the DNR will allow the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) to stop the discharge of its water to Badger Mill Creek. The loss of water reduces the creek by 35-40%. The SWTU Board believes that will probably hurt the creek as a healthy trout stream. The latest DNR assessment states that the creek is an improving Class 2 trout stream with a chance to improve to a Class 1. DNR fish and water quality biologists have stated that sections of the stream that now hold trout might not sustain them if the water is shut off. Read More
Posted: November 3, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – November 2024
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new member to our ranks! Read More
Posted: October 12, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Lost Rod: TU Lifetime Member Stephen Born
Steve Born was fishing at the eastern bridge over Castle Rock Creek on G and left a rod on top of his car as he drove away. The rod was a TU Lifetime Winston 4 wt with his name inscribed on it. Steve has plenty of rods, but this Lifetime TU one holds a special place, and he is offering a reward for its return. If you found it and Google brought you hear, please reach out to Steve at born.stephen@gmail.com.
Newscasts – October 2024
Last Updated: November 4, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
DNR Extravaganza: Two High-energy Presentations at our October 8 Meeting
Last Updated: October 2, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
See below for two great reasons to join us on October 8, 2024.
First up: Interns on a Summer of Learning, Fun and Help For Our Streams
The DNR Water Quality and Fish Biologists in this area needed interns to complete their vital summer streams surveys this year. And their budget was a bit too sparse to hire them.
SWTU and our good friends at the Smallmouth Alliance were happy to help. Emma Bailie and Jonah Hoeper, the two interns, spent the summer with the biologists and technicians in surveying trout and smallmouth streams and other streams that should or might hold trout and SMBs. They saw more water than most of us will see in several years. They had fun, faced challenges and learned from some great DNR folks. And, thanks to them, we’ll know much more about streams in our area.
They’ll present a fast paced account of what they encountered this summer and answer questions. Joining them will be Kim Kuber and Camille Bruhn, the water quality biologists who supervised much of their work in the field.
Both Emma and Jonah attend UW-Platteville. Emma is a 4th year biology major with an emphasis in ecology, and she plans to be a fisheries biologist. Emma’s favorite activities are fishing and hiking. Jonah is a second-year environmental science major. He is not quite sure on a career yet, but mostly likely something with fish. Jonah’s favorite activities are fly fishing and hiking.
Second up: Helping Trout Creek Continue Living Up To Its Name
Read More
Posted: October 2, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Meicher Madness Auction Makes Money, Memories
Posted: October 2, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Workday Winners
Here are the winners of this year’s workday volunteer drawing, which was held before the Meicher Auction.
Musky Fool $50 gift card ……………………………………….. Kathleen Falk
D&S $50 gift card ………………………………………………..… Dyan Lesnik
D&S $50 Gift Card …………………………………………………. Pete Dailey
8’ 3/4wt Fiberglass Rod built by Dave Fowler ………… Dale Osthoff
Sorry if you are not one of the winners, but we are all winners by helping to keep our trout streams healthy and accessible. – Jim Hess
New and Old: A Great Combination
Posted: October 2, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
SWTU’s first workday of the fall/winter cycle was a challenge. We had to finish the last clearing and brush bundling on Hefty Creek’s Rudd easement in one day. Jim Hess had originally scheduled two but Dane County has some projects in mind for 10/12.
We did it with quite a varied cast of workers. Top of the list were Scott Harpold and Vince Schmitz, the biologists who are the heart of the DNR’s stream restoration crew in this part of the state. They worked all morning and showed us the latest brush bundling techniques. Vince shared possibly the most unique “DNR Biologist Catches a Cool Fish while on Official Business” story ever during our break. He was on site at the Big Green River after the recent flood and noticed what he thought was a fish in a puddle stranded 8 ft. above the stream. He rescued a still healthy 12 inch burbot, a great native WI fish, happy to be in the cool, clean water of the Big Green. (See what you miss at these workdays!) Read More
Join us for an Upcoming Workday
Posted: October 2, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Jim Hess, Conservation Chair
We’ve had a strong start to the fall and need every helping hand we can get for our remaining workdays. The work is straightforward and no experience is needed … you’ll be an expert in no time. It’s a great way to meet people, learn about streams and make a real difference for our coldwater resource.
October 12, 2024 – Falk Wells Sugar River Wildlife Unit
Time: 9am to 12 noon (Sawyers – must have completed a chainsaw safety course and have all safety gear – please arrive at 8:30).
Where: Falk Wells Sugar River Wildlife Area. Take Hwy 69 south out of Verona, about 2 miles south of Hwy 151. It is located just south of Sunset Rd, across the bridge and to your left. We will meet at the parking lot just south of the bridge.
Here is the Google Link to this location: https://goo.gl/maps/5UEZxQ5LrJkNBiPc9
What: We will be clearing invasive brush and box elders along the streambank. This area was cleared by a forestry mower, but the mower could not get to the brush along the streambank. Burn piles will be created, which will be burned this winter. We will also be checking for any re-sprouts from previous workdays at this site. Bring: Work gloves, sturdy shoes, eye and ear protection, and reusable water bottles that can be filled from our 5-gal water jug. Stay hydrated. Also, there may be some wet spots, bring your rubber boots if you have them.
Parking: There is plenty of parking at the parking lot on Hwy 69, a pickup will be used to access the workday, hauling equipment and some personnel. Read More
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