This area hides across the river from a heavily managed 40 acre sedge meadow-lowland savanna complex that we refer to as “M&M”. There is very high floristic quality in many parts of M&M and there are signs of similar flora on this isolated 3 acre parcel that is cut off by the river and the railroad tracks. Its lack of access lends to its neglect. Boxelder and cottonwood invasion has altered the soil moisture and decreased the sunlight. Lack of fire and periodic flooding has allowed Reed Canary Grass (RCG) to dominate the understory where sedge meadow could be. It would be ideal to link this area into our maintenance of M&M to the NW and Bakke Conservancy to the SE.

The floristic quality is not very high at this site. A very large American Plum tree is tucked in there along with a couple of oaks. Otherwise the area is dominated by boxelder, large invasive brush and RCG. This 2 acre parcel is worth restoring because it is adjacent to Bakke Conservancy and this margin creates a barrier between the well maintained conservancy and the Yahara. There is also greater value in restoring habitat further upstream as it all flows down. We recommend removing that barrier and blending these 2 acres into the maintenance of Bakke Conservancy.

The 25 acre prairie planting at Western Green Park is very mature and has a great mix of species present. There is a heavily used trail system that winds through the planting enjoyed by many residents. A thin margin of invasive brush and boxelder along the south edge of the planting amounts to about 4 acres. This margin is bounded by the bike trail and the Yahara. There are some areas with some nice Bur Oaks waiting to be uncovered. Western Green Prairie would be better connected to the Yahara if the overgrowth were managed in that margin.

There is a steep bank along the turn in the river at the end of Hank’s Hollow Trail. The area amounts to about 0.5 acres. Some impressive mature Bur Oak trees are helping hold that bank together there. Their branches reach nicely across the river. It should be a priority in any neighborhood to identify the old trees and help them continue to live long lives. They link us to the past like nothing else can. These particular trees have some invasive brush and boxelder growing under and around them. We recommend clearing that understory to allow more light to reach the ground. Shade tolerant natives could be planted beneath the oaks. There is also a 0.5 acre un-mowed area in Sunnybrook Park on the west side of the river that could be transformed into a native planting. Currently it is dominated by non-native grasses.

This area is about 15 acres and consists of some overgrown sedge meadow and lowland savanna. The woods that make up the west half of the unit are very rich and have a diverse display of spring ephemerals and woodland sedges. The public will likely not engage with this site much as there are no trails that lead into this area. A well maintained sedge meadow behaves like a sponge during heavy rains helping hold onto and filter that water. Even though people will not often venture back to enjoy this landscape, there is still great value in working to restore its original structure.

North of Innovation Drive and west of the river there are 21 contiguous acres of sedge meadow and lowland savanna that have been maintained since 2015. Those acres have the highest floristic quality in the village. This 1.5 acre parcel is all that remains un-managed between those 21 acres and Innovation Drive. There is also about 0.5 acre on the east side of the river and north of Innovation Drive. Like many of the neglected areas along the river this one is overgrown with boxelder, invasive brush and RCG. This is a small site, but it could have a large impact when it comes to creating a contiguous healthy natural community. We recommend tying these 2 acres into the 21 maintained acres to the north.

A small spring fed creek flows from Windsor under County Highway CV into the Village of DeForest and into the Yahara. On its way to the Yahara it flows through another area of degraded sedge meadow that has become dominated by less desirable trees and RCG. Within this 4 acre area 2 acres have become wooded while the other two acres are RCG with isolated pockets of wetland natives. We recommend returning the structure of this area to sedge meadow to allow more water filtration before it flows into that creek.

This 9 acre degraded sedge meadow and fen has a creek running through it and at least one large spring. The wooded portion in the north contains a grove of Swamp White Oak and Bur Oak. The largest invasive Japanese Honeysuckle that we have ever seen is growing along the river edge and we would be honored to cut them down. There is a riparian area and wooded upland across the river to the east that has been heavily managed since 2014. This 9 acres would connect nicely to the existing projects in the area.

This 5 acre parcel is isolated from any trail systems so will mainly be enjoyed by non-human animals. Many of the acres directly across the river from this site have been managed for years. We have been able to begin cleaning up one bank of the river in some areas of the village. As we move further downstream there are more opportunities to start cleaning up both banks of the river. A large wildlife corridor is developing, and it is a great goal to eventually tie the whole corridor together with prescribed fire.

The 2.25 acres on the west side of the river would be a higher priority as it is closer to the bike trail and may be enjoyed more directly by the residents. It is also more connected to some acres already under management to the north. The 2.75 acres on the east side of the river is less connected to the trail system but is equally valuable ecologically. There are patches of sedge meadow and fen in both of these units with the usual overgrowth of boxelder and invasive brush that we are used to seeing along the Yahara. The prevalence of springs throughout these degraded sedge meadows and riparian zones accentuate the need to care for that water. Clean water is flowing directly from the ground in many places across the village. It is crucially important to encourage native species around these sources so that filtration may be optimized.