Mukwonago River Watershed - Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Work Party Dates & Locations will be posted here.  Directions to TNC preserves are found at the end of this page.
Page Last Updated: 03/05/2010 09:19 PM 

For work party questions, contact Eric Howe at mukwonagoriverwatershed  AT  gmail.com or 262.594.5853.


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28th - Regularly Scheduled Work Party
TNC's Lulu Lake Preserve
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. (and later if desired)

  We'll continue cutting buckthorn and other invasive trees/brush to further open up a southerly facing prairie/savanna at the south end of the preserve.  We'll also burn brush piles.  Many hands are needed to help drag cut brush to the burn piles.  If you plan to stay over the lunch hour, or would like to continue into the afternoon, bring a foil lunch to cook on the embers!

  As burning brush piles generate falling embers at times, it's highly recommended that your hat and outer layer of clothing are made of natural fibers as embers may ruin any synthetic clothing.

For perspective, here's what we've accomplished thus far in this area of the preserve.
In the image below, the green outline is what we cleared over the course of several work parties in early 2009; approximately 2 acres of buckthorn removed.
The area outlined in yellow is where we have cut buckthorn in 2010 thus far; approximately one acre over a few work days.
The area in red is the remaining dense area of buckthorn that remains to be cleared on this southerly facing slope adjacent to the wetland edge; approximately one acre remaining.

 


14 February 2010: Before and After - A view south towards "Lone Oak  Point"
Click the image for a larger panorama


21 February 2010: A view to the north. Brush piles seen in this panorama (the right 2/3 of image) is part of the area cleared in early 2009.  A view towards the left third of this image is an area cleared earlier this month as well as an area yet to be cleared.
Click the image for a larger panorama


SATURDAY, MARCH 6th - Regularly Scheduled Work Party
Crooked Creek  Preserve Baker Preserve
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
  The group will be meeting at the Crooked Creek, then going to the Baker Preserve (0.5+ miles to west, SE of Scout Road and Bluff Roads) to burn brush piles.


SUNDAY, MARCH 7th
Conservation Easement at Pickerel Lake Fen - Boeings
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

  We'll be working at one of the fen (wetland) areas shared by The Nature Conservancy and two adjacent land owners (conservation easements).   The high quality fens at this wetland site have been encroached upon by invasive brush (i.e. glossy buckthorn, etc.).  Brush removal in this area will reduce the immediate threat that these invasives pose to the fen and other wetland flora as well as allow fires from future prescribed burns to carry through more thoroughly.  There is also a need for help to cut invasives at an upland area on the west side of the wetland.

Directions to the site:
  From I-43, take STH 20 west through East Troy to Booth Lake (Heights) Road (1/4 mi west of Town Line Road). Follow this road north for 0.25 miles, then veer left onto Booth Lake Heights Road for additional 0.3 miles.  Just beyond the north end of an agricultural field, there is a gate on the left (west) side of the road.  Drive in and park just beyond the small building.  For those that have been here before, this is the driveway at the southeast end of the Boeing property (not the northeast main entry by their home).

Maps of Area:

http://www.hoyaudubon.org/lululakesna/images/PickerelLakeMap.jpg
(Aerial Map)

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=42.798455,-88.434792&geocode=&hl=en&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=15&sll=42.797983,-88.435564&sspn=0.023743,0.05652&ie=UTF8&z=15
(Google map URL above.)

Google Streets View link (the link below should show the access gate which will be open on the west side of the road):
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=N8655+Booth+Lake+Hs,+East+Troy,+WI&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=42.798172,-88.434277&spn=0,359.912453&z=14&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=42.798333,-88.434354&panoid=ORedpdmRdlGZtcBq1SaN1A&cbp=12,275.59,,0,5

 


SATURDAY, MARCH 13th
TNC's Lulu Lake Preserve
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

  We'll be cutting buckthorn and other invasive trees/brush.   We also plan to burn brush piles should sufficient snow cover exist.


SATURDAY, MARCH 13th - Regularly Scheduled Work Party
TNC's Newell & Ann Meyer Preserve

9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

  The group will be cutting and treating buckthorn/honeysuckle.


SUNDAY, MARCH 21st
Details and Locations TBA

  We'll be cutting buckthorn and other invasive trees/brush.   We also plan to burn brush piles should sufficient snow cover exist.


For work party questions, contact Eric Howe at mukwonagoriverwatershed  AT  gmail.com or 262.594.5853.

For background information on Lulu Lake State Natural Area and the Mukwonago River Watershed, visit TNC's website or DNR's website.

What to bring:
Bring a water bottle along and a pair of work gloves perhaps a light backpack if you desire.  Long pants, closed toed footwear, and an extra light weight long sleeved shirt (in summer) is recommended.  Except in cases of lightening or heavy rain, the dates and times listed above will take place.  When in doubt, please call or email.  Please check back or email for any updates on future weekends.


DIRECTIONS
General area of the TNC's Lulu Lake and Crooked Creek Preserves can be found at:
http://www.hoyaudubon.org/lululakesna/directions.jpg

Please note: Town of Troy parking regulations:
Effective starting in 2008, there is no parking on any town road or town road right of way from November 1 to April 1
Town Right of Way is 33 feet from the center of the road.

Directions to the Lulu Lake Preserve:

Directions to Crooked Creek Preserve:

Directions to the Newell & Ann Meyer Preserve:

Directions To Pickerel Lake Preserve / Watershed Office:
     (
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/wisconsin/preserves/art17267.html)