Mukwonago River Watershed - Volunteer Opportunities

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:

From Milwaukee: Take I-43 south to East Troy, then take State Hwy 20 west to Cnty Hwy N. Take N north to Troy Center, where it will cross Cnty Hwy J and change to Nature Rd. Take Nature Rd 1.5 miles north and turn right at a driveway marked N9564. This is a private drive that leads to the work site. Follow the signs to the meeting point at Lakeview Lodge

From Madison: Take US Hwy 12 about 8 miles past Whitewater to the junction of 12 and State Hwy 20. Go straight onto Hwy 20. At the intersection of Hwy 20 and Cnty Hwy J, continue straight on J to Nature Road. Take Nature Rd 1.5 miles north and turn right at a driveway marked N9564. This is a private drive that leads to the work site. Follow the signs to the meeting point at Lakeview Lodge.

Click here for directions from Eagle
Click here for directions from Hwy 20

Directions to Crooked Creek Preserve:

Take Nature Road for 0.3 miles to the intersection of Nature and Bluff roads and turn left onto Bluff Road. Travel 1.5 miles to the private driveway on the right (Look for the fire address signs stating 3611-3678). Veer right at the first and second forks in the driveway and pass the gate into the Crooked Creek Preserve driveway (Fire Marker W3674), travel 0.2 miles to the parking area.
Click here for directions from Hwy 20

If coming from the north, take Eagle Road south from County LO (99), then turn left (east) onto Bluff Road. The private driveway will be the first driveway on the left at the bend in Bluff Road.
Click here for directions from Eagle

Directions to the Newell & Ann Meyer Preserve:

From Nature Road and Cnty Hwy J, take Nature Road three miles north to the intersection with Cty Hwy LO and turn left.

Follow LO west to the junction with Hwy 67 and continue southwest on Hwy 67 for one mile.

The driveway into Meyer Preserve is along Hwy 67 on the left (fire marker S104 W38319) just west of the intersection with Cty Hwy NN.
Click here for directions from Eagle.
Click here for an aerial map of immediate area of the Meyer Preserve.

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

From Milwaukee (a 35-minute drive)
- Exit I-43 at Hwy 20 in East Troy and go west for 3 miles.
- Turn right (north) on Pickerel Lake Road and travel 2 miles to Hwy J.
- Turn right (east) on Hwy J and travel for 0.5 miles to Pickerel Jay Road.
- Look for the horse statue on the southeast corner of Pickerel Jay Rd. Turn left (south) and drive to the end of the road. The driveway starts at the right side of the barrier and goes down the hill behind the barrier. The driveway is 0.2 miles long and leads to The Nature Conservancy’s office and a small parking area.
From Madison (a 75-minute drive)
- Take US Hwy 12 about 8 miles past Whitewater to the junction of 12 and State Hwy 20.
- Go straight onto 20. At the intersection of 20 and County Hwy J, continue straight on J to Pickerel Jay Road (on the right). Note: Be careful not to take Pickerel Lake Road—you want Pickerel Jay Road.
- Look for the horse statue on the southeast corner of Pickerel Jay Rd. Turn right (south) and drive to the end of the road. The driveway starts at the right side of the barrier and goes down the hill behind the barrier. The driveway is 0.2 miles long and leads to The Nature Conservancy’s office and a small parking area.