In collaboration with Dane County Park staff, the FOPBC Restoration and Management and Education Committees have been meeting onsite at the springs viewing area to develop a new design for access to this delicate yet treasured area within Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Due to its age and increased usage over the past three years the “belly board”, bench and protective wire mesh along the seepage area had all deteriorated to a level needing redesigning and rebuilding. These images show several R&M staff removing the steel mesh within this area before the growing season would make this work much more difficult and damaging to this sensitive soil and vegetation mix alongside the springs. A final design proposal from Dane County Parks will be used for reconstruction once the Wisconsin DNR, also a stakeholder in the springs, also approves the plan. We hope this project will be completed during the summer season. Until this construction is completed, please do not approach the springs beyond the elevated viewing deck. Your understanding and cooperation is appreciated as any continued foot traffic (including children and dogs) in this now unprotected area will cause erosion, damage the needed vegetation growth to secure the soil and otherwise impact the beauty of this special place. Barriers and signs will soon be present to help protect the area before reconstruction can be completed. Thank you again for your understanding and cooperation.
Gary Sater
FOPBC Board and Co-chair of the R&M Committee
