What do you see as the value of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy to the City of Middleton and its residents?
The Pheasant Branch Conservancy is one of Middleton’s most treasured assets, ecologically, recreationally, and culturally. It provides critical green infrastructure that supports stormwater management, protects water quality flowing into Lake Mendota, and preserves native habitat in an increasingly urbanized landscape. For residents, it is a place of connection to nature, to neighbors, to community, and to the character of Middleton as the “Good Neighbor City.” My family personally hikes the north loop regularly, and I see firsthand how the Conservancy enriches the quality of life for residents of all ages.
What actions have you taken in your current capacity as a City official that reflects your support of the Conservancy and its watershed?
My support for the Conservancy spans both my time as City Councilwoman representing the Lakeview Park area, which borders much of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy, and as Mayor. Key actions include:
- Securing a federal grant of over $500,000 to improve stormwater management from Graber Pond to the Conservancy, with the stormwater utility serving as the local match. This grant was approved in 2025 as part of the Agricultural Bill.
- Prioritizing budgets that invest in trails, tree canopies, and natural areas, including planting more trees, expanding prairie grass, and removing invasive species.
- Supporting the Lake Street park redesign to capture stormwater runoff from Allen Boulevard, preventing pollution from entering Lake Mendota during storm events.
- Reviewing stormwater agreements across HOAs and developments to ensure compliance and expand education, including tasking staff with outreach on best practices.
- As a Councilwoman, working to fix potholes, slow traffic, and support public safety in the areas adjacent to the Conservancy.
How do you distinguish the management requirements of a conservancy from those of a traditional municipal park?
A traditional municipal park is designed primarily for active human recreation, playgrounds, athletic fields, pavilions, and management focuses on maintenance of built infrastructure and programming for users. A conservancy, by contrast, has a dual mandate: it must serve people and protect functioning natural ecosystems. Management of a conservancy requires ecological expertise, ongoing habitat stewardship (such as invasive species removal, prescribed burns, and native planting), and careful monitoring of how human use affects biodiversity. The needs of wildlife and native plant communities must be weighed alongside recreational access. This means that decisions about trails, signage, access points, and permitted uses require a conservation lens, not just a parks-and-recreation lens.
How will you approach conflicts among various user groups within Pheasant Branch Conservancy? (e.g., birdwatchers, dog walkers, e-bikers, physically impaired)
Balancing the needs of birdwatchers, dog walkers, e-bikers, and physically impaired visitors requires clear, science-informed rules communicated consistently and enforced fairly. My approach as Mayor has always been data-driven and community-centered. I would:
- Engage user groups directly to understand their needs and concerns before making policy changes, just as I conducted a 500+ response housing survey to understand resident priorities.
- Establish clear use designations for different trails or zones where appropriate, for example, separating high-traffic recreational corridors from quieter, ecologically sensitive areas where birdwatching and wildlife observation are the priority.
- Address e-bike access specifically, as this is an emerging issue in conservancy management nationwide. E-bikes can be appropriate on some paths and incompatible with others; Partner with the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy and other stewardship groups to help educate users and foster a culture of shared responsibility.
- Partner with the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy and other stewardship groups to help educate users and foster a culture of shared responsibility.
Does population growth and popularity of the Conservancy pose ecological harm to the Conservancy’s resources? If so, how should it be mitigated?
Yes, increased visitation and surrounding development do pose real ecological risks, including soil compaction, trail erosion, disturbance to nesting birds and other wildlife, introduction of invasive species via foot traffic, and degraded water quality from stormwater runoff. Middleton’s population growth, which I have actively supported through our housing transformation, makes proactive conservation planning all the more urgent. Mitigation strategies I would support include:
- Trail hardening and defined access points to concentrate foot traffic and protect sensitive areas.
- Invasive species management as a budget priority, continuing the work already underway.
- Stormwater infrastructure improvements at the urban-conservancy interface to reduce runoff and pollutant loading.
- Seasonal or area-specific restrictions in ecologically sensitive zones during critical periods such as nesting season.
- Interpretive signage and community education to build a conservation ethic among visitors.
Specifically, what policies or initiatives would you support to protect the Conservancy from impacts from surrounding urban development?
The Conservancy cannot be managed in isolation from the development happening around it. Policies I would support include:
- Strong stormwater standards for new development adjacent to the watershed, building on the grant-funded work from Graber Pond to the Conservancy.
- Land use and zoning buffers that limit impervious surface and protect natural transitions between developed areas and conservancy land.
- Continued review of stormwater agreements with HOAs and developers to ensure ongoing compliance and education.
- Tree canopy and green infrastructure requirements in new development, consistent with my broader commitment to expanding Middleton’s urban forest.
- Coordination with the Plan Commission — drawing on my experience leading the zoning rewrite, to ensure that conservation values are embedded in development approvals near the Conservancy.
As Mayor, how would you enhance cooperative management of Pheasant Branch Conservancy between the City of Middleton and Dane County?
Effective conservancy stewardship requires genuine partnership between the City and County, since the Conservancy spans jurisdictional boundaries and its watershed connects to County-managed resources. My record demonstrates a consistent commitment to intergovernmental collaboration. For example, I met directly with County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett on public safety issues and sought data-sharing and multi-jurisdictional cooperation. I would bring that same approach to Conservancy management by:
- Establishing a regular City-County coordination meeting focused specifically on Pheasant Branch, including staff from Public Works, Parks, and relevant County departments.
- Pursuing joint grant applications for conservation, habitat restoration, and stormwater infrastructure, maximizing resources available to both entities.
- Aligning management plans and user policies so that rules are consistent regardless of whether a visitor is on City or County land within the Conservancy.
- Leveraging my relationships with County Executive Melissa Agard and County Supervisors (who have endorsed my candidacy) to elevate the Conservancy as a shared priority.
The Pheasant Branch Conservancy belongs to all of us. Protecting it for future generations requires the same collaborative, long-term thinking I have applied to housing, public safety, and infrastructure throughout my time as Mayor.