The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy (FOPBC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and promotion of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Since our founding in 1995, we have served as the voice of the Conservancy, ensuring that this vital ecological resource remains protected from development and is restored to its highest natural potential.
As a primarily volunteer-driven organization, we serve as the vital link between the community and the public entities that own and manage the land: the City of Middleton, Dane County, and the Wisconsin DNR. While the Friends do not own the acreage themselves, our strength lies in a deep, collaborative partnership that allows us to fill critical gaps that public agencies often cannot address alone. We provide the agility and private funding necessary to move projects forward—whether that means mobilizing thousands of hours of skilled volunteer labor, providing rapid-response funding for restoration, or advocating for complex, multi-million dollar land acquisitions. By bridging these gaps, we ensure the Conservancy receives a level of stewardship and advocacy that exceeds the limits of traditional public management.
Meeting the Challenge: Recent Impact
Our work is defined by a commitment to action when the Conservancy needs it most. We focus on projects that provide measurable ecological benefits to the region:
- The “Seed the Need” Campaign (2020–2025): In our most recent fundraising effort, the Friends raised over $200,000 to seed 160 acres of new Conservancy land. This “Platinum Prairie” features over 100 species of native seeds, providing critical habitat and significantly reducing nutrient runoff into Lake Mendota and the Yahara Chain of Lakes.
- More to Restore (2018 Flood Recovery): Following the historic 2018 flood, the Friends launched the “More to Restore” initiative. We quickly organized to raise funds to plan and build resilience and repair catastrophic damage to the trail systems and stream channels, coordinating with municipal partners to ensure the Conservancy could safely reopen to the public, while insuring the effort included a focus on the ecologic health of the Corridor.
- Strategic Land Acquisition: We actively collaborate with the City of Middleton and Dane County to identify and acquire adjacent lands. These efforts protect highly permeable soils from development, safeguarding the groundwater that feeds the Pheasant Branch Springs, and curbs the entry of invasive species into the Conservancy.
Our History and Evolution
The Friends formed in 1995 as a grassroots response to proposed sewer construction through the marsh. After successfully advocating for the protection of these lands, our mission evolved from defense to proactive stewardship.
Over the decades, our focus has expanded to include:
- Watershed Protection: We supported critical USGS research into groundwater recharge and surface water erosion, promoting the adoption of city and county ordinances that regulate stormwater runoff, and protect recharge needs to sustain the Pheasant Branch Springs.
- Restoration Excellence: We have transitioned hundreds of acres of former cropland back into wetland meadows, oak savannas, and mesic prairies.
- Education and Access: We maintain viewing platforms and educational signage, and hold community events and activities such as field trips and demonstrations to foster a deeper understanding of the 683.5+ acre Conservancy.
Why It Matters
The Pheasant Branch Conservancy is a rare mosaic of habitats—lowland forests, open marshes, and dry prairies—that supports a vast array of bird and wildlife species. By protecting this land, we aren’t just preserving a park; we are managing a complex watershed system that contributes 2.6 million gallons of fresh water daily to the Yahara chain of lakes.
The Friends remain committed to ensuring this ecosystem remains resilient, biodiverse, and accessible for generations to come.