Why is Pheasant Branch Conservancy special?
Pheasant Branch Conservancy is a regionally significant natural area located on the north side of Middleton, Wisconsin. It contains a marsh with open water, springs, prairies, meadows, lowland forest, and wooded hills. These various habitats sustain a wide variety of plants and animals, including some that are threatened or endangered.
The Wisconsin Wetlands Association named Pheasant Branch Conservancy a “workhorse wetland gem” in 2009 because of its groundwater connections to water quality. Pheasant Branch Creek, wetlands and several springs provide fresh water for Lake Mendota.
Habitat for birds and other animals
Visitors often hear or see deer, herons, frogs, Sandhill Cranes, ducks, geese, hawks, owls, and dozens of different species of song birds. Although surrounded on three sides by urban development, the conservancy provides a quiet refuge for bird-watchers and nature enthusiasts. Its unique resources also offer an outdoor classroom and laboratory for students of all ages.
Volunteers, city, county working together
The Dane County Parks Department, the City of Middleton and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources each own a portion of the Conservancy, but this 550-acre natural area is managed as a single unit by city and county staff with the help of volunteers. The Dane County property at the northern end of the Conservancy includes a prominent hill with a group of Indian mounds and an observation platform that overlooks the marsh. Southeast of the hill, another observation platform allows visitors to view one of two large sets of springs in the Conservancy. Each day more than 2.6 million gallons of fresh, clear water flow from these springs into the marsh and Lake Mendota. The City of Middleton owns the larger, southern portion of the Conservancy that contains a large open marsh, wetlands, lowland and upland forests, oak groves, restored prairie parcels and open fields.
Our Roots
For 50 years, the Pheasant Branch area of Dane County has been a focus of environmental stewardship. In the early 1960s, the City of Middleton recognized the importance of the Pheasant Branch Watershed in the midst of the rapidly expanding Madison metropolitan area. City committees worked to protect and acquire the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and surrounding conservancy lands. Citizen groups and city committees worked together to expand the Conservancy boundaries to preserve woodlands, forests, lowlands, natural waterways and wetlands to insure that they be protected as wildlife and fish habitats, natural drainage areas, and areas of passive outdoor recreation. In 1966 Middleton adopted its first Park and Open Space plan with a focus on Pheasant Branch.
Finding Our Footing as Volunteers
- The work of FOPBC is a complex mixture of hands-on care, public advocacy, fundraising and education.
- We are an all-volunteer organization, with the exception of a ½ time education coordinator, a ¼ time administrative assistant and a ¼ time on-site restoration manager.
- Restoration and Management consume much of or effort as active partners with the County and City.
- On the County end we are especially active in vegetation management, including clearing, grubbing, cutting, burning, seeding and planting.
- Deliver services and engage the community through student interns at college and high-school levels, teacher service-learning days, volunteer field-service days.
- With community donations, our volunteers have helped develop and maintain viewing platforms, trail improvements, access enhancements, and boardwalks.
- Conducted, supported, funded or encouraged wetlands restoration, drain-tile removal, and eliminating Aquatic Invasive Species
- We worked actively to get grants and decisions for detention basins to manage barnyard runoff immediately upstream.
- The Friends has assisted the City, County and DNR with land acquisitions, and most notably we were instrumental in fundraising and organizing to acquire the Bock Forest for protection and restoration of its unique woodland characteristics.
Bock Forest Acquisition
Thanks to overwhelming generosity from many individuals and groups in Middleton and its surrounding communities, as well as the Dane County Conservation Fund, the Wisconsin Stewardship Fund, the City of Middleton and several foundations, we raised $3 million to purchase 19.7 acres of land adjacent to the conservancy from the Middleton-Cross Plains School District at the close of 2005.
We deeded this land to the City for inclusion in its conservancy and public gardens holdings. We have worked to develop and implement a restoration plan for the forested areas and prairie restoration there. Although small in size, this parcel of land has great ecological value. It provides the Conservancy with new varieties of wildlife habitat and educational opportunities. Moreover, the tremendous infiltration capabilities of its soils will continue to protect water quality in Lake Mendota.
Continuing the work
Although the conservancy is relatively small, only about 550 acres, we have been viewed favorably for State and Federal support because it contains an unusually large variety of habitats, including lowland forests, an open marsh, wetland meadows, mesic and dry prairies, and an oak savanna. Many wildlife species require the close proximity of two or more of these habitats during their life cycles.
- Our education program and our Conservancy Days are among the examples of collaboration with school districts and UW-Madison.
- Earned a high degree of recognition and support for the Conservancy among students, teachers, parents, and eventually even politicians with a history of engagement as students.
- We were active in promoting the successful, first in state, Middleton Stormwater Utility Referendum.
- Engaged with MMSD Yahara WINS adaptive management program for reducing nutrient pollution to Pheasant Branch Creek, the lakes, and the Yahara River Watershed.
- We advocate for the Conservancy trails. More than 1,200 adults of voting age signed FOPBC petitions opposing paved trails north from Century Ave to Orchid Heights Park.
- We advocate for sound transportation, land use, and development decisions in the City, Towns, and County.
- We work to keep the Conservancy safe for passive activities such as nature study, or bird-watching. Our members expect it and they support it!
We grow the Membership in the Friends of Pheasant Branch steadily: starting with 64 members in 1997, today there are over 500.