Acquisition of the Acker Farm Adds 160 Acres to the Conservancy

In June 2019, a long-awaited dream of the Friends was finally realized when Dane County purchased the 160-acre Acker Farm north of the Conservancy. Protection and restoration of the property will mitigate flooding and improve water quality within the Pheasant Branch Watershed and Lake Mendota by reducing sediment and phosphorus runoff. It is estimated that restoring the property to permanent vegetation (prairie) will reduce annual phosphorus amounts by 550 pounds and will prevent the runoff of 354,000 cubic feet (or over 2.6 million gallons) of water each year. Roughly one pound of phosphorus can produce up to 500 pounds of algae. “Prairie plants have deeper roots than common crops, making prairies more capable of retaining rainwater where it falls instead of draining into the Pheasant Branch Creek and into Lake Mendota,” says Friends co-president Lloyd Eagan.

 “We are proud to make this historic investment to expand Pheasant Branch Conservancy and do our part to ensure this outdoor recreation destination can be enjoyed for generations to come,” says Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “This acquisition will further our efforts to improve water quality, mitigate flooding, and preserve outdoor spaces as Dane County continues to grow.” 

The property is bordered by Pheasant Branch Road to the west, Balzer Road to the north, and the 550-acre Pheasant Branch Conservancy to the south. A farmhouse, barns and outbuildings can be found on the property, along with farmland and pasture. The parcel sits within the Pheasant Branch and Yahara River Watersheds and contains the headwaters of an intermittent stream. This stream flows into Pheasant Branch Creek, and ultimately Lake Mendota. The property is also located within the recharge area of Frederick’s Springs, which pump millions of gallons of fresh water daily into Lake Mendota. Restoration of the land to prairie will reduce the amount of nutrients and pesticides entering the groundwater recharge area directly adjacent to the springs. 

The farm has been in the Acker family for more than 100 years and three generations, says Peggy Acker-Farber. When her ancestors bought the land, it was prairie so selling it to become prairie again is part of the “circle of life.” Her father Clarence Acker farmed the land and worked with the county in the 1970’s to develop more effective ways of storing manure over the winter months. Judy Acker Maly says that she and her 11 siblings voted to sell the land to the county. “We decided that if we were going to sell, this would be a good way to have it happen.”

“Not only does this acquisition provide unparalleled recreational and conservation opportunities, but it is also exactly the type of action we need to take to be resilient to flooding,” says Dane County Board Chair Sharon Corrigan. “Protection of this property will buffer Pheasant Branch Creek from storm flashes and erosion during big and small rain storms.” 

This acquisition will add to the outdoor recreation activities visitors of Pheasant Branch Conservancy participate in, whether it be walking, hiking, biking, or viewing wildlife. One future use of the property could also be as a regional bicycle trail connector to Governor Nelson State Park. The county is working with the Friends, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and City of Middleton to develop a restoration and property management plan that is consistent with the existing master plan. enhancements that will make the Conservancy more accessible to visitors with visual impairments so that they can fully partake of the sights and sounds and smells of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. (Please contact us if you would like to participate or help implement this type of programming!)