Since the Friends were founded in 1995, the group has worked hard to restore, protect, and promote Pheasant Branch Conservancy and the Pheasant Branch Creek watershed in the City of Middleton and beyond. Here’s a brief look at some of the important dates in the history of this important organization.
1965
Led by Walter Bauman, a group of concerned citizens established the Middleton Conservation Committee—a precursor to the Friends—to help address the impacts of urbanization on the city and help preserve the area’s natural resources
1966
The City of Middleton adopted its first Park and Open Space Plan to acquire and protect the Pheasant Branch Creek Watershed
1970s-1980s
The City of Middleton acquires additional land around the Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor
1994
Dane County acquires the Frederick farm on the northern side of the Conservancy, adding approximately 120 acres to the existing 340-acre Conservancy
1995
The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy officially founded to advocate for the protection of the Conservancy from development pressures
1997
The Friends receive 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS
Membership in the Friends reaches 64 people
In coordination with Dane County’s Land & Water Resources and the Parks Division, Friends volunteers being removing invasive species from Pheasant Branch Conservancy
2002
The 10-acre parcel of marshland immediately north of the line dividing the city and county portions of the Conservancy (the Esser Property) is purchased, which allows two major wetland restoration projects to occur
2002-03
The 5-acre Siegler Property at the southwestern corner of the Conservancy is purchased to prevent development; property was deeded to the city in 2013
2005
A 19-acre property that’s now the Bock Community Forest is purchased by the Friends and transferred to the City of Middleton
2006
The last of 120 acres of land earmarked for prairie planting on the north end of the Conservancy is seeded
2013
The Friends’ Watershed Committee is created to collaborate with and assist public and private partners like the Clean Lakes Alliance, Dane County, and the City of Middleton to address issues in the Pheasant Branch Creek Watershed
2014
The Friends’ Watershed Committee successfully leads a referendum campaign to create a stormwater utility for the City of Middleton
2019
Dane County purchases a 159-acre property (the former Acker farm) as an addition to the northern portion of Pheasant Branch Conservancy—this will become the Conservancy’s “Platinum Prairie”
2020
The Friends celebrate their 25th anniversary
Seeding work begins on the Platinum Prairie; the Friends raised more than $100,000 in less than four years, and funds were matched by the Clean Lakes Alliance
2024
The final seeds are spread for the Platinum Prairie
The Friends successfully push for a referendum to raise the City of Middleton’s stormwater utility fee, which allows the city to remain proactive on stormwater management issues
2026
The Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy boast more than 700 members, and the group continues its efforts to protect the Conservancy now and into the future