By Ken Wiesner, Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy Watershed Committee
This article provides additional information following the introduction to Graber Greenway published in the previous Friends e-newsletter from April: Graber Greenway: An Important Area in Transition.
Graber Pond itself, and its surrounding area, are the western anchor of Graber Greenway. The City is completing an update to the Master Plan for the Graber Pond Conservancy. A draft of the Master Plan is available here.
The plan does an excellent job of describing the important ecological features of this conservancy area, integrates recent scientific studies, describes recent developments in the nearby area, and proposes actions to meet both opportunities and challenges. A fine summary of the Graber Greenway Project is on Pages 49-50 of the draft plan.
The purpose of the plan includes these words: “Middleton’s rapid development surrounding the Conservancy, along with increases in Conservancy use since the 2006 Plan, requires new recommendations for management, updates to funding opportunities, and a revised vision for the Conservancy’s future.”
The Friends have commented on the draft plan and are very supportive of the update. We are encouraged by the statement of Desired Future Condition on Page 51. It aligns extremely well with the Friends’ mission. The Future Condition map on Page 52 provides more detail on the expected land uses in Graber Greenway following several years of concerted effort.
To achieve this desired future, the plan recommends the following actions (see Pages 53-59 for more detail):
- Protect water quality within and outside Graber Pond Conservancy
- Protect and conserve native flora and fauna within and outside Graber Pond Conservancy
- Provide opportunities for passive recreation
- Provide opportunities for community land stewardship
- Provide a safe visitor experience
A public informational meeting about the proposed plan was held on July 23. District 6 Alder Lisa Janairo hosted the meeting and expressed interest in organizing neighbors in the Graber Pond area to work on restoration, management, and other activities that you would recognize as common to the Freinds and other friends groups. The Friends of Pheasant Branch were present at the meeting to express our support for the plan revision and to offer to work with any new Graber Pond organization. We’re all in this together!
You can view Alder Janairo’s thoughts on the Graber Pond Master Plan (and the Misty Valley stormwater facilities) in her most recent newsletter. We appreciate Lisa’s support of important work in the Pheasant Branch watershed.
One important aspect of the Graber Pond Master Plan is the boundary change to include areas along Belle Fontaine Boulevard and the Misty Valley stormwater management area. Improvements needed in these locations, as well as the Graber Pond outlet and culvert, are described in the Graber Greenway Improvement Projects Proposal. The Graber Pond outlet structure is necessary to help manage damaging flood flows. The Misty Valley stormwater management complex needs updating to improve stormwater retention and treatment. New areas of native vegetation along Belle Fontaine Blvd will help to control stormwater flow and improve water quality.
On July 16, the City’s Water Resources Management Commission recommended that preliminary engineering work on some of these improvements be funded. The Commission also recommended changes that superseded portions of the Improvements Projects Proposal. The superseded portions begin on Page 7, Project Scope and Phases, and the “Attachment A” Work Plan. These proposed changes can be viewed here.
We will continue to update you on progress and current events in the Graber Pond and Greenway area via these newsletters.
The Friends will continue our advocacy, education, monitoring, and support for all actions that contribute to a vibrant and sustainable Pheasant Branch Conservancy.