Empire-Sauk Chapter
Burn Season is Over! Despite the changeable weather, a number of successful burns were carried out. These included: Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie; Walking Iron County Park; Mounds View Complex; Mazomanie Bluff, and Pleasant Valley Conservancy. The photos below are from the burn held Sunday April 20 at the Mounds View Complex. |
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| Burn boss Rich Henderson explains the use of a pumper on one of TPE's units, before the start of burns at the Mounds View complex. |
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| The Polaris utility vehicle was one of three vehicles used during the series of burns carried out at the Mounds View complex. This unit was used primarily for "wetlining" areas along fire breaks. |
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| Several of the burns at Mounds View were fairly complicated, involving burns of only small parts of prairies. Control made extensive use of wetlining by our utility vehicles. At this stage, the wetline had been created and interior lighting was beginning. All of the volunteers participating in these burns have received extensive training, and most have been burning for many years. |
See the Report on Empire-Sauk Chapter Accomplishments in 2007 |
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The Empire-Sauk Chapter manages and restores 39 prairie and oak savanna sites with over 1000 acres in southcentral Wisconsin. Our main focus is on the conservation and protection of these cherished sites. Currently we manage sites in Dane, Sauk, and eastern Iowa counties.
Our work is carried out principally by volunteers, who participate in all parts of the restoration process. Activities include control of invasive weeds and brush, seed collecting and planting, controlled burns, monitoring and data collection, trail maintenance, plant and animal surveys and inventories, landowner contact and outreach, guiding public tours, presentations to public groups, land protection, development of educational materials and displays, equipment maintenance, and facilities improvement (barn renovation, bridge construction, fencing, posting, etc.).
Volunteering provides unparalled opportunities to learn about and participate in prairie, savanna, and oak woodland ecology, restoration, and management. We work year around. In the fall of the year seed collecting is a major activity. See the workday schedule...
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| Cutting honeysuckle, prickly ash, and other invasive shrubs on the Steege-Euclide property in late November 2007. |
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| All cut stems are treated with herbicide to prevent resprout. (The red dye helps to ensure that all cut stems are treated.) |
We work cooperatively with other environmental groups, including The Nature Conservancy, the Ice Age Trail, the Blue Mounds Area Project, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. One of our principal projects involves management and restoration of preserves that are part of the Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area.
The "Empire" in our name comes from the vast Empire (or Arlington) Prairie that once occupied major parts of Dane and Columbia Counties, centered on the crossroads community of Leeds, Wisconsin. This prairie was often called "twenty mile prairie", reflecting the distance required to cross it.
One of our outstanding preserves is Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie, a State Natural Area. See the description of this site. This site has been managed by us for The Nature Conservancy for about 5 years. In August 2007, the Nature Conservancy donated (transferred title) of this site to the Prairie Enthusiasts. Download the news release.
With over 250 members in the greater Madison area, we offer numerous opportunities for working and learning about prairie and oak savanna restoration.
Read about Chapter President Rich Henderson's Leopold Restoration Award.
Activities
Throughout
the year, the Empire Sauk Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts sponsors
many different volunteer activities. These activities include:
- Seed Collecting late summer and fall
- Brush cutting late fall and winter
- Field Trips in spring/summer/fall
- Prescribed Prairie and Savanna Burns in spring
- Educational Activities (especially the Annual Conference, held this year on March 8, 2008 at UW-LaCrosse)
- See Work Days for the January-March 2008 schedule
The Prairie Enthusiasts provides major
funding for expansion of The Nature Conservancy's Spring Green Preserve.
Read the Press Release |
Hunting on Prairie Enthusiasts properties
For hunting policies and a list of properties where hunting is permitted, go to this link.