Conservation Projects
Our Conservation team regularly undertakes special projects that catalyze landscape-scale restoration or augment safe and responsible access to our myriad high-quality habitats. Informed by our strategic planning process, these high-profile projects make a significant impact on the stability, sustainability, and biotic diversity of the land, while enhancing educational opportunities and visitor experiences.
Current Projects
West Meadows Trail Enhancement: Rediscovering the Wet Mesic Prairie
This project is transforming one of northern Milwaukee County’s largest remaining grassland areas by restoring its rare wet-mesic prairie ecosystem while improving visitor access. With more than 99% of tallgrass prairies lost regionally, the project focuses on repairing damage from past agricultural use, invasive species, and poor trail conditions by rerouting trails out of sensitive wetlands and creating a continuous 19-acre prairie. Restoration efforts include removing invasive plants, planting native grasses and wildflowers, managing woody vegetation, and using prescribed burns to rebuild a healthy, resilient habitat.
These improvements will support a wide range of wildlife, from pollinators like monarch butterflies and the endangered rusty patched bumble bee to grassland birds such as Bobolinks and Eastern Meadowlarks, while also enhancing ecosystem services like stormwater management and soil health. The project also creates a more accessible and immersive experience for visitors, offering opportunities to explore a rare landscape, observe restoration in action, and engage with new educational programs.
Learn more about the West Meadows Trail Enhancement
Reptile and Amphibian Habitat Preserve: Unveiling a New Habitat
This project introduces the community to a new nature experience, as we open a segment of the property never before available to the public. The Reptile and Amphibian Habitat Preserve enhances visitor experiences by taking hikers through land characterized by birch, large old growth sugar maples, oaks, and shagbark hickories. These additional 18 acres not only expand hiking opportunities but also the amount of land available for educational programming and citizen science.
Specifically, we are designing and building a trail system through the preserve that accentuates this unique habitat, while also respecting the habitat’s delicate breeding grounds for reptiles, amphibians, and other native animals.
Planned Projects
Wood Duck Pond Sedge Meadow Project: Beautifying Pond Habitat
This project will enhance the visitor experience and community education through the restoration of the sedge meadow surrounding Wood Duck Pond. This will beautify and fortify this area of the property, build and encourage Blanding’s turtle (a species of special concern) breeding habitat, as well as improve flood management in the surrounding area.
Mink Pond Project: Re-creating an Aquatic Bird Blind
This project will also enhance the visitor experience and community education through the restoration and beautification of Mink Pond, formerly Bird Blind Pond. We will relocate the bird blind to a more effective spot on the trail and restore it to a functional state. This will offer new opportunities to learn about potential species in this project area, including wood ducks, teals, and kingfishers.
Restoration will include a three-year cycle invasive management plan and the replanting of vegetation to help mitigate flooding and increase diversity. The berms surrounding Mink Pond will be rebuilt because they are disintegrating due to age and muskrat mischief. We will also ensure water flows through an existing drain to further control and mitigate stormwater.
Completed Projects
Hardwood Swamp Restoration: Phase 1 & 2
An important, yet endangered habitat, our 6.6-acre hardwood swamp project area was an ideal location to restore this important, rare, and diverse wetland community. Together, Phase 1 & 2 of this project created a powerhouse habitat that provides tremendous benefits to many native plants and animals, including ecologically important pollinator species and several bioindicator bird species. Phase 1 was completed in 2022 and Phase 2 was completed in 2025.
The Bluff Pavilion Courtyard & Gardens
Completed in the spring of 2024, this project mitigates bluff erosion and protects old growth forest while creating a space of greater beauty and ecological sustainability. Today, the formerly grassy space at the Pavilion is a durable, multiple use stone courtyard, surrounded by thoughtfully designed gardens filled with a diverse selection of colorful, pollinator-friendly native plant species.
Central Wetlands Loop Accessible Trail Project
As of 2023, the entire one-mile Central Wetlands Loop is now accessible to all, including people who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. All trail segments are made of either crushed limestone or elevated boardwalk, and take visitors through various habitats, including woodlands, prairies, wetlands and three ponds. This loop is easy to find and simple to navigate, facilitating awe-inspiring outdoor experiences and plentiful educational opportunities.
Stormwater Wetland & Ravine Restoration
This significant, award-winning land project was undertaken in 2019 to dramatically reduce the impact extreme storms have on our 185-acre property. In addition to improving the quality of the stormwater flowing into Lake Michigan, the restored project area serves as a site to help educate the public on the importance of water conservation and provides high-quality habitat where native plant and animal species thrive. Learn more.