Current and Past LIP Projects
Walworth County

2009: Remove invasive plants to restore oak savanna and wetland

Project Goal and Site Description:
The goals of this project are to restore the oak savanna and southern dry-mesic forest and to introduce prescribed burning, thus maintaining and enhancing the native plant and endangered bird populations.

Most of the project site consists of degraded oak savanna with a small area of wetland. Large white, red, and bur oak trees are found, along with cherry, hickory, white pine, walnut, and basswood. Much of the property has filled in with buckthorn, honeysuckle, garlic mustard, Japanese hedge parsley, prickly ash, and oriental bittersweet. Bordering the south side of the project site, the Nature Conservancy owns 120 acres including a wetland that is one of the headwaters of the Mukwonago River.

2009: Removal Woody Invasives from uplands and wet prairie

Project Goal and Site Description:
The goal is to remove buckthorn and other invasives, and non oak trees so that the oak savanna and rare species associated with it can florish. Removal of mature buckthorn to reduce new seedlings, open up areas so a prescribed burn can control small invasives. The current amount of mature invasives is more than one man armed with a chainsaw can manage. Opening up upland and wet areas will also improve the condition of and flow into the creek and allow for greater species diversity.

Site is mainly Oak (Red, White, & Burr) upland ridges and kettles not grazed since 1950's.(approx. 25 acres) Landowner harvests down or diseased (oak wilt) trees for firewood. Access trails can work as fire breaks. Currently working on Buckthorn removal as time permits(2 acres managed with a 20+ acre balance with pockets and scattering of the invasive) Some summer mowing and brushhog work to manage trails and openings. Mukwonago creek(almost 1/2 mile) runs thru the 59 acres owned by applicant. Attempt to control Purple Loosestrife in 25 acres of wetland with cutting ,treating and beetles, some help recently from state and TNC. Maintain a couple of pockets of Wild Plum thickets as bird feeding and nesting areas.