natural areas restoration in your milwaukee county …...natural areas management in the milwaukee...
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Natural Areas Management in
the Milwaukee County Parks
A Cooperative Effort Between the Milwaukee
County Department of Parks, Recreation and
Culture and the University of Wisconsin
Cooperative Extension
Natural Areas of the Milwaukee County Park System
10,000 Acres
7% of the Entire County
3 SNA
Nearly 700 Plant Species
Major Migration Corridor
WI Ecological Tension Zone
Mission Statement: Blending Milwaukee County’s Diverse and Unique Natural Areas
With Its Culturally Rich Communities to Preserve and Nurture Its
Natural Heritage for Current and Future Generations
Natural areas are as much a part of our culture and heritage as music, literature, and Milwaukee County’s ethnic festivals.
Initial Challenges
• Past History
• Lack of Management Data
• Internal & External Perceptions
• Misuse and Degradation of Resources
• Financial and Staffing Limitations
• Lack of Partnerships
• Limited on the ground control <100 acres per year
• Entrenched Infestations
• No Vision or Goals for dealing with Invasive Species
Urban Conservation
vs
“Traditional” Rural Conservation
• Science
• Sociology
• Logistics
• Realistic Accomplishments
Invasive Species
38 Species Currently Managed
15 Species that have rapid response level populations
11 Species that have populations that can be significantly reduced in
the next 5-10 years
12 species that are thoroughly entrenched and require long-term
sustained control commitments
Natural Areas Education
• Service Learning Programs
• Internship Program
• Corporate Work Days
• Field Trips
• Public Presentations
• Publications & Media
• Restoration Work Days
Developing Internal Policies
• Agricultural Lease Policy
• Geo-caching Policy
• Natural Areas Contractor Standards
• Handbooks-Interns & Volunteers
• Natural Resource Inventories
• Hiking Trail Guidelines
Vegetative & Invasives Surveys
Mapping and Consolidating
Natural Area Trails
70 + Miles of “Social
Trails” reduced to 40 Miles of
Designated Trails
Reduces Invasive Specie
Introduction Sites
Improves Wildlife Habitat
Reduces Soil Erosion &
Compactions
Staff Skill Development
• GPS (Trimble) & ArcGIS
• Data Collection and Entry
• Plant & Wildlife Identification Skills
• Community Organization & Interaction
• Educational Material Development
• Invasive Species Management
• Pesticide Application & Prescribed Burns
• Big Picture Thinking
Developing Natural Areas
Restoration & Management Plans
• Vision, goals, objectives
• Inventories of existing resources
• Project layout, timelines, budgets
• Materials and methods
• Evaluations and modifications
2009-2011 Partnership Totals
6,900+ Volunteers
40,000+ Hours Donated
70+ Partnerships Organizations
1,200 acres of Annual Control Activities
AmeriCorps
Park Friends Groups
Student Conservation Association
Private Citizens
University Students
Not- for -Profits Scouts
School Districts
Corporate Partners
The Park People
Neighborhood Associations
Local Municipalities State Agencies
Federal Agencies
SEWISC
Where Are We Going Next??
• Develop a Comprehensive Internal
Invasive Species Policy
• Use ArcGIS and Vegetative Survey Data
to create probability maps
• Finish Restoration & Management Plans
for All Natural Areas within the Park
System
• Continue to develop partnerships that
share knowledge, resources, and
ultimately success