|
|
Willows at Cascade Conservation Easement County: Sheboygan
Lot size: 33.77 acres Established: 12/21/2005 |
Property story
This property in the Milwaukee River watershed and Lake Michigan Basin contains upland hardwoods, red and white pine plantations, wetlands, prairies, surface waters, and a primary environmental corridor that provides vegetative buffer and water quality protections for Nichols Creek and the North Branch Milwaukee River in this Southeast Glacial Plains ecological landscape. The property falls just north of the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) North Branch Milwaukee River Wildlife and Farming Heritage Area, in which the State of Wisconsin funds efforts to protect the quality of the Milwaukee River’s headwaters. Protection of this environmental stream corridor also fulfills many goals and objectives set forth by Sheboygan County’s Natural Areas and Critical Resources Plan. In addition, the Milwaukee River (MI) system is a Wisconsin Land Legacy Place of excellent ecological qualities with substantial protection remaining.
A former sand and gravel pit operation left the land scarred and degraded, of which 10 acres have been undergoing restoration efforts as directed by the DNR. The excavation tapped into the water table and created a lake feature on the property as well, with approximately half falling within the conservation easement zone. The lake supports, and is managed, for many fish species including Rainbow and Brook Trout, Walleye, Catfish, Bluegill, Perch, and Large Mouth Bass. The unexcavated terrain on the southern portion includes an esker and kettle feature. The property is southwest of glacially-formed Lake Ellen and the Cascade Swamp. Geologically, the bedrock is Silurian dolomite with Outwash Sand and Gravel and Casco Soils. In an area next to the easement land is a natural spring that supports watercress. Wildlife such as muskrats, ospreys, turkeys, deer, coyotes, and turtles has been observed. Pre-settlement vegetative cover would have likely included Beech, Sugar Maple, Basswood, Red Oak, White Oak, and Black Oak trees.
A former sand and gravel pit operation left the land scarred and degraded, of which 10 acres have been undergoing restoration efforts as directed by the DNR. The excavation tapped into the water table and created a lake feature on the property as well, with approximately half falling within the conservation easement zone. The lake supports, and is managed, for many fish species including Rainbow and Brook Trout, Walleye, Catfish, Bluegill, Perch, and Large Mouth Bass. The unexcavated terrain on the southern portion includes an esker and kettle feature. The property is southwest of glacially-formed Lake Ellen and the Cascade Swamp. Geologically, the bedrock is Silurian dolomite with Outwash Sand and Gravel and Casco Soils. In an area next to the easement land is a natural spring that supports watercress. Wildlife such as muskrats, ospreys, turkeys, deer, coyotes, and turtles has been observed. Pre-settlement vegetative cover would have likely included Beech, Sugar Maple, Basswood, Red Oak, White Oak, and Black Oak trees.
