For the fifth year running, the Ice Age Trail Alliance and the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) came together with volunteers to continue restoration efforts on the Gibraltar Rock Segment. Under exhaustive conditions, crews worked to remove the invading juniper forest from the slopes of the Steenbock Preserve. Thanks to your efforts, biodiversity will be increased and nearly three acres of historic prairie can begin to heal and reclaim the landscape.
Thank you to the 29 volunteers who gave 361 hours and contributed to this stewardship effort.
As the project wrapped up, the site was un recognizable from its initial state. Sunlight shone down from above onto soil that has not seen anything but shade in decades. This year’s work has broken through the cedar thicket on the western slope, connecting previously cleared areas on the ridge where native species are thriving, to hardwood forest below. Each and every hour given by volunteers contributed to not only the success of this project, but to the bigger mission of bringing us together in support of land and the trail.
A special thank you to the following:
- Crossroads Coffeehouse in Cross Plains for donating the coffee;
- Columbia County Department of Transportation for providing parking for the project;
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for allowing us access to the project site;
- US Fish and Wildlife Service for bringing top-notch sawyers and lending the use of their equipment;
- All experienced sawyers who donated not only their time (and eventually sore backs), but their equipment and fuel, too;
- And each swamper who tirelessly worked on the slopes feeding the fires.
Up Next:
Brownrigg-Heier Preserve, Manitowoc County
To keep this preserve’s hardwood forest healthy, projects include:
- April 30-May 2: Tree Planting
- May: Garlic Mustard Removal
More Details Here. See our full schedule upcoming events here: 2021 Reconnect Events.
Generous Sponsors of the 2021 Mobile Skills Crew Trailbuilding Season include:
Sitka Salmon Shares is offering all Ice Age Trail enthusiasts and trailbuilders a $25.00 discount on your purchase of a salmon or seafood share. They’ll donate $25.00 to our award-winning Mobile Skills Crew program.
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