Lines from Louise

     As of the first of this year, the Adult Conservation Team manager position is full time. That means I will be here during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00-4:30. I hope to spend the additional hours expanding our already burgeoning program, through Friends groups and “adoptions” like the Prairie Foster Parents. In addition, I will be responsible for coordinating Take a Stake in the Lakes, the lakes cleanup event sponsored by the Lakes and Watershed Commission and associated with Yahara Lakes Week. More on that in the April issue of “ACTION”! I’m looking forward to having the time to do more with the Adult Conservation Team, and I’m hoping you’ll all be along for the ride.

Volunteers in ACTION

REI-Sponsored Workday Along The Ice Age Trail

     For the third year in a row, REI sponsored a workday at the Tower site, along the Ice Age Trail. As in the past, volunteers cut honeysuckle, buckthorn and other non-desirable species clogging the understory of a beautiful oak wood. Twenty-eight volunteers participated this year, including members of the Ice Age Park & Trail Foundation. The whole event was coordinated by REI’s Renee Callaway, who did a great job and scored delicious food for lunch.

     Splitting into two groups, one worked at the tail-end of the previous worksite and the other near the 911 tower. We were lucky enough to have gorgeous weather again, and curious dogs from the off-leash dog exercise area visited us occasionally. On our first approach to the tower worksite, the task looked formidable (it is). However, once we got started and made a dent in the thicket of honeysuckle, everyone could see that “formidable” does not mean “impossible”. We just jumped in and started cutting and hauling. Shortly thereafter volunteer Ken Siemers came by to treat the stumps. By the time we finished, tree trunks were actually visible from the park road, for the first time in years.

     This is a rewarding project because you can really see the difference your work makes. A park-like oak savanna results from the removal of undesirable species from under the burr oaks, and increased sunlight allows wildflowers to return and bloom in the spring. We’ll be working at the same site on April 25 (see “Volunteer Opportunities”).

     Our thanks to REI and Renee Callaway for sponsoring this workday, and to all the volunteers who helped. See you in April!

Permit Vendors Play An Important Role

     You probably know that pet and boat launch permits are available at the Dane County Parks office. Did you know that there are many local businesses and county offices that also sell permits? These vendors receive no compensation, yet offer a valuable service to the public. They represent another kind of volunteerism, and we would like to thank them here. Pet permits are sold by: the Dane County Clerk’s office, Dane County Humane Society, Mounds East, West and Fitchburg and Toucan Tropical Pets. Boat launch permits are sold by the Dane County Clerk’s office, Jiffy Stop (Amoco) on Highway 51 (McFarland), North Street Baits (DeForest), Prairie Land Service Center (Sun Prairie), Steve Gerhardt’s Sports Center and Sports East (Madison).

     Dane County Parks thanks all these vendors for their years of partnership with us, and for providing an important service to the public on our behalf.