Acquisition protects shoreline on Pickerel Lake and water quality in Mukwonago River
The Nature Conservancy has purchased 325 acres of land near its Pickerel Lake Fen and Lulu Lake preserves, located northwest of East Troy.
In addition to 1,600 feet of shoreline on Pickerel Lake, 5 acres of oak woodland and more than 22 acres of wetland, the conservancy also purchased about 289 acres of agricultural land. The conservancy will eventually restore about 85 acres of agricultural land adjacent to Lulu Lake Preserve to prairie, providing additional habitat for grassland birds and other wildlife.
The conservancy plans to sell the remaining 205 acres of agricultural land subject to a conservation easement. The land can remain in agriculture, but the easement will ensure that the land is managed in a way that minimizes nutrient and sediment runoff, protecting water quality in Pickerel Lake, nearby wetlands and the Mukwonago River.
“The Pickerel Lake Fen and Lulu Lake preserves protect some of the most outstanding oak woodlands, wetlands and prairies remaining in this region,” Sarah Gatzke said.
Gatzke directs the conservancy’s work in the Mukwonago River watershed.
“This acquisition adds additional habitat for wildlife and protects water quality in the two lakes and the Mukwonago River,” she continued.
The conservancy has applied for grants from Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund to cover a portion of the purchase of the natural area lands.
In addition to restoring the prairie at the new addition to Lulu Lake Preserve, the conservancy will also remove invasive species including buckthorn, honeysuckle and reed canary grass to restore the wetlands and oak woodland at the new Pickerel Lake Fen Preserve addition.
Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities can contact the conservancy’s office at (262) 642-7276.
More information about the conservancy’s work and the Pickerel Lake Fen and Lulu Lake preserves can be found online at www.nature.org/wisconsin in the “Places We Protect” section.
Those interested in learning more about the sale of the agricultural land can contact Stephanie Judge at sjudge@tnc.org or (608) 316-6445.
The Nature Conservancy is a conservation organization working around the world to protect the land and water on which all life depends. To date, the conservancy and its more than 1 million members have helped protect 130 million acres worldwide. In Wisconsin, the conservancy has protected more than 231,800 acres of land and water since 1960.
