Land Purchase Protects Water Quality in Mukwonago River

EAST TROY, WISCONSIN—11 December 2006—The Nature Conservancy announced today that it has conserved a critical parcel in the headwaters of the Mukwonago River through the purchase of 66 acres in the Town of Troy from Robert Baker, a farmer and long-time resident of the area. The property contains a high quality fen and a headwaters stream of the Mukwonago River.

“For three generations, Bob and his family have loved and cared for this land,” said Scott Thompson, the Conservancy’s Director of Freshwater Conservation. “Their stewardship has protected headwaters of the Mukwonago River and preserved one of the highest quality fens in the state, all while keeping the acreage as a working farm.

“The Mukwonago River is a tremendous resource in our community because of the recreational, scenic, and cultural benefits that it provides,” Thompson added, “and The Nature Conservancy is committed to managing the land in a way that protects the health of the river and the surrounding wetlands.”

The Mukwonago River is one of the cleanest streams in southern Wisconsin, and provides habitat for rare fish and mussels as well as game fish, birds, and other wildlife. The groundwater that feeds the river and surrounding wetlands is also an important source of drinking water for local residents.

Various types of wetlands including fens, bogs and sedge meadows are found along the Mukwonago River. Prairie remnants and oak openings thrive on higher ground. The surrounding landscape is home to a wide array of native plants and wildlife.

The Nature Conservancy has been protecting habitat and native species in the 55,000-acre Mukwonago River watershed since 1985. The Conservancy is a member of the Mukwonago River Initiative, a local group of citizens and organizations who are concerned with the health of the river, lakes and surrounding wetlands. The group is studying the impact of urbanization on the river, lakes, and groundwater supply, and is working collaboratively with other community members to identify ways to keep these important freshwater systems clean and healthy.

Funding from Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act’s Grants Program will assist The Nature Conservancy in acquiring the property.

A portion of the land that the Conservancy purchased from Mr. Baker will remain in agricultural production. The rest will be managed to conserve the health of the Mukwonago River and the surrounding wetlands.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy has protected more than 15 million acres in the United States and has helped preserve more than 101 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. In Wisconsin, the Conservancy has helped conserve more than 139,000 acres since 1960. The Conservancy has more than 21,000 members in Wisconsin and offices in Madison, Ashland, Baraboo, East Troy, and Sturgeon Bay. On the Web at nature.org/wisconsin.