Natural Areas Management in

the Milwaukee County Parks

A Cooperative Effort Between the Milwaukee

County Department of Parks, Recreation and

Culture and the University of Wisconsin

Cooperative Extension

Natural Areas of the Milwaukee County Park System

10,000 Acres

7% of the Entire County

3 SNA

Nearly 700 Plant Species

Major Migration Corridor

WI Ecological Tension Zone

Mission Statement: Blending Milwaukee County’s Diverse and Unique Natural Areas

With Its Culturally Rich Communities to Preserve and Nurture Its

Natural Heritage for Current and Future Generations

Natural areas are as much a part of our culture and heritage as music, literature, and Milwaukee County’s ethnic festivals.

Initial Challenges

• Past History

• Lack of Management Data

• Internal & External Perceptions

• Misuse and Degradation of Resources

• Financial and Staffing Limitations

• Lack of Partnerships

• Limited on the ground control <100 acres per year

• Entrenched Infestations

• No Vision or Goals for dealing with Invasive Species

Urban Conservation

vs

“Traditional” Rural Conservation

• Science

• Sociology

• Logistics

• Realistic Accomplishments

Invasive Species

38 Species Currently Managed

15 Species that have rapid response level populations

11 Species that have populations that can be significantly reduced in

the next 5-10 years

12 species that are thoroughly entrenched and require long-term

sustained control commitments

Natural Areas Education

• Service Learning Programs

• Internship Program

• Corporate Work Days

• Field Trips

• Public Presentations

• Publications & Media

• Restoration Work Days

Developing Internal Policies

• Agricultural Lease Policy

• Geo-caching Policy

• Natural Areas Contractor Standards

• Handbooks-Interns & Volunteers

• Natural Resource Inventories

• Hiking Trail Guidelines

Vegetative & Invasives Surveys

Mapping and Consolidating

Natural Area Trails

70 + Miles of “Social

Trails” reduced to 40 Miles of

Designated Trails

Reduces Invasive Specie

Introduction Sites

Improves Wildlife Habitat

Reduces Soil Erosion &

Compactions

Staff Skill Development

• GPS (Trimble) & ArcGIS

• Data Collection and Entry

• Plant & Wildlife Identification Skills

• Community Organization & Interaction

• Educational Material Development

• Invasive Species Management

• Pesticide Application & Prescribed Burns

• Big Picture Thinking

Developing Natural Areas

Restoration & Management Plans

• Vision, goals, objectives

• Inventories of existing resources

• Project layout, timelines, budgets

• Materials and methods

• Evaluations and modifications

2009-2011 Partnership Totals

6,900+ Volunteers

40,000+ Hours Donated

70+ Partnerships Organizations

1,200 acres of Annual Control Activities

AmeriCorps

Park Friends Groups

Student Conservation Association

Private Citizens

University Students

Not- for -Profits Scouts

School Districts

Corporate Partners

The Park People

Neighborhood Associations

Local Municipalities State Agencies

Federal Agencies

SEWISC

Where Are We Going Next??

• Develop a Comprehensive Internal

Invasive Species Policy

• Use ArcGIS and Vegetative Survey Data

to create probability maps

• Finish Restoration & Management Plans

for All Natural Areas within the Park

System

• Continue to develop partnerships that

share knowledge, resources, and

ultimately success