What: OTN Late Winter Gathering:
When and where: February 4th, 5:30 pm Riveredge Nature Center in the barn
Directions - click here
Dinner: chili, bread and sides (If anyone would like to contribute a crock of their specialty chili or some bread or a side dish, please let me know at least a week ahead.)
As always, feel free to bring a beverage of your choice to share.
RSVP: You are welcome to bring guests. Please let me know if you are coming and if you are bringing anyone else along. Thank you in advance!
New Tools for the Toolbox -
Andrew Struck, Ozaukee County Planning and Parks Director:
Title: Ozaukee County Coastal Resource Open Space Master Planning
Executive Summary
Land use changes and invasive vegetation have dramatically and permanently altered Lake Michigan basin habitat available for fish and wildlife, and these changes diminish the ecological productivity of our natural areas and open spaces. Our vision is to have a series of protected properties that build upon existing environmental corridors, provide critical habitat for wildlife and migratory and non-migratory birds and protect land and water resources. While the Park and Open Space Plan (POSP) for Ozaukee County details land and water protection and restoration efforts and those of partnering organizations, it does not specify the parcel-level planning necessary for on-the-ground implementation and landowner coordination. The Ozaukee County Coastal Resource Open Space Master Plan (Master Plan) is a parcel-level planning effort for prioritization of parcels for preservation and restoration that will be used to inform and update the POSP.
The Master Plan uses GIS to systematically rank and prioritize parcels best suited for preservation and restoration activities according to a suite of analysis factors including biodiversity, impervious surfaces, stream impediments, riparian buffers, forested areas, groundwater recharge potential, and distance to protected areas. The current study area consists of parcels within the Sauk, Sucker, Onion, and Direct Lake Michigan Drainage watersheds, 85% of which drains directly to Lake Michigan in Ozaukee County. The overall goals of this Master Plan are to: 1.) Preserve and enhance ecological productivity and water quality, ecosystem services, natural resource management through preservation and restoration of environmental corridors, natural areas, and open spaces; 2.) Maintain prime agricultural lands; 3.) Promote compact and efficient patterns of urban development. These goals can be achieved through planning of preservation and restoration actions on priority parcels as identified in the Master Plan and POSP.
Nick MIller, Science Director for The Nature Conservancy's Madison office.
Wetlands play key roles in maintaining biodiversity and ecological integrity. They also function as natural infrastructure for ecosystem services that support people and communities. Because wetlands multi-task so well, their preservation and restoration is relevant to many stakeholders beyond those who typically invest in wetland conservation. The Nature Conservancy is working with Wisconsin DNR to develop a planning tool that supports the collective effort of these stakeholders. The tool takes a watershed approach to assessing ecosystem service needs, and then demonstrates where restoring former wetlands, and protecting exisitng wetlands, has the potential to meet those needs.
Intended users range from municipalities interested in storm and floodwater management, to outdoor enthusiasts concerned with fish and wildlife habitat. The project is based on analyses of spatial data in a GIS and builds on previous projects including several supported by Ozaukee County. The Milwaukee River basin is one of three watersheds statewide where on-the-ground testing will be used to validate and improve the tool’s usefulness. The ecosystem services included are: flood abatement, water quality (sediment capture, phosphorus reduction, and nitrate removal), shoreline protection, carbon storage, floristic quality, stream baseflow support, fish and aquatic habitat, and wildlife habitat.
MORE:
Please let me know if you or your organization received any honors or completed a major project so I can add that info to our website!
From John Hoff:
Natural Burial Workshop: Returning to the Wisdom of Our Past at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Saturday, March 12 | 9:00am – 4:00pm (registration at 8:30am)
In this all-day workshop, local professionals (listed below) will share their experiences, explain alternative arrangements now available locally, and provide you with plenty of resources.
Conventional funeral and burial practices in the U.S. are only about four to five generations old and are very different from most practices elsewhere in the world. For many, it’s a difficult conversation to have regarding personal arrangements and questioning why we do what we do concerning our deceased loved ones. There are alternative and more natural approaches to caring for our deceased and their burial.
Come to this Saturday workshop and harvest the wisdom of our past by learning how to care for a deceased loved one at home and returning their remains to the Earth using the age-old practice of natural burial. Caring for a loved one prior to burial or cremation is not only the last act of love but the first step in the healing process.
The day will include:
∑ A screening the film, “A Family Undertaking”
∑ Presentations from four area professionals listed below
∑ Lunch (* included if you’re signed up prior to Friday, March 5)
∑ A 4-person panel discussion to answer any and all questions you might have
This event is handicap accessible.
Pre-registration is required. To register call 414-352-2880. (*Lunch is included if you’re signed up prior to Friday, March 5)
M: $40
NM: $50