2007 Overview

This year has been the most active ever for land conservation in the Bayfield region. Details will be in our newsletter, but here are the highlights:

Capped off the Mt Ashwabay acquisitions which now holds over 1000 acres of deep forest habitat, 42 k of nordic ski trails and preserves the Mt Ashwabay Recreation Center--a family ski hill.










Protected a quarter mile of shoreline on Bass Lake on one of only two private holdings on the lake, which has a US Forest Service canoe launch.











Permanently preserved 85 acres and numerous ponds that are a wildlife magnet west of Mellon in Ashland County.











With a land preservation agreement with a private landowner, over 500 ft of Lake Superior shoreland, 2,400 feet of intermittent streams, and 600 feet of fields visible from Hwy 13 north of the City of Washburn are forever protected.







This work is only possible due to our generous members who make annual contributions to support our conservation programs to protect these places that make this region beautiful. You can join us by making a donation here.

Mt Ashwabay--we did it!

Last week, Bayfield County purchased the last 160 acres of land on the Mt Ashwabay ridge!

BRC President, Ellen Kwiatkowski announced that the $240,000 Stewardship grant from the Department of Natural Resources was matched by contributions by many people and a much-needed boost at the last minute of a donation by Murphy Oil Refineries of Superior.

You can now ski 42 kilometers of nordic trails crossing from Star Route Rd over to Mt. Ashwabay. To print a map, go here and click on Maps.
The media coverage was phenomenal. You can read some of the stories online:
Superior Telegram
Ashland Daily Press
KUWS Wisconsin Public Radio
News Center 6 TV -- featuring Dave McCormick's song, "Letters to Leopold"

Pam Troxell 1959-2007

Pam passed on last Friday, November 9, 2007. You can read her obituary here.
The Wisconsin State Journal also published a tribute by columnist Susan Lampert Smith.
A memorial garden of native plants and a howling wolf sculpture will be created in honor of her life and life's work. You can donate to the garden by mailing a contribution to the Pam Troxell Memorial Fund at Associated Bank, 221 4th Ave W, Ashland, WI 54806. 715-682-9371.

You hang on for wherever this ride is taking you--benefit Fish Boil for Pam Troxell

A benefit fish boil will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at the Four Corners Saloon (30015 E County Hwy E near Mason) to help cover the costs of cancer treatments and travel for Pam Troxell. Pam is a lifelong conservationist and has worked with the Timber Wolf Alliance and other programs at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College.

I have worked with her with the Friends of the White River. Last June, the group was trying to find out how to get involved with a booth at Mason Days, and Pam took the practical approach of stopping in at the local bar to get support for the Friends having a booth at the event. In August, she and her husband took an extended wilderness canoe trip in the arctic with Bill Heart and others. The cancer that took one eye has now spread throughout her body. And I thought of her when I read Sam Cook's column today in the Duluth news Tribune.

Fall Colors in northern Wisconsin

Forrest Howk Studies Ice Records to Madeline Island

A fun thing to do in February is to drive the ice road across Lake Superior from Bayfield to Madeline Island. I usually drive with my window down in case I have to bail out of a sinking car. I know the ice depth is tested daily, but the experience elevates my heart rate and saves money.

Forrest Howk, a local Bayfield student, researched historical records back to the early 1800's and found the ice-over days are getting fewer and fewer. You can read the article in the Duluth News Tribune.

Conservation Options in Estate Planning Oct 25

In conjunction with Gathering Waters Conservancy and Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust, we are hosting a luncheon seminar on Conservation Options in Estate Planning. The intended audience is attorneys, financial planners, bankers and accountants who provide tax advice to conservation-oriented clients.

For more information see the Events tab at our website.

Annual Meeting and Cider Making

You are invited to the Annual Meeting of the
Bayfield Regional Conservancy Saturday, September 29, 2007
at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bayfield, WI
109 S 6th Street (Hwy 13)

9:00 a.m. Annual Meeting and slide show of conservation project updates and board elections.

1:00-4:00 p.m. Apple cider pressing, hikes at the Big Ravine. An afternoon of autumn fun! Bring apples to press, or pick from the old orchard and bring clean containers to take some cider home. Volunteers will lead hikes on the Big Ravine Trails. Join us at the Peterson Farm: take Washington Ave out of Bayfield, through the cemetery to Betzold Rd at the top of the hill. Turn right onto Betzold, go ½ mile and turn right on Martin Rd and follow to the end.
For more information call the BRC
at 715-779-5263.

Fall Newsletter 2007

The summer is slowly coming to an end as fall approaches with cool nights and changing leaves. Check out our fall newsletter to find out what BRC has been up to and information on our upcoming annual meeting and apple cider pressing event. You can view it on line here.

Last 160 acres on Mt Ashwabay

Your help is needed to acquire and protect the last 160 acres on Mt Ashwabay (shown in orange on this map).

Thanks to a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund grant, the last piece of Mt Ashwabay can be protected with your help! Your donation will be matched 1:1 up to $100,000 to purchase this land for wildlife habitat, forestry and Nordic ski trails.

The option top purchase expires at the end of September. 80% of the funds have been raised! The BRC is working with Bayfield County and the Ashwabay Outdoor Educational Foundation to raise the remainder of the match required by the grant.

You may donate on line at our website and read more details here (click on Projects box in lower left corner).

Knotweed Results

Gene Brevold was one of seventeen people who helped cut and remove Knotweed (Elephant Ears)in Bayfield last Thursday. The plant is highly invasive and grows into a huge jungle in just a few months.

The treatment involved cutting the hollow stems and treating with a concentrated glycophosphate herbicide. For details on how to control this non-native plant, see the Homeowner's Guide to Knotweed.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the work and the sponsors: Apostle Islands Realty, National Park Service, Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area and Travel Green Wisconsin.

Knotweed Woes

Help control this invasive plant in Bayfield on July 11

9:00 a.m. Morning seminar indoors on Japanese Knotweed and its effect on our landscape and economy

Free lunch for participants thanks to Travel Green Wisconsin Program and area businesses.

1-3:30 p.m. Outdoor field work to remove Japanese Knotweed on the Brownstone Trail and other public lands. Bring loppers and work gloves.

Call to register. Space is limited and registration is required. There is no cost for this event. Please contact Ruth Oppedahl 779-5263 or email ruth@brcland.org to register or for more information.

Big Ravine Trail Improvements

Kenny Dobson is donating 70 yards of clean, sand fill on the Big Ravine Trail section off Martin Road. Those who hike the trail may recognize the huge pond that forms in the spring in the middle of the trail near the intersection fondly remembered as the "Fridge Trail". Luckily the fridge is no longer guarding the water monitoring well, thanks to clean-up work by Tim Hartnett, and now you will be able to walk down the trail instead of skirting way around through the woods.

C&W Trucking will cap the filled area with Brule Blue gravel which packs up nicely. They will also create a swale that will drain the area better. Many thanks to Kenny and to Phil Peterson who grabbed the opportunity of free fill material!

Lasagna dinner for kayakers

L-R:Arnie Carver, Shari Eggleson, Paige, Becky Carmel helped serve lasagna at the 5th annual lasagna dinner for the kayakers at the Inland Sea Society's kayak symposium in Washburn last week.

BRC members donated homemade lasagna's (ranging from vegan to venison) and desserts for a wonderful benefit dinner that raised about $1700.

Special thanks to the Village Inn, the Egg Toss Cafe, Ehler's General Store & Deli and Wild By Nature for donations of food. Thanks to Shari Egglseon, Mark Eggleson, Carol Lyons, Gene Lemmenes, Nickolas Oppedahl, Becky Carmel, Paige, Bill Bussey, Ann Riggs, Carl Savitsky, Arnie Carver and Lynda Nedden-Durst for all their hard work.

Highland Valley Farm featured on Public TV

Highland Valley Farm is featured this week on In Wisconsin, hosted by Patty Loew on Wisconsin Public Television. The special documentary called “Land Trusts” airs at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14. It will encore at noon, Sunday, June 17, and 11:30 p.m. Monday, June 18. On Sunday, June 17 at 3:30 p.m. it airs on WDSE-TV in Duluth.

The show highlights stories about properties around the state that have been protected forever by private landowners working with land trusts. The documentary interviews Bayfield growers, Rick and Janet Dale (and one of their sons Chris) about Highland Valley Farm and the Town of Bayfield’s Farmland Preservation Program. The Bayfield Regional Conservancy administered the program for the Town and worked with the Dales to coordinate the preservation of their farm.

Landowners from other corners of the state, including Door County, Chippewa and Douglas Counties relate their experiences working with a land trust to preserve their land.

For more information click here.

Big Ravine Trails Work Party June 2

All interested volunteers should congregate at the Bayfield soccer field around 9:30 am. The soccer field is up the hill and past the fire hall on Washington Ave, at the end of Dump Road. Work will include putting up signs and general clean up. If you can,please bring rakes, shovels, and saws for trimming anything that is hanging too low over the trails. Please call the Bayfield Regional Conservancy at 779-5263 if you are interested in joining the work party.

Free Bark Chips

You haul. Located down the Brownstone Trail off the intersection of Manypenny x 3rd Street in Bayfield. Drive through lumberyard storage area and fill your trailer or bags. Please watch out for lumberyard workers.

We will use some of these for mulch on July 11 for the Knotweed Knockout (removing the Japanese Knotweed "Elephant Ears Bamboo", but can't possibly use all that were given to us. Please help yourself!

Spring migration

We are starting to see and hear the neo-tropical birds which have made the journey from Mexico, Central America and other southerly places to northern Wisconsin. This week I have heard:
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated green Warbler
Ovenbird
White-throated sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Northern Oriole
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The first-ever Chequamegon Bay Birding & Nature Festival is this coming weekend (May 18-20). There are hundreds of field trips and talks. The birding should be excellent!

Big Ravine Trail Maps Installed

Gene Lemmenes and Grandon Harris dug post holes and installed three trail maps at intersections on the Big Ravine Trail system today. Thanks guys!

Grandon is also re-planting the nice kiosks that Rich Ryan built last year. The kiosks can be found at the trail heads at the Bayfield School, the soccer field and the end of Martin Road.

You can download a map here, click on Trails & Maps and Big Ravine Trail Map.

The Country Commute

I have lived in Cornucopia for almost eleven years now. Friends and family still ask me if I get sick of driving all over for work or to different events for our kids. If any of them could just take a week to travel with me, they would understand that what I encounter on my drives is nothing like the traffic endured by living in a city.
Last Tuesday on my way into the office, I had the opportunity to stop and meet a great gray owl through the lens of my camera. What an amazing creature. Great Grays are so huge when you see them from 20 feet away with their yellow eyes piercing into your own.
Yesterday on our way to soccer registration and Kindermusik, my sons and I saw a bobcat eating on a road killed deer. Unfortunately, we only caught a quick glimpse as it dashed away from the kill and into the woods.
Maybe some folks don't mind looking at bumper to bumper traffic on their way to work. As for me, I will take the wildlife.

Iron Bridge Trail

Grandon Harris has brought to our attention that the Iron Bridge Trail in the City of Bayfield is in need of some care. BRC met with the City Park's Commission last fall to request some money for materials with the hopes that a volunteer work party could provide the labor.

It's quite a beautiful trail with boardwalks and benches built by Bobby Nelson's WCC Crew in 1984.

The trail leads up the bottom of the Big Ravine to a beautiful 4 ft waterfall. (This is directly below the Bayfield School.)

There's lots of work to be done, including rebuilding the trail where water runoff has created deep gullies.

As you walk back down the trail to the parking lot on Washington Ave in Bayfield, you can see Lake Superior.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help make repairs and spruce up this beauty spot?

Walking Group Explores Brownstone Trail

Linda Webster has organized a walking group through Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College this summer. Here is the description:



Spring mornings call! Slip on those walking shoes and trek the length of the BrownstoneTrail with friends and neighbors (2+ miles). Walk at your own pace and take in the scenic vistas and returning migratory birds. In case of inclement weather, meet at the Egg Toss Restaurant to discuss "A Northwoods Companion - Spring and Summer" (John Bates author). Class will meet 8:30-10:30 am on June 4, 20, July 11, 18. No class July 4.

To register click here.

Sand Bars at Pike's Creek

View of Pike's Creek from Highway 13 looking north to Port Superior and Pike's Bay Marina.

Marie Strum, an assistant chief for the Army Corps of Engineers based in Detroit estimates the lake will still be 14" down by mid-September.

Unfortunately, this season, there will be some northern pike seeking to migrate up rivers to spawn who will find estuaries too low to be of any use, according to Steve Schram, director of the hatchery at Bayfield.

Return of the Cranes

South Shore birders- the pair of Sandhill Cranes have returned to the Bark Bay Slough! I enjoyed seeing the pair with their two fledglings grazing in the field near the slough last fall as I would drive my boys to catch the bus. Yesterday morning, four wild turkeys were also hanging out along the road leading to the slough. The tom stood guard with his feathers puffed out as the three hens pecked their way through the grass.

Ebay Pancake Benefits BRC

The high bidder for our Mother Nature Miracle Pancake was Nancy Sandstrom of the Pinehurst Inn. Nancy won the pancake with her $86 bid!

The pancake appeared on the last griddle of flapjacks made by Ros Nelson at our annual Maple Syrup Pancake Breakfast March 31. The pancake seemed to have the likeness of Mother Nature, and not one to miss an opportunity to raise money for our conservation work, Ros posted the pancake on Ebay. Over 600 people viewed the auction and 42 people were watching the bids over the week of April 1.

Rick Olivo from the Daily Press wrote a hilarious story, "Miracle pancake or flapjack flap? eBay will settle this" that was picked up by the AP wire. The story took a life of its own and appeared in newspapers in St. Paul, Chicago, Madison, Eau Claire, Green Bay and Wausau.

The Sandstroms tell me that they are preserving the pancake (not serving it) for the future. Maybe it will make an appearance next year, for the good of the cause!

Frogs

The last of the snow is pretty much gone. Finally we are hearing the quacking of the Wood Frogs and the peeping of the Spring Peepers.

A great link to identifying Wisconsin frogs is found on the Department of Natural Resources website.

Skiing at Mt. Ashwabay

Beta and Jim Bodin at Mt. Ashwabay in an earlier era!

As you may know, the BRC was involved in helping acquire funds for the purchase of the Mt Ashwabay Ski hill and the adjacent lands that are used for the nordic ski trails. By the time we are done (with the help of Gov. Doyle, Sen. Jauch and Rep. Sherman) over 1040 acres will have been acquired for public recreation and wildlife habitat on the Ashwabay ridge.

Though we don't have much snow... the Ashwabay Outdoor Educational Foundation has been making snow on the ski hill to build up the base for the downhill ski runs. They also have added 15k of skating trails to the cross-country system. Here is a recent article on the ski hill.