October 2010 meeting

During our Oct. 26th meeting the Committee discussed an number of different topics:

1) Picnic Point Project Update:

Plans for improvements of the tip of Picnic Point are moving forward. The tip of Picnic Point suffers degradation and erosion problems. Furthermore, users want more lake views and access. Thanks to a large donation, the area is going to be improved and a fire circle will be added. The improvement plans have continued to evolve thanks to much feedback gathered at public meetings.

Construction for the design will hopefully begin next summer. Up to 80 people could use the fire circle with 40 people actually sitting at the circle. This will be the only picnic site for large groups. There are many other design elements that are being considered and integrated such as naturalistic landscape plans and designs on how to accommodate the high volume of traffic that Picnic Point already experiences.

The most recent improvement design was shared with the Committee during this meeting and will be shared at a PUBLIC MEETING on November 9^th at 7pm in Room 1335 of the Health Science Learning Center. Come and share your input!

2) Budget

Preserve management reminded the Committee that they are starting the budgetary process with the Stakeholder meeting that evening to solicit feedback from the public. Management will discuss where money is coming from, what everything is going to cost, and what has been completed. Another Stakeholder meeting will be held in January to present the budget. The Committee will approve the final budget at the end of February.

3) Priorities for Vegetation Management

The Planning and Implementation Subcommittee unveiled their updated Priority Plan for near term ecological management of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. The main focus for preparing the document was on practical ecological management projects that are either in progress with current resources, or could be considered with similar additional resources. The subcommittee focused on 13 high priority Preserve areas, and ranked them by their need for attention. They also examined whether sites needed written plans and/or new management. The Plan was approved by the Committee.

4) Biking in Picnic Point

Whether or not the Committee will address the issue of biking in Picnic Point will likely be further discussed at the Nov. 30^th meeting.

September meeting

The Lakeshore Nature Preserve had its first meeting of the semester on September 28, 2010. Here were some of the main points from the meeting:

1) New people: Gary Brown was introduced as the new Preserve Director. Gary is also director of campus planning and landscape architecture at Facilities Planning and Management. For more information on this appointment see http://www.news.wisc.edu/18325. We will also have two new students and a faculty appointment  joining us in October.

2) Summer work projects and volunteerism are going strong! There is still much work to be done with the preserve and they are always looking for volunteers. If you want to volunteer, contact Bryn Scriver at (bscriver@fpm.wisc.edu). There are also numerous October work party opportunities coming up (http://www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/involved/volunteer.htm).

3) Last year, numerous subcommittees were created to help better tackle issues with the Preserve. Those subcommittees were Development (led by Bill Barker), Research (led by Don Waller),  Planning and Implementation ( led by Susie Will Wolf), and Communication and Archives (led by Elsa Althen). The only subcommittee that met over the summer was the Planning and Implementation subcommittee. They put together a proposed priorities list for vegetation management in the Preserve. This will help focus management efforts and identify areas that need management plans. This document is in progress but is likely to be brought up for approval at the next meeting.

4) Picnic Point bike conflicts. For decades, concerns about pedestrian and bike traffic along the Picnic Point path have been raised. Jack Westman presented on the issue and suggested that a bike ban in Picnic Point was needed. Lakeshore Nature Preserve volunteers have conducted a preliminary survey on Preserve use and impressions and will collect more data this fall. The bike issue is not new and it is undecided at this point if the Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee is going to take up the issue. Stay tuned…

Upcoming Meetings:

Lakeshore Nature Preserve Committee meeting: October 26, 12:30-2PM at 304 South Hall

Lakeshore Nature Preserve Stakeholder meeting: October 26, 5:00PM at WARF. All are welcome to attend and voice comments and concerns involving the Preserve.