Land

Vegetation

Consultants completed a tree inventory of the entire greenway. The north-south section of the greenway was completed in 2017, and the east-west section of the greenway that runs parallel to Tree Lane was completed in 2021.  

In addition to the tree inventory that was completed in 2017 and 2021, the City has hired a consultant to complete and Ecological Assessment to map and quantify the ecological communities, and their health, throughout the corridor. This information is actively being gathered and will be shared in early 2024 during the Concept Refinement stage. After sharing the results of the assessment, we will obtain feedback from the community and ask neighbors adjacent to the different distinct delineated ecological communities to provide input as well.

Trees and vegetation help with infiltration, slope stabilization, and erosion control. Those aspects play a critical part of the stormwater design. Additionally, trees and vegetation provide other ecosystem services such as urban canopy, pollinator habitat, carbon storage, health of residents, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat. Trees are a very valued part of the greenway and the City’s overall ecological health. While we are aware there is confusion surrounding this project, as a specific design has not been proposed, there is not an estimated number of tree removals to provide at this time. During the plan refinement process there will be tree impacts identified.  See the engagement plan section for information on how the community’s input can shape the plan’s impacts on trees.

Wildlife

Wildlife considerations in design and construction

The City coordinates with several experts during the design and construction of pond and greenway projects in regards to wildlife. During the permitting process, the City completes an Endangered Resources Review through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). These reviews tell the City which endangered species may be present on site, and they provide guidelines on how to mitigate impacts to, and create habitat for, these species.

In addition to required reviews, the City seeks to minimize impacts to wildlife with the following approaches:

• Consulting with wildlife experts:  The City has worked with professors from the UW-Madison Department of Forestry and Wildlife Ecology to mitigate impacts to birds, and with the UW Urban Canid Project to monitor for fox and coyote so that appropriate mitigation actions can be taken if canids are found to be denning on site.
• Prioritizing tree preservation:  Tree preservation relates to restoration goals and varies by site, but typically prioritizes mature trees, native trees and/or slow-growing species.  When possible, dead trees may be left as wildlife habitat.  To help make these determinations a tree survey that includes the tree’s overall condition is completed by a certified arborist.
• Altering construction practices: Construction timelines, location of infrastructure, grading extents or limits, and other aspects of construction may be altered during the planning process or during the actual construction in order to better mitigate effects to wildlife.  For example, the City may time construction to occur when it will have the least impacts to bird nesting.
• Physical relocation of wildlife:  Less mobile wildlife, such as turtles, frogs and toads, if constrained to a pond or wetland on site, may be relocated to an alternate stormwater site. This has been done successfully on other projects. 
• Pursuing ecological restoration:  Ecological restoration is planned into each project.  This means that existing site conditions are analyzed and a plan to restore ecological functionality and biodiversity is created as part of the design process.  Where resources may have historically been lacking on a site, a project offers an opportunity to improve wildlife habitat and overall ecosystem function.

Project Impact on Wildlife

The City recognizes the importance of Sauk Creek and other stormwater land to wildlife and acknowledges that project implementation will temporarily impact the ability of wildlife to use the site.  Temporary effects during construction may be primarily negative, but the long-term effects of ecological restoration on the site may net great improvements for wildlife. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Natural Heritage Inventory Report specifies restoration targets to assist Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and other wildlife based on Wisconsin’s unique ecology.  WDNR’s Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan (WWAP) further identifies threats to SGCN and other wildlife, and outlines actions to address these threats.  Some of the threats they identify as applying to the most significant number of species and habitats include invasive species, habitat loss/fragmentation/degradation and modification of environmental processes.  Most urban greenspaces including Sauk Creek are affected some or all of these issues. 

Ecological restoration, the process by which humans help repair or create the conditions necessary for ecosystem recovery, seeks to identify and address these issues.  As ecological conditions on site improve, wildlife habitat also improves. An example of how ecological restoration may be implemented to improve and manage wildlife resources is the Owen Conservation Park Habitat Management Plan.

An emphasis on improving the functionality of the ecosystem at Sauk Creek, may therefore improve conditions for wildlife that already use the greenway, as well as creating conditions appropriate for a wider variety of species, thereby increasing site biodiversity.