Public Notices

October 19, 2009 Muir Knoll, Robert E. Gard Storeyteller's Circle

The Robert E. Gard Storyteller’s Circle project, on Muir Knoll, will break ground, Tuesday October 20, 2009.

The concrete reservoir will be broken up on site and the rubble placed in the existing hole.  The site will be covered with topsoil and graded to meet the slope.  The site will then be planted with a  woodland seed mix.  In order to demolish the reservoir, one black locust along Observatory Drive, and two small hedge maples will be cut down.  Branch removal will be necessary on one sugar maple.

The existing overlook plaza will be removed and a new storyteller’s circle (circular wall with bench seating) will be built in its place.

During construction Muir Knoll will be fenced and inaccessible.  The stairs and path through Muir Woods to the lakeshore path will remain open—although a path detour will be necessary. Construction is expected to be complete by mid June 2010.

For information contact Rhonda James,  rjames@fpm.wisc.edu or 263-3032

July 15, 2009 Hammer Throw area improvements

A project to improve the UW-Madison hammer throw area west of the Goodman Diamond complex. This project will begin construction on July 20, 2009 and will be completed by October 2009.

In general, the work consists of providing a concrete pad for the throwing sports (hammer, discus, shot and javelin).  A new hammer throw cage will be installed and stone chip landing area will be added to the throwing area.  The landing field area will be raised up and re-seeded.  This will improve drainage in the field area.  To the west of the new throwing area and east of the existing path, a native wet-tolerant seed mix will be planted as a buffer to the Class of 1918 Marsh.  The Class of 1918 Marsh is a mapped wetland and all construction for this work will be outside of the wetland boundary.  The wetland will be protected with erosion control measures throughout construction and until the turf is established.

  If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda James at rjames@fpm.wisc.edu

July 13, 2009 Snow storage pile improvement project

A project to improve management of snow stored in an area adjacent to the 1918 Marsh will begin on July 27, 2009 and will be completed by November 2009.

In general, the work consists of reconstruction of 1.9 acres of the UW's snow storage/management areas including:  grading, earth berms with stone weepers and level spreaders to manage melt water runoff, installation of clear stone over geotextile fabric, installation of a new crushed stone base course and asphalt paving at the existing access drive, a new chain link fence near the baseball diamond, and wetland vegetation restoration. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Harman at sharman@fpm.wisc.edu

February 2009, Willow Creek Woods, vegetation mnanagement: Unit 2/eastern section

In the coming weeks, as conditions permit, work will begin on removal of undesireable vegetation in the eastern section of Willow Creek Woods.  A news brief has been published on page 3 of the February 25, 2009 edition of Wisconsin Week.  More information about this activity is available in this news summary and this project summary.

May 22, 2008 Gypsy Moth Aerial Spray

Weather permitting, areas of the Preserve, Arboretum and main campus will be sprayed to kill gypsy moth caterpillars--beginning at approximately 5 AM.  For the most current information call: Gypsy Moth Information Line at 1-800-642-6684 (1-800-642-MOTH) and choose menu option 1. For more spray details...

April 29, 2008, Biocore Prairie Prescribed Burn, 3-6PM
(Unfavorable weather conditions led to cancellation of all 2008 planned burns.)

A prescribed burn of the Biology Core Curriculum Prairie northwest of Picnic Point will be conducted today if weather conditions are suitable. The prescribed burn is meant to assist germination and plant establishment. The burn is part of the Biology Core Curriculum Prairie initiated in 1997.

For more information:
Prescribed fire: 265-3417, 235-1893 (cell)  Daniel Einstein deinstein@fpm.wisc.edu
Biocore Prairie: Janet Batzli jcbatzli@wisc.edu

January 2007,  Willow Creek Woods vegetation management. 

Read a summary of this effort to return Willow Creek Woods to a condition similar to what would have existed here prior to European-American settlement.