November 2003

“We have not inherited the earth from our fathers.  We are borrowing it from our children.” 
Native American Saying
 

Your donations have helped CPPF to purchase five more lots this year. Four of these lots are located on the Gen Crema Trail-head. We now own the entire trail! We gave The Nature Conservancy $23,100 to acquire them.

From the pain of losing lot 92 last year came the determination to purchase lots 94, 95, and 97 in this same block, which are on Marina Road. These lots are nearly 1/2 acre in size and are equal to 12 smaller lots.

We plan to purchase lot 97 next year. This lot has a view of the lake and therefore commands a much higher price. Please consider an additional donation for this lot. You will find a place for donations toward lot 97 listed on the enclosed membership card . Buying this lot will take a large portion of our principle and seriously deplete our interest income which is needed to cover our expenses to manage Chiwaukee Prairie.  

Chiwaukee North is also expanding! The DNR purchased  6 lots in 2002, and 2 more in 2003, leaving 103 lots left to purchase.  This is now a total of 365.6 acres under state ownership!

A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT

a special message to our fine group of loyal supporters

Like many other groups and individuals, Chiwaukee Prairie Preservation Fund is experiencing financial problems. As you know, our board members and stalwart volunteers do their work to maintain and improve the prairie completely free of charge.                         

Your donations have always been used exclusively for purchasing land. In the past we have been able to take care of our modest operational expenses with interest money from your gifts. At present, however, interest rates are extremely low so that income is now  inadequate for our basic needs. This means that your donations are more important than ever. We hope you will be as generous as possible to help us with our ongoing expenses as well as our all important  program of land purchase. 

The board met in July and examined our financial situation. Our biggest expense, after land acquisition, is the newsletter mailing. We trimmed down our mailing list from 1,154 to under 400, by removing those who, after receiving four letters, have not supported us.  We have saved additional money by changing from a bulk mailing to first class (more economical for the smaller number and our single yearly mailing). Our gift to you in 2003 is the Gypsy Moth pamphlet, a contribution from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. We’re also saving money by using note cards from previous years as a gift for our Blazing Stars, instead of having new ones printed.  We remain optimistic and feel sure that better days will return. In the meantime we have tightened our belt.

The prairie continues to surround us with beauty and we trust that our friends will continue to warm our hearts with their generosity.

Thanking you for your splendid support, past and future, I am Sincerely yours,  Joan H. Rohan       
 

Prairies are one of the rarest ecosystems in the world. At one time Wisconsin had 2 million acres of prairie, now there are about 2000 remnant acres. Bordered by oak savanna, and supporting hundreds of species of wildlife, they are more endangered than the rainforests! We can plant prairie grasses and wildflowers, but we can’t create a true prairie ecosystem. Without your donations, Chiwaukee Prairie would not exist.  The prairie is a part of us, yet it doesn’t belong to us. It is for our enjoyment now, and for that of future generations. We are not only preserving land, but all that it supports.  

A first time gift of $100 or  more will enroll you as a “Blazing Star”. You will receive a Blazing Star print that’s ready for framing. This print was created for us by Artist, Bernice Rosen. You will also be invited  to attend the Breakfast on the Prairie in June,  and the Picnic in September.  

Blazing Star members who renew $100 memberships will receive a gift packet of note cards with envelopes created by Artist, Rebecca Venn.  You will also be invited to attend the June Breakfast on the Prairie and the September Picnic. 

With a donation of $500 you will become a Life Member.  You will receive a Certificate of  Honor and the Blazing Star print by Bernice Rosen.  You will also be invited to the Breakfast on the Prairie and the September Picnic. 

 

“We repeat our promise: With your help we will continue until the last piece of land has been preserved.”

  

Are you at a loss as to what to do with yourself on the third Saturday of every month? Well, look no further! The CPPF work parties meet from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  You can meet us on 121st St. and 2nd Ave.  Remember to pack your favorite lunch . You may want to wear work clothes, gloves, and protective eye wear, too.  Depending on the season we will be clearing brush, weeding out invasives, or collecting wildflower seeds. We have the tools if you have the time!  The work days in November and December are held at Barnes Prairie. Meet us at 121st St. and 2nd Ave. and we’ll drive over to Barnes. We look forward to seeing you as soon as Dec. 20th!


CONGRATULATIONS  EUNICE BOYER

Long time prairie supporter and Kenosha County Board Member, Eunice Boyer, recently received an Eleanor Roosevelt  Award. She was recognized for her outstanding contributions to her community.

Well Done Bernice!


Did you know that there are over 77 different bird species that either live on, or visit Chiwaukee Prairie every year?  All of these depend on the prairie for their survival.   Many use the prairie for a summer nesting area. Others use the prairie for a pit stop as they migrate. And, there are some hardy birds that like to spend the winter there.

Oldest recorded ages of six birds in the wild:

Blue Jay – 17 years, 6 months
American Tree Sparrow – 10 years, 9 months
Mourning Dove – 31 years, 4 months
Red-tailed Hawk – 28 years, 10 months
Baltimore Oriole – 11 years, 7 months
Great Horned Owl – 27 years, 7 months

Kenosha News

Our thanks to Brian Arendt and  Boy Scout Troop 525.     Under Brian’s direction, they, along with  CPPF  Volunteers, and the DNR, cut out non-native plants at the calcareous fen located on the corner of 100th Street and Lakeshore Drive. Herbicide was applied to the remaining roots and stumps to eliminate further growth of these invasives. The DNR provided a chipper for on the spot grinding of the branches and brush. Brian’s efforts awarded him the Eagle Scout Badge. Congratulations Brian, and thank you, Scouts.  

The calcareous fen is one of the rarest types of wetland in North America. There are only 154 calcareous fens in the world. Twenty-nine of them are in Wisconsin, and three of those are located in the Chiwaukee Prairie.  An alkaline peatland, the calcareous fen is fed by underground seepages and springs that may contain magnesium sulfates and calcium. As the ground water rises and warms, these elements separate and accumulate on the surface.  These calcareous fens are found in southeastern Wisconsin because of our “recent” glaciation, climate, and dolomitic bedrock.  The plants in the calcareous fen are able to survive in these severe, cold, wet, alkaline, high-calcium conditions. In spite of this, the plant life is diverse.  Some of the plants able to survive here are shrubby cinquefoil, fen loving grasses, fen star sedge, and grass-of Parnassus.

CPPF Board of Directors 2003

Joan  Rohan, President
Gus Hauser, Vice President
Eric Howe, Treasurer
Bruce Sedloff, Secretary 
Renate Hauser, Corresponding Secretary
Richard Barloga, Naturalist
Marcia Wensing, Stewardship Chair-South
Donna Peterson, Land Acquisition-South
Dawn Feldman-Brown, Hike & Education Coordinator
Ann Jolicoeur, Newsletter Editor
Phil Sander, Historian
Heather Patti, Stewardship-South
Pam Holy, Chicago Wilderness Representative
Lenny Weiss, Stewardship-South

ADVISORS

Sue Tragesser, Membership & Labels
Steve Richter, The Nature Conservancy
Tom Becker, Chiwaukee-North
Marty Johnson, DNR Wildlife Manager 

 

GYPSY MOTH ALERT ! 

The DNR has reported that the gypsy moth has now reached destructive numbers in the Carol Beach area. If you live in this area, now is the time to check your trees for egg masses laid by this years crop of moths. 

The eggs are laid in tan-colored clusters about 1 1/2 inches long. The clusters look like pieces of felt, and can be found on tree trunks, the underside of branches, on firewood piles, lawn furniture, houses and garages.  If you live in this area and find a lot of clusters, call the Village Hall and be sure to alert your neighbors.  

To destroy the eggs, spray the cluster with a soybean oil solution that suffocates them.  One common brand is, Golden Pest Oil Spray, found at all garden centers. You can also scrape them off and drop them in a half inch of vegetable oil in a can or jar. Or, using a small brush you can paint the mass with vegetable oil.

For more information on the Gypsy Moth, go to:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/insect/moth.htm

 

Kudos to those who volunteered their time, sweat, and efforts to the Chiwaukee Prairie in 2003!

George & Faith Bushnell
Dawn Feldman-Brown
Cathy Chybowski
Alan Eppers
Mike & Yvonne Fort
John Harbeck
Gus & Renate Hauser
Pam Holy
Eric Howe
Carl Johanson
Ann Jolicoeur
Marcia O’Day
Bob Laeser
Mitch Levin

 
Jo Lueck
Jim Major
Chris Mann
Mary McVicter
Heather Patti
Donna Peterson
Joan Rohan
Stan Rosenstiel
Dave Roszkowski
John & Monica Schluckebier
Bruce Sedloff
Don Snyder
Lenny Weiss
Marcia Wensing

 

A special thank you to Kenosha Bible Church for hosting our board meetings!