Building Burn Piles and Clearing Woody Debris

Tuesday, October 28 – 9:00 a.m. to Noon

Location: Sylvan Conservation Area

The Sylvan Road Conservation Area, a Southwest Chapter site has stunning views and diverse habitats consisting of 99 acres of wetlands, uplands, valleys, and clear streams. Trout Unlimited, other TU Chapters, individuals and neighbors have volunteered on this property. It is a prime hiking and birding area.

Steve Querin-Schultz, SW Chapter Treasurer, will bring and operate a tractor with a grapple attachment to help us get a chunk of work done on a quality remnant oak woodland/savanna area. We have cleared brush and thinned trees on more than 5 acres in the work area during the past couple of years. Your efforts will help enhance the views, habitat, and spring displays of shooting stars, wood betony, and Culver’s root among others.

Special Instructions: Sawyers, needed to help chunk up downed trees, should arrive early to go over instructions.

What to Know: Be prepared for heavy work clearing limbs and stems from the woodland floor. There’ll be sawing, cutting, dragging, and stacking woody debris. The work site is along Sylvan Road.

WHAT TO BRING

Layered clothing, sturdy water-resistant boots, gloves, and water recommended. Bring your favorite equipment (loppers, chainsaws, etc. appropriate PPE is a must).

DIRECTIONS

Whitford Creek located within The Prairie Enthusiasts’ Sylvan Conservation Area, which is located near the intersection of Banner and Sylvan Roads in Iowa County. The work area is about 1/8 mile west of this intersection on Sylvan Rd. Coming from Madison take US 18 west toward Barneveld, on the east side of Barneveld turn left on County Rd K; go south 11 miles toward Hollandale. Just on the north side of Hollandale, take State Hwy 191 west 2.5 miles to Banner Rd. Turn south on Banner Rd and go ¾ mile to Sylvan Rd. Coming from the west, take Hwy 191 east out of Dodgeville 9 miles to Banner Rd and turn right and go ¾ mile to Sylvan Rd. Yes, fairly complicated, but worth the drive. Here is a Google Map

Parking: Park on the north side of Sylvan Rd.

WORK PARTY LEADER

You should email Tom Hunt if you plan to join this work party. That way, if anything changes with the weather, etc. you will be informed.