The Creek’s Course

Winter 2015-2016

5K Trail Run A Success! Over 200 friends, supporters, and running enthusiasts joined us for the 3

rd annual Baird Creek Run For the

Hill Of It 5K Trail Run Presented by Nicolet Bank and 2

nd annual Little Hill

Racers Kids Run Presented by KI on October 10, 2015. We lucked out with beautiful weather once again, a challenging new race course, and more than one tired but smiling participant at the finish line atop Triangle Hill. We were able to raise funds for our Foundation, but another important goal reached that day was introducing the Baird Creek Greenway to more than 1/3 of the runners! Each year the run creates new Baird Creek Fans and for that we are so very grateful (and proud)!

Make sure you are free next year on Saturday, October 15, 2016 to join us at Triangle Hill. We will post registration information as the date gets closer, so stay tuned to our website at bairdcreek.org and our Facebook page at facebook.com/bairdcreek. If you would like to receive our email updates please send an email to carrieh@bairdcreek.org. Many thanks to our sponsors. We are not kidding when we say we couldn’t do this without them! Please patronize the below businesses to show your support.

In this Issue:

5K Trail Run Success

President’s Message 2

Fields Program 2

Restoration Project 3

Summer Interns 3

Upcoming Events 3

A Place to Love 4

Board of Directors

President

Charlie Frisk

Vice President

Dave Hemstreet

Secretary

Mathew Dornbush

Treasurer

Mark Diederich

Members

Paul Hartman

Kevin Hendricksen

Joshua Martinez

Robert Mead

Al Nass

Neal Van Ess

Executive Director

Maureen Meinhardt

The Creek’s Course Page 2

runners. Total participation was down slightly, primarily because of several competing runs, but participant satisfaction was very high.

I took a long hike at Baird Creek today and the thought that kept going through my head is how obsessed we can get over the problem areas in the greenway; those areas dominated by buckthorn, phragmites, garlic mustard and other invasives. It is easy to lose sight of the fact that the majority of the greenway is in very good condition. We have at least 18 distinct biological communities ranging from Eastern Hemlock groves to tall grass prairie, the finest mature oak/hickory groves in this part of the state, and somewhere between 400 to 500 species of native plants. Some of the nicest looking areas in the greenway are plots that have undergone restoration by BCPF work crews. This area of the state is very fortunate to have a biological treasure trove like the Baird Creek Greenway. Good Hiking! Sincerely,

Charlie Frisk

The summer and fall of 2015 have proven to be very busy and productive for the BCPF. Volunteer groups and the student interns removed thousands of invasive plants and planted thousands of desirable native plants. We can always use more volunteers for planting and invasive species removal. Please check the BCPF website calendar for work dates in early spring when planting will resume.

Due to a wet fall and time constraints our planned controlled burn has been delayed until spring. Keep your eyes on the website for an announcement of when the burn will be held. Because the timing depends on both ideal weather and availability of the burning crew the date is usually announced only a few days before the burn takes place.

Board member Al Nass has been the ironman of the invasive removals and plantings. Not only does he organize most of the workdays, he also is there doing the work. For his outstanding contributions he was recently honored with the Mayor’s Beautification Award.

The annual “Run for the Hill of It”, held Saturday, Oct. 10 was a great success again this year. The weather was beautiful and the Baird Creek Greenway was nearing peak fall colors for the

Message from the President

Who Wants to Learn About Nature? This fall the FIELDS Program, (Field Investigation, Environmental Learning, Decision-making by

Students), brought young students to Baird Creek through funding obtained from a grant awarded to the

BCPF. Approximately 100 fourth and fifth grade students from Aldo Leopold and Wequiock Elementary

Schools spent two days at Baird Creek learning about aquatic biology. The students learned about

stream characteristics, the fish and other organisms that live in the stream, and the insects and spiders

that occupy the stream banks. The students had fun, got incredibly muddy, and learned about nature in

a way that only direct exposure can provide. Future field trips are being planned for this spring for both

schools.

The Creek’s The Creek’s Course Page 3

Upcoming Events 2015-2016 December 19, 2015 at 1 p.m. - Winter Wonderland Hike with

Dr. Mike Draney at Christa McAuliffe Park

January 16, 2016 at 1 p.m. - Animal Tracks Hike with Charlie Frisk at Christa McAuliffe Park

February 20, 2016 at 1 p.m. - Heart Health Hike with Nate Vandervest at Christa McAuliffe Park

March 19, 2016 at 1 p.m. – Signs of Spring Hike with Kevin Hendricksen at Christa McAuliffe Park

March 30, 2016 (Tentative)- Annual Banquet- Location TBD

Restoration by the

Numbers The Baird Creek Preservation Foundation took on a large

restoration project in 2015. We purchased two parcels in the

Town of Eaton in the past several years, and restored the

property this year with the help of the Wisconsin Waterfowl

Association, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin DNR, and the

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

54 Acres Restored in the Town of Eaton on Baird Creek Property

5100 Trees Planted

2562 Tree Shelters purchased and installed

45 Acres Seeded with Prairie Plants

1 Stream Crossing Repaired

5 Organizations involved in the project

$17,667 Approximate amount required from the Baird Creek

Preservation Foundation to complete the Restoration Project –

your donation would help!

Infinite opportunities for wildlife and community members to

enjoy the results of our efforts!

Thank you to our 2015 Summer Interns, Candace Kraft and Dakota Hitchner. These young women battled buckthorn, garlic mustard, phragmites, rain, heat (and did we mention buckthorn?) all summer long with smiles on their faces and appreciation for the experience. They also honed their leadership skills as they worked with volunteers, and completed the pesticide application training through the Wisconsin DNR. Candace is an Environmental Science and Policy graduate student at UW-Green Bay and Dakota is an Environmental Science and Political Science major at UW-Madison. We appreciate their enthusiasm and positive attitude and wish them a great school year!

A HARD DAYS’ WORK

View Inside Tree Shelter

Planted Trees with Shelters

Candace

Kraft

Dakota Hitchner

Check out www.bairdcreek.org

Like us on Facebook!

Baird Creek Preservation Foundation

P.O. Box 824 Green Bay, WI 54305

PHONE: (920) 328-3505 E-MAIL:

execdirector@bairdcreek.org

P.O. Box 824

Green Bay, WI 54305

The Baird Creek Preservation Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission

is to facilitate the preservation and restoration of the Baird Creek Watershed in order

to enhance its value as an ecological, recreational, and educational resource for

generations to come.

Please circle your desired membership level:

Greenway Voyager $1000 Name: ___________________________________

Trailblazer $500 Address: _________________________________

Pathfinder $100 ________________________________________

Member $35 Email: ___________________________________

Friend $10 Additional Donation _________________________

Total Amount Enclosed: ______________________

Please mail your donation to: Baird Creek Preservation Foundation, P.O. Box

824, Green Bay, WI 54305 Thank you for your support!

Through upland old growth forest, over rolling hills, down deep ravines, across open

prairie and fertile wetlands, visitors to the Baird Creek Greenway will experience a

diversity of natural settings. Baird Creek itself includes rapid streams, waterfalls, and

quiet pools. All this combines to create a remarkable home for flora and fauna of all

kinds in the midst of a modern city.

You are the key to saving what is left of our natural heritage! Please use the donation

request form below to help. Thank you!

The Baird Creek Greenway… A Place to Love.