Citizens work to save Milwaukee County Grounds oaks, butterfly habitat

I've posted recent items here and on Facebook about grassroots efforts to save a stand of ancient oaks near the Milwaukee River in Glendale's Kletzsch Park.

* In the same vein, props also to Sanctuary Woods preservation activist James Maurer for this update and effort about a similar citizen-led mission:

Dear Milwaukee County Supervisor,

  I have attached some photos of the recent Buckthorn Removal on the Milwaukee County Grounds at Sanctuary Woods by volunteers lead by Wauwatosa resident Johnathan Piel.

 The Milwaukee County Parks Department was kind enough to lend the tools needed to accomplish this task and they also sprayed the stumps directly after the removal in order to prevent re-sprouting. 

 This was the second Buckthorn Removal event and more will be taking place in the future. As you can see from my photos this removal reveals a Remnant Oak Savanna once present all over the Midwest and Wisconsin of which few examples remain.

You will also notice in Johnathan Piel's photos Wauwatosa Alder Nancy Welch and her husband David Plank among the volunteers as they value the preservation of green-space in their community.

  I hope that you will take this effort into consideration when making decisions concerning the rezoning and preservation of the Northeast Quadrant of the Milwaukee County Grounds. This includes the preservation of the secretive Long Eared Owl roosting site and beneficial snake dens located to the North of the former Food Service building whose current development proposal would obliterate this valuable and irreplaceable habitat.

  Sincerely,

  Jim Maurer, Milwaukee/Wauwatosa

* And activists working to save other resources on the Milwaukee County Grounds through the grassroots group Friends of the Monarch Trail have several upcoming events, including its annual Milkweed plant sale, Sunday, June 2nd, 12-3 p.m., at the Milwaukee Parks Department, 9480 Watertown Plank Rd, Wauwatosa.

Milkweed is the sole food source for endangered Monarch butterflies which use dwindling open space on the County Grounds during their annual migration.