WH Visit Ocotber 22, 2005

[Robert Braun]

A recent visit to Wisconsin Heights revealed the following--

1. Trails are mowed, and these rather recently, given the length of the grass. An absence of footprints indicated a lack of recent human visitors. Several deer tracks were seen on the northern trail to "Militia Ridge."

2. Site is now heavily invested with hawthorn and prickly vine scrub, resulting from the most recent burn-off. Hisotric vistas are now almost completely blocked from view by two years of growth.

3. Interpretive ortwork--transferred to plastic sheeting rather than metal-- has suffered from serious vandalism, particularly the posts at Sharpshooter Lookout and in Spy's Ravine. New directional signage points visitors to the direction of the large cigar shaped mounds located south of the battle area. No signage points to the battle site or its features.

4. One other visitor was seen.. a person walking a dog.

5. The DAR mouniment is intact, with the trail nicely manicured. The monument is in need of restoration and clean-up, but has not suffered any additional vandalism sicne the two shot gun blasts from about two years ago.

Regards,

Bob Braun

[pshrake]

I had the chance a few weeks ago to walk the battlefield and sadly have to say that the conditions Bob wrote about last October have not improved. In fact my experience was identical even down to the encounted with a hiker with a dog.

The only difference was that the grass was probably mowed weeks before and was getting rather long, especailly back in the area of the horse corral.

But what was worse was that every interpretive marker along the trail was significantly damaged. I think Bob was right in vandals but I also suspect severe weather damage as well.

Pete

[Larry Koschkee]

The paths of the WDNR are paved with good intentions and the results of their agressive land purchase and preservation indicate they can not take care of what they got. Yet, they continue to outbid the public on tracts of land that sell for huge dollars per acre. Wisconsin Heights is a prime example.

When one discusses poor land caretaker activities with WDNR officials they trot out standard worn out excuses, mainly budget cuts and lack of funding. This is been going on for more than 25 years.

If one was really serious about maintaining a 1830s landscape at the Wisconsin Heights battlefield or a reasonable facsimile thereof, a Friends of Wisconsin Heights organization would need to be formed, adopt the site and pledge work crews for upkeep. Then and only then can we expect to view former vistas.

I am not willing to form such an organization due to "many irons in the fire" already, however would willingly volunteer a strong back, chainsaw and various "weed-wackers" on a work crew.

Regards,

Larry

[Robert Braun]

larrykoschkee said:

The paths of the WDNR are paved with good intentions and the results of their agressive land purchase and preservation indicate they can not take care of what they got. Yet, they continue to outbid the public on tracts of land that sell for huge dollars per acre. Wisconsin Heights is a prime example.

When one discusses poor land caretaker activities with WDNR officials they trot out standard worn out excuses, mainly budget cuts and lack of funding. This is been going on for more than 25 years.

If one was really serious about maintaining a 1830s landscape at the Wisconsin Heights battlefield or a reasonable facsimile thereof, a Friends of Wisconsin Heights organization would need to be formed, adopt the site and pledge work crews for upkeep. Then and only then can we expect to view former vistas.

I am not willing to form such an organization due to "many irons in the fire" already, however would willingly volunteer a strong back, chainsaw and various "weed-wackers" on a work crew.

Regards,

Larry

Lasrry's comments regarding the WDNR are spot on. I can add nothing beyond what he has indicated.

Pete and I have discussed the marginal state of affairs at WH and some proposals for maintenece and upkeep of the property. The plan is to present some ideas to the superintendent at Tower Hill and see if there is interest in an ad hoc "Friends" group that is willing to "adopt" the battle ground.

Pete and I also shared ideas about more vandal-proof interpretive displays. I believe these and other improvements are eminantly "do-able."

We have the tools, we have the talent, we have modest funding... and we have willing volunteers. All we need now is a land management plan and the WDNR's blessing.

Regards, Bob.

[Larry Koschkee]

IMHO the quickest and most effective step to take in developing a land management plan would be to tap into the expertise of THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS non-profit organization. With their input and backing we would have a relative easy sell of our plan to the WDNR. Perhaps we could also sue for a endorsement from the Sauk County Historical Society.

I see no conflict in managing the site for battlefield vista identification and prairie/savanna remmant protection.

I know two of the founding members, Gary Eldred and Walter Mirk, very well and would be happy to initiate an overture to them for assistance.

Soon after the WDNR purchased this site and they conducted various vegetation eradications, I walked the battleground armed with historical excerpts from Whitney and Thayer. The site is an open-air theatre and the "Acts" unfold on the landscape. I have not experienced this at the Pecatonica, Bad Axe, Stillman's Run, etc.

To a certain extent you can experience what I am talking about here when you take Robert Braun's Wisconsin Heights "Virtual Tour" on the OLRHS website.

The interruptive aspect of this site is special and it would be a shame not to maintain it for future generations.


Regards,

Larry

[pshrake]

Larry,

You raise an imporant point regarding partnership with THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS. If we are going to be successful in restorting the landscape out there we have to involve prairie experts. In the last two weeks I have spoken with two friends, Curt Meine (of the Crane Foundation) and Mike Mossman (of the DNR) both very knowledgeable and well connected in the conservation world in the Sauk/Dane County area. Both also have some personal experience with prairie restoration. Both gave me a list of names to contact and some excellent advice, chief of which is to establish a working relationship conservation experts and groups.

Mossman made the excellent point, that you can not fully understand human history with out understanding natural history, and you can not understand enviromental history with out knowing the human connection. Point being, both are intertwined with each other. Wisconsin Heights is a excellent place to illustrate this interconnection.

I am planning to talk with the powers that be at Tower Hill sometime in July If I can schedule it with them. Until then, I thought that talking or writing with as many interested parties, both historic and enviormental, as possible generating interest, advice and ideas. Perhaps a working group could evolve out of this. After I speak to the superintendant at Tower hill perhaps we ought to call a meeting of all interested parties sometime in late July-early August.

Larry if you could contact Gary Eldred and Walter Mirk that would be great!


Pete

[Larry Koschkee]

Pete,

Mike Mossman was a huge help to me a few years ago while I was working on a dissertation on pre-Euro-American settlement landscape in Southern Wisconsin. He gave freely of many pearls of information, which I am forever grateful.

I spoke to Rich Henderson, WDNR Ecologist, and current President of THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS and his response to our interest in the Wisconsin Heights Battlefield was predictable... enthusiastic!

Rich was sorry that his time is maxed out and could not offer assistance in drawing up a management plan, however, he offered some information and suggestions.

1) There are currently many "Friends of WDNR" involved maintaining WDNR land holdings, mainly at various State parks. Formal applications, guidelines and terms and conditions are available from the State Parks Divn. of the WDNR.

2) THE ALDO LEOPOLD FOUNDATION and THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS banded together in the late 1980s on a joint venture called BLUFFLANDS RESTORATION PROJECT, which focuses on prairie/savanna restoration on private lands. Rich said there is a private landowner involved in this initiative with property overlooking the Wisconsin Heights Battlefield from the south - southwest. As a suggestion, perhaps the OLRHS could "piggyback" their volunteer pledge and efforts with this landowner and utilize his management plan.

Steve Swenson is the Manager of the BLUFFLANDS RESTORATON PROJECT and writes all the management plans. Maybe he would assist in writing a plan for OLRHS.

3) Rich advised a retired WDNR individual by the name of Dick Lilly lives close to the battlefield and had a keen interest in the history. Rich thought he resided on or near Fish Lake in northern Dane County. Would you happen to be familiar with Mr. Lilly?

4) Finally, Rich said if we encounter difficulties in obtaining a management plan through the BLUFFLANDS RESTORATION PROJECT, he would seek out a volunteer among THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS ranks.

Rich Henderson asked that a officer of OLRHS e-mail him with contact information and OLRHS website address. If you could accomplish this Pete, I would be deeply grateful.

[e-mail]

Regards,

Larry

[pshrake]

Larry,

I will write Rich this week. It so happens that the Aldo Leopold Foundation rents space from the Sauk County Historical Society for thier offices. I know thier director Buddy Huffaker and it would be easy to ask him about the Bluflands Restoration Project. I will also check out the WDNR website and get the forms regarding Friends groups. Perhaps forms would be available at Devils Lake S.P., In will stop by tomorrow and see.

I do not know Mr. Lilly, but will seek him out. I think with a project like this, the more the merrier.

I hope I am not jinxing us by saying, that perhaps we are fortunate that the Battlefield is located where it is. The level of available, and informed personnel, and organizations is astounding.


Pete

[richw]

As it so happens, I have been working on an extensive ecological assesment of this site, using the Brookes & Stephenson painting, GLO survey notes, soils data, the Finlay vegetation map, etc.

I would be willing to share a "high resolution" vegetation reconstruction map of the site, if and when the "Friends" project gets beyond the initial formation stage.

[Larry Koschkee]

Rich,

I for one, would like to see the vegetation reconstruction map of the battlefield site. It would be a welcome addition to over-view maps of the area that I have on file presently. They are chronologicaly:

David Dale Owen - 1839, SOUTHWESTERN WISCONSIN IN 1839 SHOWING DISTRIBUTION OF FOREST AND PRAIRIE

John T. Curtis - 1959, THE VEGETATION OF WISCONSIN

Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey - 1965, EARLY VEGETATION OF WISCONSIN

Robert W. Finley - 1976, ORIGINAL VEGETATION COVER OF WISCONSIN

Ted Sickley - 2000, PRE-EUROPEAN VEGETATION OF WISCONSIN

Regards,

Larry

[Larry Koschkee]

A couple of followups here regarding fact finding on Wisconsin Heights Battlefield adoption.

1) A meeting was scheduled with former President of THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS, Gary Eldred.

2) Contact was attempted with Mark Culp, Executive Director, of THE LOWER WISCONSIN RIVERWAY BOARD (LWRB).

The Saturday, June 24, 2006 meeting with Gary Eldred was very informative and fruitful. Gary was very knowledgeable on the WDNR activity at the battlesite. He said the WDNR conducted an archaeological study, inventoried plant species and established a management plan to maintain the site as a savanna. Gary thought it would be redundant to establish a second management plan, rather he would like to see the original plan executed and that is where the OLRHS maybe able to assist.

It is Gary's opinion that we maybe bitting off more than we can chew because of our inexperience in vegetation and habitat management. What we are contemplating on taking on is not as simple as adopting a highway for litter and trash pickup. There is a good deal of training and certification before citizens can perform management duties on WDNR public land. For example, one must be certified to operate chainsaws and/or vegetation removable equipment and need certification to apply vegetation control chemicals.

Gary suggested that members interested in seeing this project through join some of the volunteer work crews of THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTS to see first hand what is involved in savanna management. Step two would be obtaining training and certification and a core group armed with this training could then seriously make an impact in site management.

Gary seconded my suggestion that we contact Matt Zine of WDNR who conducts prescribed burns in the LWRW such as Ferry Bluff to possibly volunteer manpower and in turn gain experience.

At the end of the meeting Gary offered his assistance in drawing up a second management plan for the battle site if that became necessary.

3) LWRB Executive Director, Mark Culp was on vacation this past week and responded to my inquiry late on Friday. Mark suggested we contact Steve Colden, DNR Riverway Manager who oversees the Black Hawk Unit... which I will do.

In addition, Mark suggested we contact an organization called FRIENDS OF THE LOWER WISCONSIN RIVER (FLOW) Timm Zumm is the contact and I will follow thru with him. Dave Gjetson, a member of this message board, I believe was co-chair of this organization at one time. Dave was the managing WDNR person that oversaw the initial Black Hawk Unit managing plan. Hopefully Dave will respond to these posts.

Larry

[Larry Koschkee]

Timm Zumm of FLOW responded to my inquiry regarding the upkeep of the Black Hawk battle field this week. He advised FLOW has done some work at the site but recognizes a great need for a specific group to maintain the site and encouraged the OLRHS to continue dialog with their organization and more specifically a member, Dave Gjestson to explore opitions on how to bring about an organized effort.

Timm said Dave was out of town presently, but thought he would be returning to his home soon so I will continue to try to make contact with Dave

Timm Zumm is Co-Chair of FLOW and his cell phone number is [phone]

Larry

[pshrake]

Larry,

Thank you for your continued efforts to contact people about this project.

I have written Rich Henderson but have not yet recieved a reply. I also have not had the chance to make an appointment with Tower Hill State Park but plan on doing so in the first part of July.

I agree that we need to get in touch with Dave Gjestson as soon as he is available.

Thanks again Larry.


Pete

[Larry Koschkee]

Pete,

Dave Gjestson has responded to my inquiry and expressed his willingness to help maintain the site. Dave said: "Have several volunteers from area historical societies that say they'll help."

Dave mentioned Wayne Schutte, a WDNR Manager, based at Tower Hill State Park, assisited in early upkeep of site but when he retired WDNR interest waned.

Dave's phone number is [phone].

Larry