Pleasant Valley Conservancy
Restoration History

Restoration work began first on the south-facing slope, which had, hidden among the shrubs and trees, patches of prairie vegetation. Special attention was paid to clearing around the two most visible prairie remnants (Units 1 and 4), and the rest of the western end of the south slope (Units 2 and 3). The work was begun gradually, first removing conifers such as cedars and planted red pines. Eventually all the exotic shrubs were removed as well as every tree except oak and hickory, opening up the hidden understory vegetation to the sunlight.

After clearing and a controlled burn, native species collected elsewhere on the property, or nearby, were hand seeded. Seeding, controlled burns, and hand weeding continued over the ensuing years.

The photos below show the dramatic transformation that took place on the south slope. See the panorama for 2007 view.

The chronology through 2005 is shown in a graph and table below.
Panorama view of the south slope, October 2007. Most of the oaks visible on the slope are open-grown bur oaks.

The graph below shows the approximate area restored each year,
and the total restored for the whole Conservancy through 2005.
Although these areas are only approximate, they give an idea of
what has been accomplished. The cost per acre for restoration is
variable across the Conservancy and will depend, among other things,
on labor cost, extent of degradation of the particular unit, ease of access
(work is slower on steep slopes), and weather. One estimate, based on a
labor cost of $25 per hour, is $2800 per acre. This value is considerably
higher than that offered by Federal contracts. Thus, without private
funds, significant savanna restoration is difficult to carry out.

Although comparable data for prairie restoration are not available,
it seems likely that prairies can be restored much more economically.

 

  
Summary table of restoration work through 2005

Date

Activity

Early years

  

1993-1995

Preliminary discussions with Brian Pruka about the desirability of carrying out restoration work

May 1995

First girdling of aspens

June 1995

Management plan provided by Brian Pruka

August 1995

First species list by Brian Pruka

Sept 1996

First clearing of cedars on the south-facing slope

1997: Initiation of major restoration work

  

March 1997

Extensive clearing of cedars on south-facing prairie remnants

April 1997

First controlled burn on small prairie remnant (Unit 1, the "goat prairie")

Summer 1997

Conservation Reserve Program renewal provided for planting two agricultural fields to prairie

Summer-Fall 1997

First seed collecting from remnants on the property

Fall-winter 1997-1998

First clearing of brush and undesirable trees in the oak savanna areas

1997-1998

Detailed plant survey and management plan prepared by Paul West

1998

  

Feb-Mar 1998

Complete removal of all cedars, pines, and undesirable shrubs on the south-facing slop (prairie remnants)

April 1998

Controlled burn in prairie and oak savanna areas carried out by Empire-Sauk Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts

April 1998

Seeding of burned areas with seed collected the previous year

May 1998

Initiation of an extensive aspen girdling program. Girdling continued through 1999-2002.

Summer 1998

Initiation of weed control work on the south-facing prairie remnants. Extensive weed control continues throughout all areas as they are restored

Summer 1998

Treatment of the upper CRP field with glyphosate (three applications)

Summer-Fall 1998

Extensive seed collection throughout the Conservancy

Nov 1998

Planting first CRP field with prairie seeds (Toby's Prairie)

Winter 1998-Spring 1999

Extensive brush control program using basal bark spraying with Garlon in prairie and savanna remnants

1999

  

April 1999

Controlled burn in prairie and oak savanna areas carried out by Empire-Sauk Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts

1999-2004

Extensive brush and undesirable tree control in savanna areas. Continues to present

1999

Extensive seed collection in remnants

Summer 1999

Treatment of the lower CRP field with glyphosate (three applications)

October 1999

Controlled burn in the north-facing oak woods carried out by Empire-Sauk Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts

Nov 1999

Planting second CRP field with prairie seeds (Pocket Prairie)

Dec 1999

Establishment of the tax-exempt Savanna Oak Foundation, Inc. to own and preserve the Pleasant Valley Conservancy

2000

  

2000-2004

Continued brush and tree removal, weed control, and controlled burns

2000-2002

Cutting dead aspen that had been previously girdled and burning in large piles

Oct 2000

Controlled burn in another oak savanna area

Dec 2000

Seeding of oak savanna area burned Oct. 2000 (Unit 11).

April 2000

Controlled burn in prairie and oak savanna areas carried out by Empire-Sauk Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts

Winter 2000-2001

Burning numerous piles of brush and small trees that had been cut and stacked the previous summer/fall

2001

  

April 2001

Controlled burn in prairie and oak savanna areas carried out by Empire-Sauk Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts. Burns of some smaller remnants

Aug 2001

Field trip for Madison Audubon and Prairie Enthusiasts

Oct 2001

Controlled burn of oak savanna (Unit 19) that had been cleared in the summer

2002

  

March 2002

Controlled burn of prairie on south-facing slope, planted prairies, and prairie remnants by volunteers from the Prairie Enthusiasts.

Feb-March 2002

Finished clearing White Oak Savanna (Units 12A and 12B)

Summer 2002

Burned numerous piles of brush and small trees that had been cut and stacked the previous winter/early spring

Summer 2002

Treatment of another CRP field with glyphosate (two applications with spot treatment of patches that had regrown). Controlled burn in July 2002 of dead vegetation after the first glyphosate treatment.

Nov 2002

Controlled burns of oak savanna areas, both bur oak and white oak.

Nov 2002

Planting treated CRP field with prairie seeds (dry-mesic, mesic, and wet-mesic species) (Valley Prairie)

Nov 2002

Plant White Oak Savanna that had been cleared the previous spring and burned in early November.

Spring/summer/fall 2002

Collect and identify on grasses and flowering plants found on the Conservancy. Prepare species check list.

2003-present

Continue restoration of oak savanna

  Estimated land cleared 1997-2004: 72 acres
2005 Begin restoration of wetland

All years

Extensive seed collecting on remnants and restored areas. Seeds used to plant newly cleared areas.

All years

Extensive hand weeding and herbicide treatment of weeds that had developed after opening up the land (mainly prairie areas, but some oak savanna). Principle weeds being controlled: sweet clover, wild parsnip, Canada thistle, ox-eye daisy, Queen Anne's Lace. Bramble control primarily in savanna area.

 

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