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Early on a Thursday morning, the light rain only helped sharpen the colors on the prairie landscape as U.S. Congressman Tom Petri took some time to review recent work done in the County's John Muir park.
As one of Marquette County's eight State Natural Areas, this park has been the recipient of grant money, designated specifically for the preservation of its natural prairie land. Under the State Wildlife Grant Program, the State of Wisconsin spends between $1-1.2 million on the preservation of non-game species. This constitutes more than 80% of Wisconsin's wildlife.
This is the first time that the state has expended money to help these species. For Muir Park, this means a five-year program of prairie and natural savanna restoration in conjunction with the Department of Natural Resources and the Sierra Club.
Congressman Petri was joined in his visit of the natural area by Paul Wade from the County Board, Pati Meyers and Sadie O'Dell from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Mark Martin, the DNR Natural Area Specialist, George Meyer, the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and Susan Foote-Martin, Coalition Coordinator for the Teaming with Wildlife program, among others.
The tour of the park reviewed the restoration work being done there. With the support of the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition, a group that boasts more than 200 supporters, the park has been able to work on 160 acres of restoration. Much of the restoration has involved the removal of aspen and iron groves to allow for native plants to grow. Some of this removal was done under some controlled burning done earlier this year. In addition, Teaming with Wildlife hopes to stem the extinction of formerly "common" species.
"The goal out here is to restore it to what it looked like when Muir was here," explained Mark Martin, Natural Areas Specialist.
Most of the original species are still alive and growing in the park's oak savanna. Because of this, the park has become a haven for blue birds, field sparrows, bob-o-links, red headed woodpeckers, butterflies and many more species. Currently, a state that was largely oak savanna now has only around 500 acres left.
Named for John Muir, the father of our National Park system, Muir Park sits adjacent to the famous naturalist's boyhood home. Now, with hundreds of native species of prairie plants blooming, the park is a rare look at the county centuries ago. Along with busy fishing and a mile-long hiking trail, this park is quickly becoming a preserve for a host of wildlife.
After hiking along the trails, discussing the different species in view and experiencing the park first-hand, Congressman Petri was able to look at the fishing pier and the savanna restoration on the east side of the lake. With the continued help of state grants, area supporters and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife land adjacent to the park, John Muir Park will continue its progress toward one of the few oak savannah natural areas left in the county.
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