Southern Wisconsin Land Conservancy

10/26/2026

Odell’s Sunny Point Reserve Site Visit! ☀️

Our team recently visited Odell’s Sunny Point Reserve near Brodhead to check in on this special property and its ongoing conservation!

Protected in 2022 through Mary Odell’s generous donation, this 7-acre property preserves a piece of her family’s history while protecting Wisconsin’s natural beauty. 💚

Sunny Point’s oak savanna and woodlands provide important habitat for native wildflowers, garter snakes, and birds like red-headed woodpeckers and eastern bluebirds.

During site monitoring visits, we check in on protected properties to help ensure their natural features and conservation values are being preserved for the future. Protecting Sunny Point also helps support water quality along Decatur Lake and the greater Sugar River Watershed!

We’re grateful for landowners like Mary who make conservation possible. Every protected property plays a part in keeping Wisconsin’s natural landscapes thriving! 🌱

🏡 Interested in protecting your land? Learn more through the link in our bio!
…

10/23/2026

We are so excited to officially welcome Faye to the SWLC team! 💚

Faye has been working with us over the past year through SWLC’s internship program, and we couldn’t be more grateful for all she has contributed. Now, she’ll be continuing her journey with us as SWLC’s Land and Conservation Stewardship Manager!

In her new role, Faye will help support our land conservation and stewardship efforts, working to protect the beautiful natural landscapes and habitats that make our region so special. 🌱

We are so thankful to have Faye on board and can’t wait to see all the amazing things we’ll accomplish together!

Help us give Faye a warm welcome! We’re so happy to have you on the team! 💚..

10/20/2026

Another day, another site monitoring visit!

Our team recently visited Jack’s Willow Creek Conservancy near Brodhead, WI.

Protected in 2022, this 70-acre property holds a special place in conservation and in the hearts of the family who made its protection possible. 💚 Dedicated to their son, Jack, the conservancy honors his life and legacy by celebrating the healing power of nature and helping ensure that its beauty can be enjoyed for generations to come.

The property features headwater wetlands, natural springs, a spring brook, oak savanna, and an arboretum. Former agricultural land has also been restored to enhance wildlife habitat and support a thriving ecosystem. 🌾💧

🐦 Did you know? The property’s sedge meadows provide habitat for short-billed and long-billed marsh wrens, while its restored wetlands attract shorebirds and its oak savanna supports a variety of bird species!

Beyond its ecological importance, Jack’s Willow Creek Conservancy serves as a resource for conservation and restoration training, helping support future stewardship efforts.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to monitor this special property and celebrate the lasting impact of land conservation. Jack’s Willow Creek Conservancy is a beautiful reminder of how protecting the land can preserve both natural habitats and meaningful legacies. 💚

Learn more about conservations easements and how you can protect your land for future generations here: www.swconservancy.org/conservation-easements

10/15/2026

Conservation in Action! 🌿

Yesterday, our team visited Schuler Farm near Brodhead, WI, for a monitoring visit!

Protected in 2022, this 90-acre property plays an important role in preserving the headwater springs and hydrology of the Orfordville branch stream. 💧

Since being protected, much of the property’s former agricultural land has been restored to native prairie and pollinator habitat, creating valuable habitat for grassland birds and other wildlife. The property also features mature bur oak savannas, wetlands, and beautiful native wildflowers. 🌾🦋

During our visit, we had the opportunity to check in on this special property and see the continued importance of conservation and restoration efforts. Ongoing management, including invasive species control, helps protect the land’s ecological health for years to come.

We’re grateful to the landowners who are committed to protecting and restoring Wisconsin’s natural landscapes! 💚

Interested in protecting your land? Visit www.swconservancy.org/conservation-easements today to learn more! ..

10/06/2026

TOMORROW: Bird Walk with Quentin! 🌾

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, October 7, at 8:00 AM at Sunny Peace Prairie for a morning of birding focused on fall sparrow migration!

October is a great time to spot migrating sparrows and other birds moving through southern Wisconsin. Quentin Yoerger will lead the walk and help participants identify the birds we encounter along the way.

Whether you’re an experienced birder or just getting started, everyone is welcome! Bring your binoculars if you have them, dress for the weather, and wear comfortable shoes for walking outdoors.

📅 Wednesday, October 7
⏰ 8:00 AM
📍 Sunny Peace Prairie
🐦 Led by Quentin Yoerger

Come enjoy a beautiful fall morning on the prairie and see what you can discover! 🍂🐦

10/01/2026

Coming up! Learn how to protect the Sugar River from these aquatic invasive species: https://tinyurl.com/protect-the-sugar-river

Our next Lunch & Learn at Three Waters Reserve is in collaboration with the USRWA! Join us on October 15th from 12-1 pm and enjoy delicious Cornish pasties while the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association shares how to identify invasive species found in our local waterways! 🌱🦋🌊

Register by October 11 🎟️ www.threewatersreserve.com/products/lunch-learn-know-your-invasives-protecting-the-sugar-river..

09/24/2026

Want to learn what the data tells us? Join us on October 1st for our Lunch & Learn with Camille Bruhn of the WI DNR and Tonya Gratz of Green County Land & Water Conservation. Discover what 13 years of monitoring has taught us, how conservation practices are making a difference, and how you can get involved.

Get tickets today! 🎟️ www.threewatersreserve.com/products/lunch-learn-what-the-water-tells-us
…

For more than a decade, farmers, community volunteers, and natural resource professionals have been working together to better understand and protect the Sugar River Watershed. Join water quality and soil health specialists and educators as they share what we’ve learned from 13 years of citizen an...

09/15/2026

Have you noticed these bright yellow blooms popping up across the prairie? 🌼

Meet stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida)! This native wildflower is a late-season favorite for pollinators, offering an important source of nectar when many other flowers are beginning to fade.

Fall may be on its way, but there is still plenty of life buzzing through the prairie! 🐝🌾
…

09/11/2026

New Trails at Sunny Peace Prairie! 🌿

There’s even more to explore at Sunny Peace Prairie! We’re excited to welcome visitors to our newly established trails, offering new ways to experience the prairie, woodlands, and natural areas throughout the property.

We are working on a trail map to get to you soon! 🗺️

Whether you’re a longtime visitor or exploring Sunny Peace Prairie for the first time, we hope you’ll come check out the new trails! 🌱

📍2604 S C**n Island Rd, Orfordville, WI

☀️ Learn more at www.swconservancy.org/sunny-peace-prairie!..