Kinnickinnic River Land Trust has been working 25 years to protect the natural resources and scenic beauty of the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed. We are excited to announce the beginning stages of the restoration of our Trumpeter Swan Preserve, located in the headwaters of the Kinnickinnic River just east of Roberts, WI. Using an existing forest stewardship management plan and insights from UW-RF, our goal is to restore the area to a native prairie and oak savanna by addressing overdue management of the pine plantation and other invasive trees and plant species. This will allow the remaining oaks to thrive and the site to be more suited for future seeding of native prairie grasses, wildflowers, and oak savanna habitat. Additionally, this management strategy will improve access to the property and encourage partnerships with the community and natural resource organizations.

Less than 1% of native prairie in Wisconsin exists today, our restoration plan will help to work towards reaching regional prairie restoration goals identified by the state of Wisconsin’s Habitat Restoration Area plan (HRA). Restoring the land with native plants, will help to provide a natural filter to water entering the river and create habitat for native wildlife such as pollinators and songbirds. Trumpeter Swan Preserve will serve as an outdoor education space, allowing public recreational use including hiking, fishing, snowshoeing, and other outdoor activities.