Progress 07/01/05 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Collected this year's data from a multi-year shrub removal/planting experiment. Drafted restoration plan protocols for preserve properties. Drafted plans for Eagle Heights Woods restoration. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
I continue to work on the restoration of the plant communities within the Lakeshore Nature Preserve. I have been monitoring the results of several continuing planting and exotic species control projects, as well as drafting restoration plans for several areas of the preserve. This year, my major focus has been on the wooded areas of the preserve, and in particular, in monitoring exotic shrub removal and native understory planting projects. In the coming year, I plan to focus on the adaptive restoration of a woodland/savanna relic, Eagle Heights Woods. The goal is to determine the best restoration tools for this site. The project will contribute to our understanding of restoration ecology in an urban setting.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We used a permanent reference grid to record annual vegetation-sampling data (trees, saplings, shrubs, understory) for Muir Woods. Continued to monitor 2 lakeshore restoration pilot studies, concerning the installation of erosion control devices and native vegetation plantings. Monitored a buckthorn control study in Tent Colony Woods and analyzed preliminary data. The goal of this field trial is to determine if techniques used by volunteers are as effective as those used by staff in controlling this invasive shrub. Monitored an herbaceous understory planting density study. Information gained to date has been shared with the Management team. Used the information as part of a textbook on restoration ecology. Continued management activities to control the spread of invasive plants; in particular Rhamnus cathartica, Lonicera x-bella, and Alliaria petiolata. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals:Evelyn Howell, PI; Jun Liu and Yuxi Cheng Graduate Assistants; Collaborators: UW Madison Facilities and Management; Friends of the Lakeshore Preserve Professional Development: graduate and undergraduate students conducting research, doing volunteer management activities; K-12 students learning about and performing management activities; neighbors and university staff learning about and doing management activities TARGET AUDIENCES: Restoration professionals, university classes, K-12 classes, members of the campus community, members of the public. Programs: service-learning, research projects, curriculum for volunteer programs, curriculum for educational guided tours PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Added a project to measure the effectiveness of rain gardens in limiting the impact of storm water runoff. This project is being done in collaboration with Edgewood College and The Wisconsin Geological and Natural history Survey.
Impacts
By improving the quality of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, we will reduce storm water runoff into Lake Mendota, and thereby improve this valuable resource. This project will also upgrade the utility of this outdoor campus laboratory by providing reference grids and other infrastructure components for use in on-going student experiments. The project will contribute to our understanding of restoration ecology in an urban setting. Preliminary results of these projects are being used to modify restoration procedures in other parts of the preserve.
Publications
- Textbook on Restoration Ecology Publisher Island Press 2010
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Used a permanent reference grid to record annual vegetation-sampling data (trees, saplings, shrubs, understory) for Muir Woods. Continued to monitor 2 lakeshore restoration pilot studies, concerning the installation of erosion control devices and native vegetation plantings. Established a buckthorn control study in Tent Colony Woods to determine if planting the understory immediately after removal improved control. Undertook management activities to control the spread of invasive plants; in particular Rhamnus cathartica, Lonicera x-bella, and Alliaria petiolata. Used the information as part of a textbook on restoration ecology PARTICIPANTS: Individuals:Evelyn Howell, PI; Lars Higdon, Project Assistant; Collaborators: UW MAdison Facilities and Management; Friends of the Lakeshore Preserve Professional Development: graduate and undergraduate students conducting research, doing volunteer management activities; K-12 students learning about and performing management activities; neighbors and university staff learning about and doing management activities TARGET AUDIENCES: Restoration professionals, university classes, K-12 classes, members of the campus community, members of the public. Programs: service-learning, research projects, curriculum for volunteer programs, curriculum for educational guided tours PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
By improving the quality of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, we will reduce storm water runoff into Lake Mendota, and thereby improve this valuable resource. This project will also upgrade the utility of this outdoor campus laboratory by providing reference grids and other infrastructure components for use in on-going student experiments, baseline data, procedures for collecting and storing information in a central location, and an assessment tool--the logic model--for evaluating service learning and volunteer programs. The project will contribute to our understanding of restoration ecology in an urban setting through the establishment of long-term experiments.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Used a permanent reference grid to record annual vegetation-sampling data (trees, saplings, shrubs, understory) for Muir Woods. Continued to monitor 2 lakeshore restoration pilot studies, concerning the installation of erosion control devices and native vegetation plantings. Established a buckthorn control study in Tent Colony Woods. Undertook management activities to control the spread of invasive plants; in particular Rhamnus cathartica, Lonicera x-bella, and Alliaria petiolata. Established a volunteer program and an assessment logic model to help accomplish the above tasks. Recruited volunteers from service-learning classes at the university, student service clubs, faculty and staff organizations, K-12 students, and adult members of the greater Madison area.
PARTICIPANTS: Individuals:Evelyn Howell, PI; Rebecca Kagle, Project Assistant; Lars Higdon, Project Assistant Collaborators: UW_MAdison Facilities and Management; Friends of the Lakeshore Preserve Professional Development: graduate and undergraduate students conducting research, doing volunteer management activities; K-12 students learning about and performing management activities; neighbors and university staff learning about and doing management activities
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences: restoration professionals, university classes, K-12 classes, members of the campus community, members of the public Programs: service-learning, research projects, curriculum for volunteer programs, curriculum for educational guided tours
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Noen to report
Impacts
By improving the quality of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, we will reduce storm water runoff into Lake Mendota, and thereby improve this valuable resource. This project will also upgrade the utility of this outdoor campus laboratory by providing reference grids and other infrastructure components for use in on-going student experiments, baseline data, procedures for collecting and storing information in a central location, and an assessment tool--the logic model--for evaluating service learning and volunteer programs. The project will contribute to our understanding of restoration ecology in an urban setting through the establishment of long-term experiments.
Publications
- Kagle, R. 2007. An evaluation of the restoration of the East Preserve, UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve. MS Thesis UW-Madison
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Using GPS and GIS technology, installed a permanent reference grid in Muir Woods, and used the grid to record vegetation-sampling data (trees, saplings, shrubs, understory). We also Establishee two lakeshore restoration pilot studies, including baseline data collection, the installation of erosion control devices and native vegetation plantings; re-designed and reconstructed a trail system in Muir Woods; undertook management activities to control the spread of invasive plants; in particular Rhamnus cathartica, Lonicera x-bella, and Alliaria petiolata; established a volunteer program to help accomplish the above tasks; recruited volunteers from service-learning classes at the university, student service clubs, faculty and staff organizations, k-12 students, and adult members of the greater Madison area.
Impacts
By improving the quality of Muir Woods, we will reduce stormwater runoff into Lake Mendota, and thereby improve this valuable resource--arguably the "most-studied" lake in the world. The project will also upgrade the utility of this campus outdoor laboratory by gathering baseline information and establishing an infrastructure that can be used for on-going student experiments. The project will contribute to our understanding of restoration ecology through the establishment of long-term experiments. We will create a service-learning component for the campus curriculum.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Most of the work during the time period covered by this report concerned the restoraion of Muir Woods, a remnant oak woods that is a part of the UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve. To date we have: 1. Designed and mapped, using GPS technology, the boundaries of a grid to be used to locate long-term experiments and to track vegetation changes. Surveyed-in 2/3rds of the cells within the grid and mapped, measured, and identified all of the trees within the cells. 2. Established an experiment to test the effectiveness in this setting of several erosion control techniques. 3. Removed exotic shrubs and herbaceous species within 1/4 of the woods, and initiated a replanting experiment. 4. Created a new trail design, and began to close and restore and then rebuild the trails. 5. Established a volunteer and internship program to create servicec-learning opportunities for students and continued to involve faculty and staff and campus neighbors in the project. In addition, we
continued an experiment regarding the effects of and control methods for Alliaria petiolata (Garlic Mustard)
Impacts
By improving the quality of Muir Woods, we will reduce stormwater runoff into Lake Mendota, and thereby improve this valuable resource--arguably the "most-studied" lake in the world. The project will also upgrade the utility of this campus outdoor laboratory by gathering baseline information and establishing an infrastructure that can be used for on-going student experiments. The project will contribute to our understanding of restoration ecology through the establishment of long-term experiments. We will create a service-learning component for the campus curriculum.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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