It is never too late! Please share generously of your time and resources. The Mukwonago River needs your help…
What we have been doing in our watershed since organization.
1999:
- Nancy Gloe organizes initial informational/exploratory meeting on the Mukwonago River
- Nancy Gloe and Ezra Meyer organize “the Friends of the Mukwonago River”
2000:
- Worked with DNR and DOT on Highway 83 bypass plan
- Worked to have Longear Sunfish signs placed at road crossings with the help of WEAL, Waukesha County Environmental Action League
2001:
- Mukwonago River Watershed Initiative formed
- Highway 83 bypass construction
- Worked on Two Rivers subdivision development in Village of Mukwonago
- Watershed chosen for The Nature Conservancy’s Wetland Network
- Town of Mukwonago begins Smart Growth planning
2002:
- Completion of the Glacial Refuge: The Phenomenally Diverse Mukwonago River video produced by Nancy Gloe of the Friends, presented by Waukesha County Land Conservancy and DNR under a River Protection grant
- Worked on Lakewood Farm Preserve (former O’Bryan farm) development, Town of Mukwonago
- Worked on Minor & Deneen farm developments, Village of Mukwonago
- Town of Mukwonago Smart Growth survey
- Village of Eagle buys land near river in Town of Eagle for new wells
2003:
- Challenged massive Rainbow Springs development proposal
- Joined Town of Mukwonago’s Purchase of Development Rights Committee
- 1500′ of frontage on the Meyer farm protected by conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy
- Worked with County DOT on Highway ES project
2004:
- Worked with Home Depot, Super Wal-Mart, Waukesha Memorial Hospital, and Village of Mukwonago on stormwater concerns
- Eagleville School granted charter school status
- Fixed fish passage under new Highway LO /Jericho Creek bridge
- Managed the Mukwonago forum in Genesee Depot
- Village of East Troy well near Lake Beulah fought by lake groups and Friends as to surface and ground water impacts
- Village of Mukwonago well proposed near Phantom Lake
- Joined Town of Mukwonago’s Conservation Subdivision Committee
- PBS’ Outdoor Wisconsin featured the Mukwonago River
2005:
- Friends incorporated under State of Wisconsin law as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation
- Became involved in Rainbow Springs owners’ redevelopment planning effort
- Town of Mukwonago Conservation Subdivision ordinance passed
2006:
- Fought against excessive development at Rainbow Springs in the Town of East Troy
- Proposal at Waukesha County Conservation Congress to place special, protective designation on entire Mukwonago River
- Began to work with Village of Mukwonago on stormwater ordinance
- Worked with developer of Jakober property in Town of Mukwonago to minimize impacts on Jericho Creek
- Statewide ban on harvest of mussels passed into law
- Mukwonago River Fish Committee urged DNR to stock native Brook Trout instead of non-native Brown Trout in the river
- Work party at Waukesha County Land Conservancy property in Town of Mukwonago
- Baker land near headwaters acquired by Nature Conservancy
- Ann and Newell Meyer donate 374 acres in the headwaters to the Nature Conservancy
2007:
- Referendum in Town of Mukwonago relating to taxpayer funding for a Purchase of Development Rights program
- SEWRPC Watershed Study set to begin
- Nancy Gloe named chair of Village of Mukwonago Stormwater Committee
- Weighed in on proposed development of the Michaelis farm, Town of Eagle
- Worked with Parkview Middle School science teacher and class
2008
- Rainbow Springs purchased by DNR and becomes the Mukwonago River Unit of the Southern Kettle Moraine State Forest
- Jericho Creek landowners group organized under the Friends’ auspices
- Village of Mukwonago and the Southeastern Wisconsin Fox River Commission do a shoreline stabilization project at Indianhead Park
- Nature Conservancy removes two man-made dams to ensure the safety and quality of the River
- June flooding wreaks havoc throughout the watershed creating high groundwater conditions
- Flooding causes concerns at the Phantom River dam which potential failure could have devastated the fish spawning grounds and mussel beds in the lower reaches of the River
- Country Bliss subdivision flooding mitigation may have major impacts on the Jericho Creek
- Friends receives grant funding to invest in the organization’s long-term viability and sustainability
2009
- Friends Board participates in the River Alliance Organizational Capacity Building training
- Town of Mukwonago and Southeastern Wisconsin Fox River Commission start work on Phantom Wood Roads project to mitigate stormwater runoff issues at the site
- DNR adds 136 acres to the Lulu Lake preserve
2010
- Friends of the Mukwonago River rolls out this web page and Facebook fan page with periodic updates and calendar of events
- Friends’ board attends the River Network’s River Rally for training
- Town of Mukwonago and SE Wisconsin Fox River Commission successfully complete Phantom Wood Roads project and mitigate stormwater runoff issues at the site
- SEWRPC finalizes the Mukwonago River Watershed Protection Plan which will move into the implementation phase for the Mukwonago River Initiative partners
- Friends participates with Waukesha County as it begins the process to update its 1984 Farmland Preservation Plan
- Rainbow Springs Golf Course closes in late October. WDNR begins process to remove buildings and start restoration of River corridor in Waukesha County
- Friends hire its first staff assistance, Cynthia Holt, as watershed coordinator in November
Ongoing projects
- Jericho Creek headwater protection and creek restoration
- Restoration of habitat and self-reproducing wild Brook Trout population on Jericho Creek
- Trout habitat improvements throughout the river
- Permanent conservation of key watershed parcels whose development could be disastrous
- Fostering citizen involvement in local comprehensive land use planning
- Community education/outreach on the value of the Mukwonago River
- Continue to work with decision-makers and developers to foster sound land-use decision-making and river-friendly development where it is appropriate
Thank you for playing your role in supporting the mission of the Friends of the Mukwonago River! The challenge of protecting the outstanding resources of the Mukwonago River is one the watershed community is capable of meeting. We simply must put our minds to it and work together.
Where development is to occur, practices exist for development design, stormwater management, and land and water conservation that will serve to help us meet these objectives. Where appropriate, public and private land preservation can play a key role in protecting the natural heritage of the Mukwonago River watershed for the enjoyment of current and future generations.
