News & Events
In the News
Summer 2016
No Turning Back - Milwaukee Magazine, July 2016 (PDF - 6MB)
Milwaukee is currently experiencing a remarkable surge in developmental progress, but what are the environmental implications? Writer Martin Hintz sits down with Howard Aprill, vice president of the Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy, to find out.
Winter 2012
Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy 2012 Newsletter (PDF - 4MB)
July 11th, 2012
Sidney Woods Preserved in Glendale
Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy (MALC), a private non-profit land trust, recently acquired 3.7 acres of woodland in the city of Glendale. The project was a cooperative effort between MALC, WE Energies, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The property, now known as the Sidney Woodlands Preserve, was secured using a land donation from WE Energies as a match to a grant from the Department's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
Neighbors contacted MALC after noticing a for sale sign posted on the land in May of 2010. The woodland serves as a buffer by separating homes from railroad tracks and the adjacent industrial development. Neighbors enjoy a rural aesthetic in a densely populated city. Monica McKee, who worked closely with MALC as a legal advisor and volunteer through the two-year process of obtaining the grant and acquiring the property, lives nearby. She stated, "These woods are such a rare treasure to find here in the city. I love watching the changes in the plants and birdlife throughout the seasons. The property has been undisturbed for over 80 years, and walking through the old-growth forest is peaceful and calming. Our neighborhood would be forever changed if we had lost this significant resource."
Sidney Woods is a healthy forest of beech, oak, and maple, with small wetlands, and as many as 136 native plant species. "MALC holds title to some of the most diverse natural systems remaining in Milwaukee County," MALC's president, Don Dorsan said. "After reviewing naturalist Richard Barloga's plant inventory, our Board of Directors was excited to support preservation efforts." Diverse and intact natural systems such as this are often not available in developed areas and provide important resting areas for migratory and year round resident birds. The woodland is open to the public for quiet reflection and soft recreational uses.
The Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy is a land trust promoting the conservation of important natural habitats in the greater Milwaukee area. More information on Sidney Woods, MALC and the organization's other properties can be found at www.mkeconservancy.org.
January 12th, 2011
Family Donates Easement to Honor Founding City Father
Susanne and Scott Mayer have donated a conservation easement on 22.5 acres in honor of David Mayer and have partnered with the Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy (MALC) to preserve the land in perpetuity.
Local news coverage:
- Land donation is truly all about Franklin (Franklin Now)
- Donation honors Franklin founding father (Milwaukee News Buzz)
October 20th, 2009
The Milwaukee County Parks under the leadership of Director Sue Black, will be the recipient of $14,000 for restoration at the county-owned Franklin Savanna State Natural Area and Rainbow Airport Prairie in the City of Franklin. The event will take place at noon on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Stahl Conrad Homestead, 9824 W. Forest Home Avenue in Hales Corners.
Previous Events
Carity Prairie - Volunteer Seed Collection
Meet your neighbors and learn about our natural heritage
October 24, 2015: 9am - 11am
Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy (MALC), has partnered with Sweetwater (SWWT - the Southeastern Wisconsin Watershed Trust) under their Water Quality Mini-Grant Program to collect seed for the restoration of Carity Prairie adjacent to the Prairie Grass Preserve neighborhood. The project supports SWWT and MALC efforts to improve water quality, promote conservation, restore habitat and educate neighbors about land stewardship.
As part of outreach and partnership with the Prairie Grass Preserve Homeowners Association, MALC is welcoming volunteers to help with native seed collection and to learn about the natural communities and habitats to be restored. Seed collected will be used to restore a portion of the Carity Prairie associated with a storm water green infrastructure practice. The Carity Prairie complex is one of Franklin's most important natural areas. The 23-acre site is a tributary of the Root River and includes a rare combination of wet prairie, sedge meadow and oak savanna. The prairie is located off St. Martins Road (Hwy 100) East of Loomis Road at Prairie Grass Way.
Volunteers should meet at 9:00 am in the cul-de-sac at the western end of Prairie Grass Way. Individuals of all ages, students and families who are interested in learning about plant ecology, biology and natural history are especially welcome. Volunteers should bring gloves and dress for the weather, including work shoes/boots, long pants and sleeves.
More information on Sweetwater and MALC can be found at www.swwtwater.org and www.mkeconservancy.org.
Volunteer for Seed Collection and Plant Education!
Next Collection Date(s):
CITY of FRANKLIN - Saturday, October 5th and 12th from 9am till noon.
As part of a Root-Pike Watershed Initiative (Root-Pike WIN) water quality protection grant, MALC will lead and train volunteers in native prairie seed collection that will be then disbursed along corridors where invasive plants were removed. The seed collection will benefit the continued restoration of a rare wet prairie and sedge meadow complex for water quality improvements. MALC's restoration partnership with Root-Pike WIN, supports both organizations goals to protect and sustain watershed ecosystems for public benefit.
Individuals of all ages, families, community and corporate groups are welcome to participate in this event. Volunteers should bring gloves and dress appropriately (work shoes, long pants, long sleeves). Adults and students interested in plant biology are particularly welcome.
To schedule an appropriate number of group leaders, pre-registration is requested so sign up today! To register, contact Don Dorsan, MALC President, at MALC@mkeconservancy.org or by calling (414) 333-5716.
For more information on the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative visit our Partners & Places page.
CLICK HERE for the full News Release on the volunteer event.
CLICK HERE for the News Release on the grant award.
Sidney Woodland Preserve Volunteer Event
Saturday, April 27th, 2013: 11am - 4pm (Rain date: May 4th)
The goal is to distribute wood chips, created from work last fall, onto existing walking trails to help define trials for pedestrian use within the Preserve.
Directions: Sidney Woodland Preserve is located in the city of Glendale, WI between major north/south routes of N. Green Bay Avenue and N. Teutonia Avenue. From HWY 43, exit on W. Silver Spring Drive and continue west to 27th street. Take a right heading onto 27th street, which becomes N. Sidney Place a short distance north. The Woodland will be on your left a short distance from Silver Spring Drive.
Our hope is to make significant progress during this Saturday event, and if volunteers are plenty, guidance on garlic mustard removal will take place as needed. Please join us and bring gloves, shovels and rakes if available.
For questions email Volunteer Coordinator, Craig Matton at MALC@mkeconservancy.org or call 414-377-3851.
Sidney Woods: Invasive Buckthorn Removal
November 10, 2012: 11am - 4pm
Come enjoy a fall afternoon working outdoors assisting the MALC team clear invasive buckthorn from the recently acquired Sidney Woodland Preserve. The event will take place on Saturday, November 10th from 11 - 4pm.
Sidney Woodland Preserve is located in the city of Glendale, WI between major north/south routes of N. Green Bay Avenue and N. Teutonia Avenue.
Directions to Sidney Woodland Preserve:
To get to Sidney Woodland Preserve from HWY 43, exit on W. Silver Spring Drive and continue west to 27th street. Take a right heading onto 27th street, which becomes N. Sidney Place a short distance north. The Woodland will be on your left a short distance from Silver Spring Drive.
Note: N. 27th street extends to the north and south of W. Silver Spring Drive. 27th street becomes N. Sidney Place a short distance north of Silver Spring Drive.
To volunteer, or for more information, please contact mkeconservancy@gmail.com.
We hope to see you there! Please bring your own work gloves if possible. Refreshments will be provided.
Earth Day Tree Planting
April 21, 2012: 11am - 1pm
We will be hosting an Earth Day tree planting and invasive species removal event at our Fitszimmons property Saturday, April 21st from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Volunteers are requested to bring their own shovels and gloves if possible.
To get there: Take Hwy 100 (Ryan Rd.) to 31st St. then South to Fitszimmons Road. Turn right on Fitszimmons road and we will meet at the end of the cul-de sac. Please email MALC@MKEconservancy.org if you have any questions, hope to see you there!
MALC 2010 Annual Meeting
June 13, 2010: 3pm to 5pm
The Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy's 2010 Annual Meeting
Stahl Conrad Homestead
9724 W. Forest Home Ave.
Hales Corners, WI
Featured Speaker:
Jim Uhrinak, Land Restorationist and MALC Management Team Member
"A Long View across Milwaukee County: From Rice Camp to Fish Camp"
The Wisconsin Legislature has declared 2010 as "The Year of the Niagara Escarpment" to foster awareness of this important and unique landscape feature and to recognize the Escarpment's significance as a statewide geologic and natural resource.
Jim's talk will focus on the Menomonee Falls area and its geological and cultural relationship to the Escarpment.
Special Exhibit:
The Stahl Conrad Homestead is hosting an exhibit with information and artifacts relating to the Escarpment.
Upcoming Field Trip:
A field trip to view the Escarpment in Menomonee Falls will be held on July 10th at 12:30 pm. Details will be available at the meeting, or call Delene at (414) 425-4608.
Refreshments will be served at the annual meeting.
Please RSVP to MALC at (414) 427-1901 or to malc@mkeconservancy.org.