2022 Volunteer Annual Report

WAUKESHA COUNTY PARK SYSTEM

VOLUNTEER ANNUAL REPORT

HELLO!

The Waukesha County Park System had another amazing year of volunteerism from businesses, organizations, families and individuals.

The volunteer program aims to match projects, programs and events to each volunteer to prioritize mutually beneficial experiences and satisfaction.

A special thanks to all our dedicated volunteers that give their time, talents and resources to support the mission of environmental stewardship.

2022 VOLU N T ER HOURS

7,569.15 TOTAL HOURS

No matter what work they do, volunteers are contributing in invaluable ways to the Waukesha County Park System and the community.

A total of 7,569.15 volunteer hours were contributed to Waukesha County Parks with volunteer service being valued at a whopping $226,696.04 in 2022!

Waukesha County Parks and Land Use also hit the goal to have an overall engagement rating of 4 out of 5 stars from the annual Volunteer Engagement Survey.

Measuring satisfaction allows for staff to make improvements to programs so that the maximum benefit may be realized to both the volunteer and the park system.

VOLUNTER S U RVE Y RESULTS 2022

Overall Volunteer Experience Rating of 4.56/5 STARS

94.4% would RECOMMEND our volunteer program to a friend or colleague!

75% VOLUNTEERED with Waukesha County Parks and Land Use BEFORE!

Supported by

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS

The Friends of Retzer Nature Center have been supporting Waukesha County Park System‘s Conservation in the Parks Citizen Science Programs with both financial and volunteer support since 2019. Thank you Friends!

THE DATA

The data collected through the Conservation in the Parks programs provides Waukesha County with valuable information to help shape park and habitat management plans.

Many species are indicators and are closely associated with plant community type, quality, and structure. Having this data recorded also allows us to apply for special grants and other funding opportunities.

The data is also submitted to other organizations throughout the region, the state, and nationally.

SPECIES RECORDED 104

MISSION:

Making sure that common species remain common and that rare, threatened, and endangered species are protected!

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS

INVERTEBRATE MONITORING

ODONATE MONITORING (DRAGONFLIES

& DAMSELFLIES)

NOTABLE FINDINGS

• 15 Volunteers

• 17 Hours Donated

• 4 Park Sites

• 93 Dragonfly and Damselfly Species Recorded

Citrine Forktail

Ranging from southwest to eastern United States, this species likes marshy ponds, vernal pools, stream backwaters, seeps, and wetlands.

It is rare in Wisconsin, being known from just a few, widely scattered sites.

BUMBLE BEE MONITORING

• 20 Volunteers

• 20 Hours Donated

• 3 Park Sites

• 8 Bumble Bee Species Recorded

RARE DISCOVERY

Rusty-patched Bumble Bee

We are continuing to find the federally endangered Rusty-patched bumble bee in the park system!

Bumble Bee Nesting Study

Waukesha County Parks participated in a study led by Genevieve Pugesek and Elizabeth E. Crone from Tufts University on bumble bee nesting ecology.

The major objective of this study was to evaluate habitat associations of different bumble bee species in the Great Lakes ecoregion.

In addition to providing basic information about bumble bee nests in the Great Lakes Watershed, their analyses suggest that the abundances of bumble bee nests and nest-searching queens tended to be lower in burned areas than in other land cover types.

Citrine Forktail

BEE BOX

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS

INVERTEBRATE MONITORING

FRESHWATER MUSSEL MONITORING

• 7 Volunteers

• 14 Hours Donated

Discovering Asian Clams

The 2022 volunteer surveys documented the presence of invasive Asian Clams in the Oconomowoc River.

The specimens were sent to the Wisconsin DNR to public record that the waterbody contains invasive species. This information lets fishermen and people recreating know they have to take certain precautions to not spread them to additional waterbodies.

SEEKING

More Volunteers

Discovering Mussels

In 2022 Waukesha County Park System staff and volunteers began participating in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Mussel Monitoring Program (WMMP) surveying for freshwater mussels in the parks and greenways!

Join us in 2023!

Help Waukesha County continue the program! Get into local rivers and streams and document the mussel populations to help their populations.

DID YOU KNOW?

Over half of Wisconsin’s 52 native mussel species (also known as clams) are listed as species of greatest conservation need! Several are even endangered species!

Threats like habitat alteration (dams, siltation) and the presence of invasive mussels (zebra mussels, Asian clams) pose major threats to the existence of our native mussels.

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS

REPTILE CONSERVATION

SNAKE SURVEYS

• 23 Volunteers

• 50 Hours Donated

• 3 Park Sites

• 7 Snake Species Recorded

Smooth Green Snake

Lives in prairies, savannahs, and woodland edges. A new species to Waukesha County parklands.

DID YOU KNOW?

Snake Surveys Gather Data

During a survey, snakes are captured to collect data and then released. The data gathered from each snake captured includes the species, sex, snout-vent length (SVL) length, and mass.

In addition to this data, some species of snake are “marked” with a small cautery pen that creates a light brand on a specific ventral scale, which is representative of a unique number. This number is useful if the snake and other snakes that are also marked with a unique number are recaptured over time. The number, or “code,” allows researchers to estimate overall population size and density, as well as to track any changes to the population in an area over time.

Smooth Green Snake

Photo courtesy of EEK! Environmental Education for Kids

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS

BIRD CONSERVATION

NEST BOX MONITORING

• 7 Volunteers

• 164.75 Hours Donated

• 6 Park Sites

• 5 Bird Species Recorded

SEEKING

More Volunteers

Join us in 2023!

Looking for volunteers to help monitor nest boxes at Menomonee Park and along our Fox River and Oconomowoc River Greenways!

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT

Osprey Platform Installations

In addition to the osprey platform at Fox River Park that was installed in cooperation We Energies.

Park staff and volunteers are installing more platforms at Mukwonago Park and Nashotah Park!

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

Waukesha County’s iNaturalist project page, ‘Wild in Waukesha’, continues to grow! The community contributed over 19,000 observations in 2022. This is a 46.4% growth!

iNaturalist is one of the most popular nature apps that can connect you with a community of more than 400,000 scientists and naturalists who can help teach more about nature. Contributing your own observations helps contribute to biodiversity. Findings are shared with scientific data repositories to help scientists find and use your data!

Check out the project and submit your observations online!

WWW.INATURALIST.ORG/PROJECTS/WILD-IN-WAUKESHA

The number of users, species, and observations on Waukesha County’s iNaturalist project page increased again in 2022. Thanks for submitting!

CARRIE FRANTZ VOLU N T E E R H I G H LIGHT

Donated 40 OVER

Hours

FROM CARRIE:

Waukesha County is my home, but it is also home to a vast array of vulnerable flora and fauna.

In 2022, I donated 40+ hours gathering data about park wetland species and bat populations. The Conservation in the Parks Programs offer me an outlet to share my passion for stewardship and a platform to advocate for misunderstood species like bats.

This summer, five different species of bats were detected in our parks using echolocation. Notably absent was the Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), which was declared federally endangered in November.

As a wetland monitor, I spent five weeks searching in vain for breeding newt populations at Muskego Park. I may not have found any newts, but I had a great time searching.

Knowing the data I collect as a Citizen Scientist helps the county make informed land management decisions is what inspires me to return year after year.

Carrie’s daughter

Blue-spotted Salamander

Using high-tech detectors to identify bats by recording their ultrasonic calls!

Carrie & Family

Wisconsin Master Naturalist

WISCONSIN M ASTER NATURALIST 2022 TRAINING

Learn and Serve in Nature

Supported through the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, the Master Naturalist program promotes awareness, understanding, and stewardship of the natural environment by developing a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service within their communities.

To become a Master Naturalist, individuals complete 40 hours of expert-led training at locations across the state. Equipped with new knowledge, experiences, and connections, Master Naturalists then go on to serve stewardship, citizen science, and education efforts in Wisconsin and continue their learning through advanced trainings.

In 2022, Waukesha County Parks and Friends of Retzer Nature Center hosted a week-long training at Retzer Nature Center and throughout the County. Graduates from the program are now volunteering in the parks as Teaching Naturalists, citizen scientists, and land stewards.

Find a Master Naturalist training: WIMASTERNATURALIST.ORG Training at Retzer Nature Center

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS

NATURAL LAND MANAGEMENT

Over

801 ACRES

INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL

• 36 Species Controlled

• 2,106 Staff Hours Spent Controlling

• 1,336 Volunteer Hours Spent Controlling

What are Invasive Species?

Invasive species are not native to a specific location (an introduced species), and that has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy and/or human health.

Waukesha County actively manages over 40 non-native, invasive species throughout the Park System annually. Without such management (e.g., prescribed burning, mechanical brush removal, selective herbicide application, etc.) these invasive species will outcompete the native trees and wildflowers that local wildlife depends on and visitors enjoy.

THE LAND

Waukesha County Park System staff and volunteers completed 801+ acres of natural land management across the park system in 2022!

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS

NATURAL LAND MANAGEMENT

PRESCRIBED BURNING

• 5 Sites Completed

• Performed by Trained Staff “Burn Crews”

What is a Prescribed Burn?

Controlled burn management is an efficient and economical tool that reduces the amount of pesticides or mechanical equipment that otherwise may be needed to control invasive plants. Reasons to burn a particular parcel of land vary, they range from brush control, increasing the vigor of native plants, to removing invasive species, and improving habitat for grassland dependent species. Fire burns off dead vegetation and stimulates new plant growth by allowing sunlight to warm the dark soil, encouraging germination. Fire also enriches the soil by returning nutrients back to the soil.

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS

WILD TURKEY STAMP GRANT

Wild Turkey Stamp Grant

Thanks to a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wild Turkey Stamp Grant Waukesha County Parks was able to significantly expand restoration work at the Berg Property along the Mukwonago River Greenway! The goal of this cooperative project between Waukesha County and the DNR is to restore and enhance 650 acres of high-quality Wild Turkey habitat within an agriculturally dominated landscape utilizing an integrated management approach.

To improve wildlife habitat at the site, staff and volunteers began preparing a previously buckthorn-infested oak savanna for a prescribed burn in spring of 2022!

Oak trees are shade intolerant and thrive in fire-dominated ecosystems! Controlled burns and understory clearing reduce competition.

STAMP PROGRAMS

For many years, Wisconsin’s Wild Turkey, Pheasant and Waterfowl Stamp Programs have been providing opportunities for wildlife and habitat management, with efforts directed toward key species.

Turkey, pheasant and waterfowl hunters are required to purchase a speciesspecific stamp to legally harvest these game birds in Wisconsin.

Sales of these three stamps bring in thousands of dollars annually for species management throughout the state, including habitat management, restoration, education and research projects.

Photo courtesy of Sam Timm/Wisconsin DNR

2023 Wild Turkey Stamp Design

VOLU N T E E R H I G H LIGHT

GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS POWERS SCIENCE FEST!

Waukesha County Parks was thrilled to have Generac Power Systems help support the Friends of Retzer Nature Center’s Science Fest event in 2022. The event is an annual celebration that connects people with science, technology, engineering, and math in fun and exciting ways!

Generac’s generous financial contribution allowed Retzer Nature Center to offer free admission to the event. Generac also invited their employees from the Waukesha Headquarters (located only 6 miles from Retzer) to volunteer during the event.

Volunteers helped staff a variety of educational tables with interactive activities for guests and assisted with guiding guests to the programs, hikes and presentations going on throughout the nature center. Their support made the event a great experience for the whole community and helped lightened the load for staff too!

VOLUNTERS AT WORK

CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS

STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS

VOLUNTEER SPECIAL EVENTS

MONCHES PROPERTY REFORESTATION PROJECT

Thursday, November 3, 2022

Volunteer Tree Planting

Completed Phase III of the Reforestation Project, conversion of old ag fields to mesic forest adding native buffer to the Oconomowoc River!

Worked with volunteers to plant a diversity of 100 shrubs and trees along the Oconomowoc River Greenway to reduce pollution from agricultural land and improve water quality. A partnership with the Oconomowoc Watershed Protection Program (OWPP).

THANK YOU!

Support from Waukesha County’s Parkland Conservation Fund and time from volunteers has made this possible!

Smooth Green Snake

Special thanks to the volunteers from CarMax of Waukesha for their help planting!

Please consider donating to help complete the next phase!

WWW.WAUKESHACOUNTY.GOV/PARKLANDCONSERVATION

ARBOR DAY VOLUNTEER TREE PLANTING

Friday, April 29, 2022

Minooka Park

• 70 Volunteers

• 300+ Native Trees and Shrubs Planted

• Sponsored by Johnson’s Nursery

THANK YOU! Thanks to Johnson’s Nursery for their donation of trees and shrubs!

PROJ EC T H I G H LI GHT

LOCAL SUPPORTERS TRANSFORM THE TRAIL

The Discovery Trail project has revitalized Retzer Nature Center’s old ‘Adventure Trail’ with expanded accessibility for all ages and abilities. The newly refreshed ‘Discovery Trail’ includes a variety of “Exploration Stations” for outdoor education, sensory-based play experiences, and STEM activities for families and school groups.

Major contributions from the Friends of Retzer Nature Center and the Waukesha Rotary Club Foundation have made project phases one and two possible. Features on the trail include an entrance archway, a stone seat wall gathering space, exploration stations including insect, wood, animal tracks, and eagle nest, as well as a habitat free-play area, boulder scramble, and native plant observation areas. The project was also awarded Community Development Block Grant funding to reconstruct the old trail to ensure ADA accessibility.

The project began in October 2020 and we celebrated with a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting in June 2022 with the completion of phases one and two, and a strong start for phase three.

EXPLORATION STATIONS

Entrance Archway

Wood Climbing

Insect Exploration

Testimonials

When you volunteer, you learn more than just about your activity. You see other species surrounding your area that you can learn more about. You work with experts who share knowledge. You get to see first-hand how ecosystems and natural cycles work!

It was great having the opportunity for our group to get together and feel like we were making a difference in the community at the same time.