The Valley Stewardship Network is partnering with the River Alliance of Wisconsin and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve to host Project RED in the Kickapoo Watershed! What is this Project RED? “RED” in Project RED stands for Riverine Early Detectors. The River Alliance of Wisconsin has launched Project RED to identify invasive species that are a growing threat to our flowing waters. Standard Project RED involvement provides you with the necessary tools to identify 15 aquatic and wetland species and report their presence. In this Kickapoo Watershed series the River Alliance Invasive species experts will teach us about the invasive species that are threats to the Kickapoo Watershed such as Japanese knotweed and purple loosestrife. These invasive species cause erosion of streambanks and decrease habitat for birds and other wildlife that thrive in the river corridor.

*Project RED Events:*

July 31st – Project RED Training, 1-4 pm at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Center - S3661 State Road 131, La Farge. Learn to detect and report aquatic invasive species.

August 28th – Project RED Snapshot Day (Canoe trip), 12 pm to BBQ at the LaFarge Community Park (located adjacent to LaFarge Public Schools) Put your knowledge to use. Join us for a day of paddling and identification, BBQ to follow.

All ages are welcome! Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information contact Sarah at the VSN (608) 637-3615 or Laura at the River Alliance (608) 257-2424 x110, or visit the River Alliance website www.wisconsinrivers.org.

Tuesday July 6  10:30 AM
Setting Up Paddocks
Dairy Grazing on a recently converted Heifer Farm. Chris Riniker, 32351 Evergreen Road, Strawberry Point, IA
Sponsored by Great River Graziers.

Wednesday July 14 6:00 PM
Stream Crossings and the Impacts of Winter feeding
Beef grazing farm will also highlight two year old pasture seedings. Tom Shields, 22543 Century Farm Rd, Hillsboro, WI.
Sponsored by the Ocooch Graziers.

Tuesday July 20 10:30 AM
Establishment and Management of Legume/Grass Mixes.
Discussion and observation of the new and long-term pasture species research on this organic farm including use of Kura, Kopu II, and Alfalfa along with various grasses.
Deer Run Farm, Jim & Phyllis Munsch, Coon Valley, WI.
Sponsored by the Great River Graziers & GLCI.

The Valley Stewardship Network is partnering with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to perform mussel monitoring in the Kickapoo watershed. Over half of Wisconsin's 51 native mussel species (also known as clams) are listed as species of greatest conservation need or we need information on where they currently occur. Threats like habitat alteration (dams, siltation) and the presence of invasive mussels (zebra mussels) pose major threats to the existence of our native mussels.

Mussel monitoring involves getting in the waterway, locating the mussels in the stream bed, taking pictures if they are living or collecting empty shells, and sending this all to the Wisconsin DNR for analysis.

Mussel Monitoring Events:

July 10th – Mussel Monitoring Training, 9 am-12:30 pm at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Center - S3661 State Road 131, La Farge. Wisconsin DNR staff will provide information about mussels and show us how to find them. Be prepared to get in the water.

August 14th – Mussel Monitoring Event, 1 -3 pm - Location to be announced (Crawford County). Join VSN for an afternoon in the water looking for mussels.

All ages are welcome! Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information contact Sarah at the VSN (608) 637-3615 or visit http://wiatri.net/inventory/mussels/

*Wednesday, July 7, DATCP Board Meeting.
*The Dept. of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection Board meeting will continue the discussion and decision making around the required review of the Livestock Siting Law Rule.
*Attendance will support our efforts calling for the formation of a Policy Committee and representation on that committee. *Our statewide coalition nominees were not chosen for the Technical Committee which was formed as a result of their May meeting.

Tuesday June 29, 6:30pm
VernonMemorial  Hospital
507 S Main St
Viroqua, WI 54665-2096
Community Rooms 1 + 2 (in the
basement)

Clean Wisconsins  goal for this event is to pull together key leaders and stakeholders, to connect people and existing efforts that are part of the
solution to climate change.  Also start a conversation between key stakeholders who can help identify how their work, passion or interest group intersects with efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and reduce carbon pollution.

More in the full story....

Participants are invited to bring a sack lunch and after lunch our guide, Armund Bartz, will lead those interested up to the prairie bluff overlooking the Misissippi.  This part is especially steep and features rocky bluff areas where some endangered reptiles, snails, birds and plants have been sighted.  The prairie should be in full summer bloom when we visit on June 26, and woodland flowers will also be blooming, including some rare plants.
The unique management approach being used in the Rush Creek Natural Area provides an ecological reference area much like a control group in a scientific experiment.  Development and succession there can be compared with that of more intensively managed areas to advance our understanding of natural systems and human impacts.  Be aware that this is a rustic site with no rest rooms and no buildings or other accommodations.
This event is free and open to the public.  Free-will offerings will be gratefully accepted and will support the educational programs of the cooperative.

We will gather to begin the hike at 10:00 am in the parking area on Rush Creek Road one-half mile east of Highway 35.  Rush Creek Road intersects highway 35 about two miles north of Ferryville and about 5 miles south of DeSoto.   Signs will be posted.  

Please preregister for this event by contacting KWC Education Coordinator Lila Marmel, sunmoon@mwt.net, 608-624-5269.   We can beat the heat in the deep shade and enjoy the rare beauty that surrounds us, learning about the life cycle of natural communities in our forests.

Ken Potter, UW - Madison Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, will give
an overview of Kickapoo Valley hydraulics and discuss the directions the valley
should take to minimize future losses.  Free and open to the public.  Refreshments
and socializing at 6:30 pm. Talk begins at 7:00 pm.  For more information, click
http://kvr.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=19357&locid=115.

Sadie Urban

Events Coordinator

Kickapoo Valley Reserve

S3661 State Road 131