Management

Conservation Management 

Management efforts have restored and continue to sustain the health and function of Muskego's conservation sites. Many native plants species have largely been lost from our landscape due to agriculture, deforestation, land development, and competitive effects of invasive species. By establishing and maintaining diverse native plant communities, conservation staff and volunteers have improved the health of our local ecosystems and increased habitat space for wildlife.

Invasive Species Management
Invasive plants are non-native species that negatively impact native plant communities. While it is usually impossible to eliminate an invasive species once established, management efforts focus on reducing the abundance of invasive plants so that native plants can again flourish.

Staff and volunteers use commonly accepted practices: herbicides, physical removal, and controlled burning to combat invasive plants. For more detailed information on invasive plants and their control, visit the Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin.

Native Plant Re-establishment
Impacts of prior land use have left many areas with fewer plant species than they historically contained. Reintroducing native plant and increasing plant diversity help to restore the health of ecosystems by providing food and habitat upon which native wildlife depend.

Muskego has established over 150 acres of prairie and wetland plantings utilizing a diversity of plant seed from native, local (southern Wisconsin) origin. Woodland areas have also been improved through planting of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.