Field Trip

 Field Trip Details

Ecosystem Services in Aldo Leopold’s Landscape
Tour: July 1 from approximately 8:00am-3:30pm; The bus will stop at the airport at 3pm and return to the hotel at approximately 3:30pm

Aldo Leopold defined conservation as a way of life in which land does well for its inhabitants, citizens do well by their land, and both end up better by reason of partnership. This tour will feature stops at several sites near Baraboo that demonstrate how public-private partnerships have resulted in multiple ecosystem service benefits for wildlife, waterfowl and fisheries, and support water quality protection and water flow regulation. Qualitative and quantitative metrics are being used to assess the multiple values of these services over time. The tour will also feature a stop at the historic Leopold Shack and Farm.

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Friday, July 1st

 
7:45am Meet in Lobby of Madison Concourse Hotel; Bus will depart at 8:00am.
9:00am Bus arrives at Leopold Waterfowl Production Area

This site has been restored to wetlands principally for waterfowl production. Uniquely, the site was heavily instrumented and monitored to assess the impacts to water quality (particularly nutrients) from restoration of the wetland. Depart waterfowl production site and pass through Baraboo Hills Important Birding Area.
10:00am Bus arrives at Baraboo Oak Street dam removal site

The Baraboo River had a series of 11 dams installed beginning in the 1840s. Through a multi-year effort coordinated by Sand County Foundation, it became the first river in the nation to be fully restored to free-flowing condition by the removal of multiple dams. Safety has been improved, cost to local government reduced, economic development flourishing, water quality enhanced, and the fishery has more than doubled in native species.
11:00am Bus arrives at constructed wetland, Leopold Memorial Reserve

Sand County Foundation operates a program to demonstrate, document and assess the performance of specific conservation practices to reduce nitrogen contamination of water (and other secondary benefits). It has constructed a wetland on the farm they own specifically to demonstrate these ecosystem services in a location proximate to other conservation interests.
12:00pm Lunch at Leopold Memorial Reserve with tour of The Shack

Iconic location where Leopold wrote and drew inspiration for much of A Sand County Almanac and other writings. See the green and innovative features of the net zero energy Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, which meets all of its energy needs on site. Pine trees planted by Aldo Leopold and his family are found in trusses and structural beams, sidings, and finish work in the three Legacy Center buildings.
1:30pm Depart

Discuss agricultural levies and “Sand Dikes” en route. Multiple levees are maintained at public expense and considerable ecological cost for limited private benefit. Discuss other Wisconsin ecosystem service markets.
3:00pm Stop at airport to drop off participants.
3:30pm Return to Hotel

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