This cooperative agreement is entered into between the U.S. Fish and wildlife service, a conservation agency of the united state of america, (hereinafter referred to as the USFWS) and the baird…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded The Baird Creek Preservation Foundation, Inc. a $168,976 Cooperative Agreement under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program (CFDA 15.631) on February 1, 2024. The funding will support a 3-year project to restore 44 acres of native pollinator habitat in the Baird Creek Greenway in Brown County, Wisconsin. Key activities include invasive species removal, prescribed burning, and native plant seeding to benefit the endangered rusty patched bumble bee and other pollinator species. The project aims to enhance habitat connectivity, improve water quality, and provide increased recreational and educational opportunities for the public within the 500-acre greenway. This award aligns with the USFWS mission to conserve federal trust species and their habitats through voluntary partnerships on private lands.

This cooperative agreement is entered into between the U.S. Fish and wildlife service, a conservation agency of the united state of america, (hereinafter referred to as the USFWS) and the baird creek preservation foundation, INC., a non-profit organization with an interest in ecological preservation, recreation, and education in the baird creek watershed (hereinafter referred to as bcpf).cooperative agreement purpose: bcpf aims to support populations of the federally endangered rusty patched bumble BEE through restoration of native species and habitats throughout its 500 acre baird creek greenway in brown county, WI. Bcpf sought USFWS financial and technical assistance to remove invasive species and restore native flowering plants across multiple habitat types to support rusty patched bumblebee and other pollinators. According to the usfwss rusty patched bumble BEE habitat model, the baird creek greenway falls within a high potential zone for the species, making IT a high priority area for targeted habitat conservation and restoration work. Work includes the enhancement of woodlands and remnant grasslands degraded by invasive species encroachment and succession and the restoration of previously developed lands, including annual cropland and turf grass. The proposed project will expand upon work already completed by bcpf and will create a high quality corridor for movement, foraging, nesting, and overwintering of pollinators. This project aligns with the USFWS partners for fish wildlife programs mission to benefit federal trust species through voluntary habitat restoration and enhancement on private lands and the ecological services mission to promote the recovery of imperiled species. Additionally, bcpfs strong environmental education and outreach programs and the greenways access to the public, help the USFWS to meet their goals of connecting youth to nature and building a conservation ethic. Activities to be performed: cut invasive brush species and herbicide treat cut stumps herbicide treatment of herbaceous weeds, cool season grasses, and undesired regrowth to prep for native seeding contract prescribed fire for site preparation to set back succession in remnant open areas purchase and plant native seed to diversify floral resources maintenance mowing or burns (where needed) these activities will help bcpf address priority habitat desired outcomes, and address habitat connectivity (prairies, woodlands, riparian, and wetland areas) for rusty patched bumble bees and other pollinators. The greenway is a long corridor of greenspace, but habitat areas adjacent to restored areas are filled with invasive species which have choked out natives, degraded the areas, and made movement and thriving for pollinators during certain seasons challenging. Bcpf will create additional acreage of pristine pollinator habitat. Expected deliverables: increased number and diversity of plants, wildlife, and pollinators restore and enhance 44 acres of native pollinator habitat greater accessibility and safety of movement for wildlife and pollinators increased number of people using the greenway for outdoor recreation increased hydrology and buffering reduced sediment and contaminant loads reduced polluted runoff found in the water reduced erosion of streambanks into the creek creation of pristine native habitats to benefit other pollinators and wildlife including birds creation buffer zones for runoff to improve water quality as IT flows to the east river, FOX river, the BAY of green BAY, and lake michigan increased water quality and reduced erosion of streambanks into the creek