According to the U.S. Fish and wildlife service (USFWS), the rusty patched bumble BEE (rpbb) has declined by 87% in the last 20 years

Habitat loss and degradation are among the top reasons, with their loss negatively impacting native wildflower reproduction, food pollination and food security. For more than five years, root-pike win and the university of wisconsin parkside (uwparkside) have been partnering to restore 210 acres of prairie, woods, and wetlands at the universitys cross-country course. The course resides within the hub of the pike river watershed and epicenter of the high potential zone for the federally endangered rpbb (USFWS). Phase 4 of the course consists of a 22-acre prairie and adjacent shrub scrub that currently lack native foraging sources and are dominated by invasive plants like reed canary, aggressive trees like black locust, and nonnative pasture grasses. Considered a priority within the UW-parkside concept plan (2019), phase 4 is a rare land type in the pike river watershed whose restoration will protect native pollinator populations and improve local water quality by enhancing ecosystem resiliency through the enrichment of the largest, contiguous natural area in the pike river watershed.restoring phase 4 will provide the superfoods and immune enhancing plant species required by the rpbb and other native pollinators like the monarch butterfly. IT will also improve habitat connectivity between course phases, two other nearby root-pike win managed projects to the west, and the hawthorn hollow nature sanctuary and arboretum. Since the project is not an isolated island for the rpbb, but a connection point to other restored rpbb environments, this project will further enhance accessibility to preferred nesting, foraging, and over-wintering habitat.restoration of phase 4 will additionally reduce runoff of sediment and pollutants to the nearby 303D listed pike river and provide education and volunteer opportunities for the underserved campus and community to connect with wisconsin natural heritage through a living classroom that can be used for hands-on research. Located within the highly visible and open-to-the-public southwest corner of campus, phase 4 serves as an aesthetic gateway, with enhancements creating a richer sense of place for the thousands of runners, hikers, bikers, birders, students, and educators who utilize the space for education and recreation each year. This project will also serve as a model for other institutions in the high potential zone who wish to restore habitat and integrate curriculum. Finally, restoration of phase 4 is considered a priority within the uwparkside concept plan (2019) whose conversion from a low-quality, invasive-dominated old field into a highly diversified prairie upland and shrub scrub will enhance ecosystem resiliency through the enrichment of the largest, contiguous natural area in the pike river watershed.work will begin in january 2025. Root-pike win will hire a contractor and oversee implementation of the chosen proposal including treatment, burning, planting, and five years of maintenance and monitoring through december 2029. Within the budget, a paid internship is supported for an underserved student to perform supplemental activities including invasive species removal, native planting, and pollinator surveys. Comparing pollinator surveys and nearby water quality data to previously collected data will be the primary means for quantifying success. For comparison, pollinator surveys collected through a partnership between root-pike win and UW-parkside began in 2021, and water quality data for the pike river can be found in the city of racines water quality report (2014). Lastly, root-pike win will continue branding pollinator patches within the watershed, which will promote more projects oriented towards the rpbb to be implemented. The number of projects accrued over time will be another benchmark of success.