The request for funding from the FOX river green BAY nrda trustee council is for fee title landacquisition of approximately thirty-three acres located in the town of ledgeview directly adjacent to…

The request for funding from the FOX river green BAY nrda trustee council is for fee title landacquisition of approximately thirty-three acres located in the town of ledgeview directly adjacent to theeast river. The town and the current property owners desire to preserve the land for long termconservation and passive recreation area for permanently protecting habitats and natural resources. Thisparcel is directly south and adjacent to the village of bellevue s osprey point which is managed by theizaak walton league of brown county. This parcel was identified in a report completed by the natureconservancy and BAY lake regional planning commission in august of 2020, town of ledgeviewconservation and public use improvement projects along the corridor of the east river. This reportprovides a set of projects meant to improve fish and wildlife habitat, river, stream and wetland bankstability, water quality, flood resilience, aesthetic appearance and public enjoyment of the east river.from the report, specific to this parcel, IT contains the only stand of uncut riparian forest along the lowerstretch of the east river. This stand, comprising scattered white and BUR oaks along with sugar and redmaples over 30 inches in diameter, represents the only opportunity to protect a remnant of the drymesic hardwood forests that grew along the east river before settlement of this area. The larger diameter oaks and maples are mixed with small patches of 4 inch to 6-inch diameter greenash associated with gaps in the canopy of the larger trees. Nonnative buckthorn along with nativehawthorn and small ASH form a dense third shrub level canopy within the stand. This structural diversityprovides good refuge and feeding habitat for a high number of migratory and nesting birds, such ascatbird, rose breasted grosbeak, great crested flycatcher, american redstart, common yellowthroat, redeyed vireo, house wren, and many other species utilize this tract during migration and breeding. This tract is also known to hold several plants of conservation value. Oxbows on the tract offer very goodhabitat for fish and wildlife and provide water quality and flood water storage benefits. Acquiring thistract will also provide the opportunity to restore two other large areas which were previously wetlands, adding more wildlife value, flood control and water quality benefits. The stream that crosses the easternportion of the tract is known to have northern pike spawning runs in the spring and has fair to goodwater quality. This tract borders land owned by the village of bellevue and managed by the browncounty chapter of the izaak walton league. They have expressed a strong desire to help conserve andmanage the land and would be willing partners with the town of ledgeview in protecting this tract andmanaging IT for public and natural resource benefits. In addition to the report completed in august 2020, this area along the east river has been identified inother plans as an area for municipalities and landowners to protect and restore habitats as well as areasto improve water quality and stormwater storage. Specifically identified in the lower green BAY and foxriver area of concern fish and wildlife habitat assessment, february 2018, and the lower east riverrestoration plan, december 2020. Each of these plans indicates the need for land protection along theeast river and generally or specifically identify this land as a highly desirable parcel for conservationefforts.