WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENT AND RESTORATION PROJECT - VILLAGE AND TOWN OF GRAFTON, WISCONSIN

TheUlao Creek Partnership and the Ozaukee County Parks and Recreation Department have partnered on ongoing, large-scale habitat restoration and water quality improvement projects within the Ulao Creek watershed including restoration of multiple stream reaches through channel remeandering, installation of fish and wildlife structures, floodplain reconnection, wetland creation and enhancement, nonnative invasive species (NNIS) control, and native plant restoration. Additional NNIS control work followed by native species plantings will further restore habitat for a variety of local wildlife species documented within the project area as well as important migratory stopover habitat along the Lake Michigan Flyway.

The UCP has been dedicated to improving the Ulao Creek watershed since 1995 resulting in significant improvements and along with the OCPPD, are committed to carrying out long-term monitoring and follow-up treatments. The benefits of continued restoration efforts within these riparian natural areas can be seen beyond the immediate work zones. Specifically, reduced competition from NNIS will support reestablishment of native vegetation, which will provide stormwater management and water quality benefits at the project areas and downstream. NNIS control at these sites will also reduce seed sources that could potentially be carried downstream. Continued, expanded and long-term management efforts to control target invasive species will protect past restoration investments, increase native species biodiversity and long-term resiliency, and improve general ecosystem function.