MUKWONAGO RIVER WATERSHED
A mosaic of forest, wetlands, savannas, rivers and lakes, the Mukwonago River Watershed is a natural treasure in the southern Kettle Moraine about 35 minutes from Milwaukee.
The Mukwonago River is one of the cleanest streams in southeastern Wisconsin and provides important habitat for rare fish and mussels. The surrounding landscape is home to a wide array of native plants and wildlife, including sandhill cranes, tree frogs, mink, red fox, butterflies and dragonflies.
ACCESSIBLE TRAIL: We’ve created a trail that is accessible to people who use power-driven mobility devices to help them get around. Get Directions
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
For centuries, early settlers and their descendents have cared for the lands in the Mukwonago River Watershed, making it one of the highest quality waterways in the state. In 1983, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) joined that partnership, first protecting and later purchasing the former Milwaukee Boys Club Camp.
Today, TNC owns 2,231 acres within the watershed and has helped to protect an additional 798 acres through its work with individual landowners and partner organizations. A group of dedicated volunteers has been vital in helping staff maintain an active science and land management program.
CONSERVATION GOALS
- Protecting the water quality of and natural areas within the Mukwonago River Watershed.
- Managing our preserves to maintain rare natural communities and provide habitat for fish, mussels, amphibians and reptiles.
- Working with individuals and organizations to promote long-term conservation within the watershed.
- Working to protect the watershed while balancing human needs and economic health in the region.
ACCOMPLISHING OUR GOALS
- Development of conservation partnerships that leverage conservation activities throughout the watershed.
- Land acquisition from willing sellers and generous donors.
- Conservation easements (voluntary legal agreements that protect the conservation value of a piece of land by permanently limiting its present and future uses while keeping it in private ownership).
- Land management, such as burn workshops.
We work with partners as part of the Mukwonago River Initiative—a group of about 20 organizations, individuals and state and local agency representatives—to identify threats to the watershed and coordinate our efforts to address those threats. The shared knowledge of the partners is one of the strengths the group leverages to be successful. We’ve compiled this shared knowledge into a database. Get useful documents, datasets, photos, stories and other information about the Mukwonago River Watershed.
TNC NATURAL AREAS IN THE MUKWONAGO RIVER WATERSHED
TNC owns four preserves in the Mukwonago Watershed, including:
TNC has helped protect a total of 3,029 acres in the Mukwonago Watershed. This figure includes lands owned and managed by TNC, conservation easements, government co-ops and assists.
GET INVOLVED
If you are interested in volunteering to help with land management, please contact our office in East Troy at Mukwonagoinfo@tnc.org or 262-642-7276 to be added to our email list for notification of land stewardship work parties.
NATURE CONSERVANCY STAFF
Ricardo Costa Silva, Agricultural Strategy Manager
Aubrey Fliss, Conservation Program Coordinator
Sarah Gatzke, Director of Water Conservation
Brian Miner, Southeast WI Stewardship Coordinator
Our East Troy office is open by appointment only. If you have any questions about The Nature Conservancy's Mukwonago River Watershed project, please email us at Mukwonagoinfo@tnc.org or call us at 262-642-7276.