Newsletter Nov 2022

BADGER LANDS TOUR

In August a most interesting Demeter tour of the 7,350 acre Badger Lands area, south of Devil’s Lake, began with an introduction by Verlyn Mueller in the Badger Army Ammunition Museum. Then during a bus ride, retired DNR ecologist Mike Mossman, a member of the Badger History group, gave a history of the area and explained that three entities now manage the lands formerly occupied by the Army Ammunition Plant. It was retired in 1972 and most of the buildings, roads and equipment have been cleared away.

The Ho-Chunk are returning their portion to pre-settlement conditions of prairie, and perhaps some day, bison. On the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center section, staff are collaborating with CALS faculty to study carbon sequestering by different crop systems, green-house gas emissions and manure management, as examples of a holistic approach to dairy farming. They have a working dairy facility which will be replaced in the near future. Alison Duff (see August Newsletter) described a current study which is looking at the effect of equipment driving patterns on soil compaction and alfalfa productivity. Representing work on the third and largest segment, the only part open to the public, was Marla Steele of the Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance. This organization is helping the DNR with restoration efforts and, with Mike Mossman and others, has developed a free App, “Explore the Badger Lands.” The Great Sauk Trail, a paved biking and walking trail, crosses the entire area.