As climate change reshapes our world, connected and resilient landscapes are crucial for preserving Wisconsin’s natural wonders. At Rush Creek, we’re collaborating with partners to restore the landscape into a thriving, interconnected haven for wildlife. Read on to discover how this vital project is restoring habitat and building a future where nature can adapt and flourish in the face of climate change.
Aerial view of Rush Creek State Natural Area. Photo by Ben Albert
Why is Rush Creek worth protecting?
In 1993, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin chose Rush Creek State Natural Area as one of our very first conservation sites. Our commitment to protecting this special place has never stopped. Nestled along the Mississippi River, Rush Creek is home to one of the rarest habitat types in Wisconsin—dry prairie remnant. It also happens to be the largest dry prairie remnant in the Midwest. The diverse landscape also includes oak savanna, oak-hickory woodlands and floodplain forest. Two miles of spring-fed streams flow through this precious landscape. With 2,800 acres of high-quality habitat, Rush Creek runs along an important migratory flyway for birds like the cerulean warbler and Henslow’s sparrow.
Rush Creek SNA is a designated Important Bird Area and Conservation Opportunity Area. It is also home to imperiled birds, like this red headed woodpecker. Photo by Lindsey Broadhead
Rush Creek’s climate resilient future
In 2022, we teamed up with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to launch Wisconsin’s first grassland climate adaptation project at Rush Creek. Our goal has been to restore the State Natural Area’s habitats. The team is building a resilient, connected landscape that will support a wide range of species for years to come, even as the climate changes. This work will benefit nearly 50 Species of Greatest Conservation Need, from forest and grassland birds to pollinators.
State endangered Ottoe skipper at Rush Creek State Natural Area, one of the priority sites for the Natural Resources Foundation. Photo: Armund Bartz
In order to meet these ambitious goals, the project has focused on three key adaptation strategies:
- Reconnecting two miles of prairie through brush control and invasive species removal, allowing species to travel between different habitats.
- Restoring oak savanna and woodlands by thinning shade-loving trees, using prescribed fire, and enhancing forest health to build resilience against climate change.
- Creating new native prairie and savanna with forest buffers and climate-smart seed mixes, to reduce runoff and make prairie plants more resilient.
A crew member managing a prescribed burn at Rush Creek State Natural Area in the spring of 2024. Photo by Ben Albert
Wrapping up the first grassland climate change adaption project in Wisconsin
Throughout the past three years, the team has completed over 1,100 acres of climate adaptation work. Here’s how it all came together:
- Planting Climate-Adaptive Prairies: We planted 80 acres of diverse, climate-resilient prairie species, using seeds sourced from across the region.
- Creating Savanna Buffers: Along 16 acres of agricultural land, we established savanna vegetation buffers to reduce runoff and enhance prairie resilience by providing a transition zone between cropland and forest.
- Adding Oak Habitat: We planted 15 acres of bur and white oak trees along forest-prairie edges. These oaks will support wildlife and improve storm resilience.
- Using Prescribed Burns: More than 860 acres were treated with prescribed burns to stimulate native plant growth, control brush, and strengthen plants’ tolerance to drought and frost.
- Diversifying Tree Canopy and Understory: Across 35 acres, we enhanced tree and understory diversity. This will support varied wildlife needs and boost resilience against pests and climate impacts.
A prescribed burn at Rush Creek State Natural Area in the spring of 2024. Photo by Ben Albert
In addition to our conservation efforts at the site, we’ve been working to connect people directly with this special project. We’ve hosted three site visits specifically for property managers from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Ho-Chunk Nation, local land trusts, and other nonprofits to share insights and foster collaboration. We’ve also welcomed the public on three NRF Field Trips. Attendees had a firsthand look at climate adaptation practices and the impact of our work.
A group of 20 conservation practitioners visited Rush Creek in September 2023 to learn about the climate resiliency project. Photo: Caitlin Williamson
The future of climate adaptation work in Wisconsin
As the project wraps up, we are excited about future opportunities to expand our efforts to nearby protected areas and private lands. With climate change reshaping our landscapes, we hope to help normalize climate adaptation projects by sharing lessons learned and inspiring natural resources managers during field days.
This work is possible because of people like you. Thank you for sharing our mission of protecting Wisconsin’s lands, waters, and wildlife and connecting all people to nature. Join us as we continue supporting climate adaptation projects across Wisconsin by becoming a member of NRF. Together, we will ensure our state’s natural wonders are protected for future generations to enjoy.
You can also make a gift directly to NRF’s Wisconsin’s Climate Response Fund. This endowment fund supports priority projects and programs that respond to climate impact conservation and education needs in Wisconsin, including this important work at Rush Creek.
Written by Emma Schatz, Digital Communications Coordinator