PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. — On Earth Day and year-round, dedicated volunteers work hard to protect and preserve natural resources, including the Sauk Creek Nature Preserve in Port Washington.
Nina Delgadillo, a land steward with Restoring Lands: A Wisconsin Land Trust, led a group of volunteers in building culverts along a trail at Sauk Creek Nature Preserve.
“It’s going to help make sure that rain is not running over this land completely and eroding some of the plant and wildlife that we have here,” said Delgadillo.
“This is helping with the ecosystem,” added volunteer Jeremy Kowalski, who likes being out in nature and improving local trails. “I think it’s all connected. It’s a small thing to do to build tiny little culverts here and there, but I think it adds up to a bigger thing.”
Restoring Lands: a Wisconsin Land Trust owns and manages Sauk Creek Nature Preserve and 35 other nature preserves in Ozaukee, Washington and Milwaukee Counties. The nonprofit organization used to be known as the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, but changed its name earlier this year after combining with the River Revitalization Foundation.
“A huge part of our work is obviously making the environment more biodiverse and more sustainable and healthy,” said Delgadillo. “A big part of that is based in the community. The community uses this site, uses this trail, so it’s super important for these trails to be accessible and maintainable for all ages of people.”
Tom Stolp, executive director of Restoring Lands, said the nonprofit is in charge of protecting, connecting and restoring more than 7,000 acres of land — as well as the water that runs through the nature preserves.
“There’s only one water,” said Stolp. “We took our cues from nature. We followed the flow of the river. We know that birds don’t know boundaries. Turtles, other wildlife, they don’t read maps. They don’t care which county they are in. It’s about protecting the resource and really managing the resource in a more comprehensive manner.”
The group’s work also involves removing invasive species — such as buckthorn and honeysuckle which spread quickly and create dense thickets that block sunlight from reaching the ground.
“We are losing habitat, and habitat is being degraded,” said Delgadillo. “Wildlife, plants and people rely on these spaces, and it’s extremely important that there are people out here restoring lands. Organizations and volunteers willing to put in this hard work to ensure these spaces are healthy.”
Restoring Lands: A Wisconsin Land Trust offers volunteer opportunities throughout the spring and summer months. The nonprofit said it always welcomes new faces and extra hands to help make a difference.
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