County Awards 2016 Dane County Environmental Council Grants

April 07, 2016
Stephanie Miller 608-267-8823
County Executive

                                 $17,087 Awarded for 16 Projects to Help With Local Environmental

                                            Conservation, Restoration, and Education Efforts

 

Dane county approved $17,087 in grant awards through the Dane County Environmental Council’s Community Partners and Capital Equipment programs, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today.

 

“We can always accomplish more when we work together,” said Parisi.  “By partnering with these communities and non-profits, we have the ability to educate and inspire others, and continue our work to improve and conserve the county’s outdoor spaces.”

 

The grant  will fund 16 environmental conservation, restoration, and education projects across the county. Dane County Environmental Council grants award funding to a diverse group of community organizations, school districts, and municipalities.

 

Examples of this year’s projects include prairie and wetland restoration, environmental education, trail improvements, equipment purchases to manage invasive species, and interpretive signage.  All of the projects must take place in Dane County and provide a benefit to Dane County natural resources and residents.  A full listing of grant recipients can be found below.   

 

Funding for Environmental Council grants is provided through Dane County’s Land and Water Legacy Initiative and generous donations from local businesses, including the MG&E Foundation. Grant recipients also provide matching funds in order to complete their projects. 

 

The Dane County Environmental Council is a seven-member panel appointed by Parisi and confirmed by the County Board.  The Council assists groups in recognizing and protecting natural areas in Dane County and assumes an educational role in the awareness, conservation and protection of the environment. 

For more information on the Dane County Environmental Council, visit: http://www.countyofdane.com/commissions/environmentalcouncil

 

 

 

Community Partner Grant Program  2016

 

 

Anderson Park Friends, Inc $821     

Funds will be used to develop and print a park brochure.

 

Friends of Lake Wingra $474                       

Funds will be used to help design and print a Friends of Lake Wingra brochure.    

 

Friends of Cam-Rock Park    $248               

Funds will be used to purchase trees and shrubs for Cam-Rock Park.

 

Madison Children’s Museum $1000 

Funds will be used for purchasing supplies and equipment needed to develop a traveling homing pigeon program for local events, camps, and summer school programs that serve low-income areas in Dane County.

 

Marquette Neighborhood Association $500 

Funds will be used to purchase bat houses and needed supplies for Yahara Place Park and BB Clarke Beach.

 

Natural Step Monona $700   

Funds will be used to provide needed materials to run 7 Eco-Action Tuesdays for people to be directly involved in environmental friendly activities.

 

Village of DeForest    $1000             

Funds will be used for purchasing two benches for the Marvin & Marie Schweers Natural Area Trail.

 

University of Wisconsin Foundation of behalf of University Arboretum $1000

Funds will be used to provide tree display signage for Longenecker Horticultural Gardens.

 

   

Total amount awarded for the  2016 Community Partners grants:  $5743

 

2016 Capital Equipment Grant Program

                       

Aldo Leopold Nature Center  $2237

Funds will assist in purchasing rakes, gravel taps, shovels, pole pruner, blowers, and a chain saw and safety chaps  to assist  projects to restore native habitat at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s two campus area.

 

Badger Prairie Community Garden  $329               

Funds will be used to purchase a chain saw, blades, helmets and chaps for controlling woody invasive species around the Badger Prairie Community Garden site.

 

Clean Lakes Alliance of Dane County $2500                       

Funds will be used to purchase water quality monitoring equipment for the Yahara River watershed for volunteer use.

 

Friends of Pope Farm Conservancy $1920  

Funds will be used to purchase professional services to conduct controlled burns in three prairies.

 

Ice Age Trail Alliance $1905

Funds will be used to purchase professional services for forestry mowing and tree thinning and invasive removal for oak savanna restoration along the Ice Age Trail on Valley View Preserve.

 

Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited $375

Funds will be used to purchase backpack sprayers for controlling woody invasives along Dane County trout stream easements.

                                                        

Swamplovers Foundation $1515       

Funds will be used to purchase auger drives and bits to plant trees on the Swamplovers Nature preserve.

 

Wolf Run  Association, Inc. $563

Funds will be used to purchase  a trimmer/brusher, sprayer, tree pruner, and loppers for maintaining the Wolf Run Trail and Conservancy.

 

 

Total amount awarded for the 2016 Capital Equipment grants:  $11,344