Research and Community Science: Menomonee Valley 2018 Annual Review A MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM Welcome to the Urban Ecology Center’s 2018 Menomonee Valley Research and Community Science Annual Review! Our team of community researchers has been studying wildlife in the Valley since 2011, two years before Three Bridges Park opened and a year before the Center refurbished a historic We conduct numerous wildlife surveys year-round, but primarily tavern to open their third branch. during the busy summer months. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our summer interns who are often the first people out in the parks Many of you have helped this community become before sunrise checking mammal traps or closing the building after an a national leader in the field of Community Science. evening bat survey. Thank you! Together we (professional and community scientists) Over time these vast collaborate in the study of ecological connections in marshes were drained and busy urban green spaces in a truly unique manner. Our filled to create dry land for long-term presence in the community allows for strong economic development, social ties connecting including machine shops, people to the environment packing plants, and the and to each other. Long- shops of the Milwaukee term data sets allow us to Road Railway. The River assess ecological trends was channelized for with confidence such as the shipping, changing the effects of climate change lazily meandering river and on bird migration. Over surrounding floodplain into an industrial river fraught the years our collective with pollution and waste. Funneled water moving with presence in and intentional greater velocity further eroded the river banks. This The Research and Community management of reclaimed anthropogenic change to the landscape had lasting Science team in 2018 (left to right): impacts on the ecology and health of the river. Research Fellow Tony Garcia, industrial green spaces such GIS & Field Data Coordinator, as Three Bridges Park have Jessica Orlando, Research and led to a substantial increase Land Acknowledgement Community Science Coordinator, in biotic diversity over time. Before one can continue, it is important to remember Jennifer Callaghan, and Manager This is something in which of Research, Tim Vargo. the history of the land and of its people. A land we all can take pride. If you acknowledgement is a formal statement recognizing the are currently part of the team, we express our immense unique and enduring relationship between indigenous gratitude for your efforts. If you’re curious about what people and their traditional territories. Its purpose is to we do, come join us for a wildlife survey and see first- remind us of, honor, and respect those before us. hand how magical this community is. You could be the next person to discover a species new to the park, to The Urban Ecology Center wishes to acknowledge and Milwaukee, to Wisconsin or the world! honor the indigenous communities native to this region, and recognize that Three Bridges Park and the Urban —Ethan, Maggie, Jennifer, Jessica, Tony and Tim Ecology Center was built on indigenous homelands and resources. The Urban Ecology Center recognizes the Peoria, A Brief History Oneida, Mohican, Brothertown, Potowatomi, Ojibwe, The Menomonee River Valley formed as a result of glacial Ho-Chunk, and Menominee people as past, present, and processes over 10,000 years ago. It became a thriving future caretakers of this land. wild rice marsh that many people called home (see Land Cover photos (clockwise from left): Bumble bees and honey bees hard Acknowledgment at right). The name “Menomonee” at work (photo by community scientist Bruce Halmo), Community originates from the Algonquian word “meno,” meaning scientists monitoring bats at the Urban Ecology Center-Menomonee good, and “min,” which is a term for grain or fruit that Valley during a spring migration acoustic bat monitoring survey in April (Photo by Chicago-area documentary filmmaker Marianna is now known as wild rice. In the early 1800’s, the area Milhorat), and community scientists netting Monarchs to tag during a became colonized by European settlers who forced record-breaking 2018 Monarch season (photo by community scientist indigenous people from their traditional homelands. John Chaplock). A STar VOLUNTEER Story of a Young Scientist Looking Toward the Future The next generation of environmental scientists is Today, Ana helps share all she has growing up. Out the door at 6 a.m., Analiese is ready to learned with those around her. “Now dive into the latest Community Science research project I teach my family: that’s Switch Grass, at the Urban Ecology Center. It’s not how you’d expect that’s a yellow finch, that’s a House an 11-year-old might start her day but for Analiese, Sparrow. My parents are actually walking a few doors down to the UEC at daybreak was a very proud of it and so surprised weekly routine during the summer of 2018. at how much I’ve grown.” And she Ana’s involvement with the Center began when her loves helping other kids learn about grandma first brought her to the Monarch butterflies, migration, Menomonee Valley branch for hibernation, and how plants grow. In the Young Scientist Club. her opinion, “the UEC is a place you “I really felt this good vibe. can see that TV is not the best thing. It was a place where I could Maybe it’s nature!” be myself, and I felt safe. It’s no surprise that Glenna I just kinda clicked with it,” Holstein, Menomonee Valley she explains. “After going to Urban Ecology Center Branch the Urban Ecology Center, I Manager, says, “Ana is definitely realized how powerful nature an honorary member of the can be and all the great things Menomonee Valley team, and it can provide us.” none of us will be surprised if “I feel happy because I am able to help kids respect she’s running this place someday!” nature. Before I didn’t look at nature in the way I currently look at it. I love insects, bees, I love being Green Career Pipeline outside and I love biking with my grandma”. Ana became passionate about ecology and now cares deeply for our green spaces. The Urban Ecology Center hopes to foster this intense curiosity for other young A Day in the Life of a Young aspiring scientists through the “green career pipeline.” Scientist This process aims to introduce youth to the possibilities Ana decided to stay, and her adventures with the of careers in the environmental field. It can begin when Young Scientist Club led to a deeper fascination kids come to the Center through a school program, with Community Science. Jennifer Callaghan, former summer camp, public program or just by chance. Research & Community Science Coordinator, was totally impressed. “Ana’s curiosity, commitment, and Later, as high school intelligence have led her to contribute meaningfully to sophomores or juniors, many of the Center’s research and community science they can apply for the projects. Whether it’s helping Outdoor Leadership collect data for a bat program. This two- survey at 10:00 p.m. or year program provides entering information job training in paid into a tricky database positions throughout after a 6:00 a.m. small the Center, such as community programs, visitor mammal survey, Ana’s services, land stewardship, volunteer engagement, helpfulness and sense marketing and, of course, research. of adventure lend well In college, students can continue along the path with to field ecology. Her internships for credit and paid summer intern programs. joyful spirit is infectious This pathway prepares them for future employment at and every time I have an organizations with an environmental focus, or hopefully interaction with her, I leave the Urban Ecology Center! feeling a little happier.” Photo (top to bottom): Ana helping feed the animals in the Animal Photo (top to bottom): Ana being photographed as a star volunteer at Room at the Menomonee Valley Urban Ecology Center; Ana the Urban Ecology Center; Ana helping record data with the Research helping the summer interns collect data on snakes; the 2018 Urban and Community Science Department. Ecology Center Outdoor Leaders. STEWarDSHIP, RESTOraTION, AND ADAPTIVE MaNAGEMENT The Urban Ecology Center’s Land Stewardship and The Value of Prescribed Burns Community Science teams In early spring of 2018, we conducted a prescribed collaborate to implement an burn on the east side of the park for the first time. iterative land management Prescribed fire is a useful management tool that knocks process called Adaptive back encroaching woody species, removes duff layer, Management. Regular warms the ground, returns nutrients to the soil and wildlife monitoring can invigorates fire-adapted native species. Fire has been inform the efficiency and a natural process throughout history and has been a efficacy of restorationmanagement tool used by indigenous communities strategies. In other words, prior to European settlement. When these primary the critters themselves tell caretakers were driven from the land in the 1800’s, us how well we’re doing. thousands of years of indigenous knowledge was lost An increase in a particular about the importance of living in coexistence with species of beetle, for wildfire, which is a key process in long-term ecosystem example, might indicate health. The Urban Ecology Center hopes to continue this habitat improvement or vital practice in the future. that we’re closer towards our goal of a functional Oak Savannah. Regular monitoring and adaptive management helps us track our goals to heal the land. A prescribed burn in Three Bridges Park in 2018. The hard work of volunteers and of land stewards helps ensure that Three Bridges Park will continue to become a healthier green space Adaptive Management—How it over time by providing food for Monarchs and by creating a home for a Shooting Star Flower (pictured right).