Pictured above is the first Starkweather Creek work day of 2020. Brave volunteers cleared pathways and remove invasive brush in the beautiful woods along Starkweather's west branch by the Carpenter-Ridgeway neighborhood in January and February.
We think that time outdoors is more important than ever. While we will have to reschedule our outdoors events in the coming weeks, we invite you to take a self-guided walk along the Starkweather Creek bike path.
Even better, since our usual spring clean up is postponed, consider removing garlic mustard or picking up a bag of trash near Starkweather Creek on your own or as a family in honor of the upcoming 50th Anniversary of Earth Day (find more guidance in our events section)!
Here's our latest update:
Stewardship Update
As spring unfolds amidst our own health concerns, we're excited to tell you about some efforts to help our creek's health.
Across the state, chloride concentrations in surface and ground waters are growing. Under a DNR grant, the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission is conducting a Chloride Management Plan for the creek's watershed. This pilot study will quantify chloride entering and leaving the watershed and develop practices to reduce chloride loads in addition to current WI Salt Wise Partnership efforts. Partners in the study include Madison City Engineering, Public Health and Sewage District, area businesses and Friends of Starkweather Creek.
Board member Jeff Steele is working with City Engineering to restore native plants in an area near Commercial Avenue. The City will help prepare the area and supply hundreds of plant plugs for volunteers to plant and maintain.
- Lance Green, Friends of Starkweather Creek board member and stewardship committee member
Welcome to new board member John Newman! He makes his home in the Eken Park neighborhood and is a master naturalist with a B.S. in Botany from UW-Platteville. He has interned with the Madison Audubon Society and Community Groundworks, and holds as core values to love and serve all living things, grow himself, and mend his home, starting locally and expanding globally. We're glad to have him as a new member on our board.
About 15 people joined Master Naturalist Paul Noeldner in February to learn about "life beneath the snow" as part of a FUN Bird & Nature Outing.
The crisp winter walk from Goodman Community Center along the bike path to Starkweather Creek revealed a variety of winter birds, squirrels, tracks and tunnels in the snow where critters take shelter and find their animal 'grocery stores' of plant seeds, tree buds, bark, buried nuts and other food caches to survive the winter.
This health crisis is helping us understand just how important little things like time in nature are for all of us. Especially in urban areas we need nearby nature to enjoy! The birds and animals and pollinators all need these natural areas too... read full message on our website.
- Paul Noedler, Friends of Starkweather Creek board member
Events Update
Our communal events are currently on hold, and we will check back periodically to see when we can return to holding outdoor events.
Restoration Work Parties: Starkweather Woods While guided restoration efforts are on hold, the following volunteer efforts may be done solo or with members of your immediate family: garlic mustard removal at Starkweather Woods, which will soon be full of this flowering invasive, and trash pick-up on the west branch of Starkweather Creek near East Washington Avenue. There is still lots of work to be done! Volunteers must provide their own supplies. Read board member Jeff Steele's guidance for volunteer stewardship.
Bird & Nature Outing: Self-Guided Nature Walk & Cleanup Pitch in for Earth Week any time in April by helping clean up along Starkweather Creek, bike paths, and neighborhoods! Take a healthy nature walk along this hidden urban gem of nature that meanders through the east side. Bring a garbage bag and gloves and help pick up litter you see along the way. When normal schedules resume, come back to enjoy Naturalist led Bird and Nature Outings at Starkweather Creek 10 a.m. the 3rd Saturday every month. Note: Please participate with members of immediate household only, and follow all guidelines for maintaining safety in public.
Beer raffle fundraiser for the Friends of Starkweather Creek Cancelled and may be rescheduled
Bird & Nature Outing: Earth Day Cleanup with Carl Landsness Our annual creek clean-up will be rescheduled.
8th Annual Bird & Nature Festival Rescheduled to June 28th at Warner Park Shelter, 2930 N Sherman Avenue.
Board meetings (open to the public) Every 3rd Tuesday of the month
Email info@starkweatherfriends.org to let us know you'd like to join a meeting. They are currently occurring over the phone, but normally take place at the Goodman Community Center. Coming up: Apr. 21st, May 19th, June 16th, July 21st, August 18th.
More details are usually posted to our Facebook events in advance.
What We Do
The Friends of Starkweather Creek are honored to advocate on behalf of the largest urban watershed in the City of Madison. Our board of volunteers does this by:
Advocating for the creek with city, county, and state officials
Leading free canoe, bike, and walking tours all year long
Working with Goodman Community Center and Madison Friends of Urban Nature (FUN) to get people out on the creek
Sharing news about the creek and providing a place for community members to share their concerns and plan projects
Working with experts on projects to promote a healthy creek ecosystem
Keeping the creek navigable using low-impact techniques
If you'd like to help with a donation, you are welcome to join us at one of the suggested donation levels: Cranefly Larva ($10) | Crayfish ($25) | Damselfly Nymph ($50) | Mayfly Nymph ($100)
Since our main source of donations are at outings and events, we'd appreciate your support electronically if you are able to give. Checks may be made out to Friends of Starkweather Creek and mail to Friends of Starkweather Creek, Post Office Box 8442, Madison, WI 53708-8442.
Thank you for supporting our work to revitalize Starkweather Creek by lending your expertise, volunteering, and other support.
