Since the founding of our nonprofit in 2016, Friends of the Blufflands has been determined to make an impact. The core of our efforts is to bring a voice for those who value the bluffs for the habitat, beauty, nature-based recreation, and health opportunities they provide.
Our Roots
Our Mission
To promote sound conservation practices to maintain the health of the Coulee Region Blufflands and to be a voice for a wide variety of Blufflands users who value the area Blufflands for the increased quality of life they provide.
We work to conserve, steward, and share the Coulee Region Blufflands through:
Prairie management and restoration
The remnant hill prairies are the most ecologically significant plant communities in the Blufflands and that’s where most of our restoration efforts are expended. These prairies are a relic of the landscape that existed here prior to European settlement of the area. They contain the majority of the rare and threatened species found in the Coulee Region Blufflands.
Forest management and reforestation
Friends of the Blufflands has taken on a number of reforestation and forest management tasks in the Blufflands, including restoring oak forest, converting closed woodlands to oak savannas, and bringing spring ephemerals back to Grandad Bluff.
Invasive species, encouragement of native species
The careful control of invasive species is the most effective way to encourage native species. We have developed expertise on the most effective control techniques for the invasive species we encounter, increasing our understanding of what concentrations and application techniques are appropriate for each management situation. Importantly, we always follow these removals with the addition of native plants–spreading native seeds or, when needed, planting root plugs of native plants in cleared areas.
Preservation of rare and endangered species
Friends of the Blufflands stewards land that is home to many Wisconsin state-Threatened, Endangered, and Special Concern flora and fauna, including the iconic Timber Rattlesnake, cliff-nesting Peregrine Falcons, Small Skullcap, and Butternut, to name a few. We preserve and encourage the proliferation of these species when we encounter them, expanding the threatened habitats upon which they rely. When conducting prescribed burns on Bluffland remnant prairies, we take care to leave unburned areas of refugia to minimize the possible species loss.
Pollinator prairie creation and management
In addition to the remnant prairies already mentioned, Friends of the Blufflands is supporting pollinator prairies, also known as planted prairies, which are created in old fields and other disturbed ground. Prairie plants must be reintroduced to these disturbed areas, usually by planting prairie seeds obtained elsewhere. It takes many years for these prairies to support the web of life that a health remnant prairie supports, but they are important resources for many species, including pollinators that have been decreasing in numbers.
Advisement on trail placement and construction
We support the creation, maintenance, and development of the extensive network of trails throughout the Coulee Region Blufflands by sharing our expertise on the sensitive ecosystems found therein. This work ensures that the local community has access to green space, high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities, and a place to connect with nature.
Educating the public and inviting everyone to share in the wonder of the prairies and forests of the Blufflands
Friends of the Blufflands offers a variety of educational programming and participates in many community events that help to connect us with the natural world. We host guided hikes, engage with local schools, gather regularly for workdays, and create and maintain interpretive signage throughout the Blufflands.
Our Roots
Since the founding of our nonprofit in 2016, Friends of the Blufflands has been determined to make an impact. The core of our efforts is to bring a voice for those who value the bluffs for the habitat, beauty, nature-based recreation, and health opportunities they provide.