Conservation
Conservation is defined as the preservation of resources from an excessive amount of use that would be considered wasteful. In the more casual sense, it is the protection of something important so that it may be enjoyed by future generations. In this modern age of consumerism, it is growing increasingly important to be aware of how we are using the world around us, and, luckily, it is easier now than ever to get involved.
At Cave of the Mounds, we have invested over two decades of effort in conserving and protecting the natural ecosystems that existed here prior to European settlement. The prairie, oak savanna, and woodland found on the park grounds are descendants of Wisconsin’s original environment, but they were completely absent for a significant amount of time. Since the main use of the area was farmland–and farming takes its toll on the environment–it has taken a more dedicated effort to return to the previous landscape.
"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land." -Aldo Leopold
Cave of the Mounds has pursued a variety of different restorative projects across the park in order to provide habitat and nutrients for the birds, bees, and butterflies. Although we are operating across a large swath of land, our main action at Cave of the Mounds is, in truth, gardening; we are carefully selecting and maintaining biomes that have the greatest benefit to the local populations, and we are working to emulate their preferred conditions as best we can.
In total, we have planted just under 300 trees, mainly oak, across the park in an effort to help oak regeneration in the area as well as rejuvenate the oak savanna that existed here long ago. We have further dedicated a significant portion of our hillside to tallgrass prairies. These prairies are not only a restored habitat for many different species, but they also act as a hub for a significant number of butterfly species, particularly monarchs, which can be supported by the gardens at every stage of their development.
"Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to the people." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
As they are a very large undertaking, the prairies and woodlands have not been quick and easy. The woodlands cover a large area that takes a long time to maintain and change, and developing a prairie from scratch requires a good bit of patience–75% of a prairie plant is their underground root system which can grow anywhere from 8 to 14 feet beneath the ground, meaning that we often don’t see any above ground sprouts for 5 to 7 years after seeding. In spite of these facts, prairies are not impossible to garden–though they aren’t for the faint of heart. When we began our journey to recreate this historical prairie back in the Fall of 2000, we knew absolutely nothing about what the process required or entailed. In fact, we believe that the hardest part of the process was actually learning how to do it. As any gardener knows, gardening takes patience, practice, and perseverance, but more than anything it requires passion. Tackling a project of this caliber can be daunting, but with enough dedication one can achieve the beautiful landscapes found in the natural world. Due to our efforts, there are now over 120 acres of prairie restored to this area.
In 2004, Cave of the Mounds entered into a conservation easement with the Groundswell Conservancy, a local conservation organization that operates throughout Dane County and the surrounding areas. This partnership protected some 26 acres of land within the oak woodland from any development or otherwise damaging use, and it will now be used for years to come as a site for educational purposes as well as a sanctuary for the various species of flora and fauna that exist throughout this area of Wisconsin. We are now actively developing the woodland by removing invasive species to allow room for native plants to grow as well as giving slow-growing oaks an advantage against faster-growing tree species.
As we work above ground, it is important for us to be aware of how our actions affect the cave beneath us. Different plants affect infiltration (the ability for water to be absorbed into the ground) in different ways. Living caves grow because of the water dripping into them, which means we want high infiltration whenever possible. Prairie plants are great for this purpose as the depth of their roots allows water to sink deep into the soil and eventually make its way into the cave. Other plants such as corn and beans–common Wisconsin crops–will actually keep water from entering the cave system and cause a greater amount of runoff, since their roots are shallow and keep water near the surface.
