OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENTS BEFORE DANE COUNTY BOARD

May 17, 2017
County Board Chair Sharon Corrigan, 608.333.2285 corrigan@countyofdane.com
County Board

                     Capital City Trail repaving, Cherokee Marsh land buy on Thursday agenda

 

Bicyclists, hikers, anglers and snowmobilers all stand to benefit from action items before the Dane County Board at its regular meeting Thursday night.

 

The Board is to consider resolutions to boost natural areas at Cherokee Marsh while moving forward on the badly-needed reconstruction of a 9-mile section of the Capitol City State Trail south of Madison.

 

“These projects will not only improve the environment but will also make it easier to enjoy the outdoors right out your backdoor,” said County Board Chair Sharon Corrigan. “I know a lot of work has gone into them.”

 

The Board meets Thursday at 7 p.m. in Room 201 of the City County Building at 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Madison.

 

The largest project calls for buying 53 acres to expand the Cherokee Marsh Natural Resource Area along the Yahara River. The $1.522 million acquisition also protects another 77 acres via a conservation easement, with funds available through the Preservation & Renewal Fund.

 

“Cherokee Marsh is vital to any effort we make to protect water quality in the Yahara chain of lakes,” said Supervisor Michele Ritt. “It’s nature’s sponge, acting as natural filter.”

 

Another land project would preserve 58 acres in the Lodi Marsh Wildlife Area and State Natural Area along a tributary to Spring Creek, a Tier 1 stream. The $174,642 purchase price is being split between Dane County and the Natural Heritage Land Trust, which has applied for a Department of Natural Resources Stewardship Fund grant and a Dane County Conservation Fund grant.

 

Also, the Board is to consider purchase of a streambank easement along the West Branch of the Sugar River in the Town of Montrose. The $31,600 easement would run through two parcels that contain a meandering ½-mile stretch of the cold-water stream adjacent to the Falk Wells Sugar River Wildlife Area and provide permanent public fishing access.

 

On the trails front, the Board will vote on applying for grant funding with the DNR to offset costs of the pavement restoration project on the Capital City State Trail.

 

The Capital City State Trail was constructed in 2000. It’s due for a major renovation that entails complete replacement of the pavement for the entire length of the 9-mile trail that is located south of Madison between Verona Rd and Nob Hill Road, according to officials.

 

For those who enjoy winter sports, the County Board will vote on replacing the Gust/Sugar River snowmobile bridge. The county has secured a $76,200 Snowmobile Trail Aids grant from the DNR to cover the cost. It will also consider a plan to replace the snowmobile bridge over Fryes Feeder Creek southeast of Mount Horeb. The $32,600 project would be funded via two DNR grants.