WAUKESHA COUNTY PARKS RECEIVES CITIZEN-BASED MONITORING PROGRAM OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR ‘CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS’ PROGRAM
(Waukesha, WI) – Waukesha County Park System’s Conservation in the Parks Program has won the 2020 Citizen-based Monitoring Program of the Year Award by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on behalf of the Wisconsin Citizen-based Monitoring Network (WCMB).
“We are honored to be recognized by the state for this award,” said Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow. “We are also grateful to all the passionate staff and volunteers that made it such an astounding success in its first year. The data collected will help guide the County’s natural land management and habitat restoration efforts.”
The Conservation in the Parks Program started in early 2019 throughout Waukesha County. When the program wrapped up its inaugural year, there were 382 volunteers who donated 2,402 hours of their time monitoring wildlife and collecting data. The program had enough volunteers to cover properties within the park system, as well as properties owned by partners including the Nature Conservancy and Waukesha County Land Conservancy.
Waukesha County staff and volunteers monitored wetlands, birds, bumble bees, snakes, dragonflies, turtles, bats and more. There were 238 species identified and recorded. One notable finding was the presence of the federally endangered rusty patched bumble bee in three separate parks.
The collected data provides County staff with valuable information that aids with park land and habitat management plans. It helps ensure that species that are common remain common and that rare, threatened, or endangered species are protected. The data is also shared with other organizations throughout the region, the state, and nationally.
For more information or to volunteer for the Conservation in the Parks Program, visit: www.waukeshacounty.gov/ConservationintheParks
About the Waukesha County Park System
The Waukesha County Park System is a natural resource based park system that demonstrates stewardship while providing recreational and educational opportunities. For more information, visit our web site at www.waukeshacountyparks.com or follow on Instagram, Twitter or like us on Facebook.
