Outdoor Heritage Education Center spear-headed this project with IWLA SW WI Chapter, Village of Benton, and others to clean up this riparian area, create recreational trail access, remove invasive plants, add interpretive signage, and monitor water quality of the Coon Creek Branch of the Fever River, which is called the Galena River about 6 miles downstream when it crosses the WI/IL border, and then flows to the Mississippi River.
IWLA members and other volunteers removed patches of garlic mustard, buckthorn and other invasive species, and have removed litter from the stream and riparian area, including an abandoned bike found in the water.
Members and volunteers have also met with the Village Board, visited the site multiple times for site prep and signage planning as well as the cleanup work. Some Village Trustees even spent volunteer in-kind hours to help members with on-the-ground labor. Members and volunteers also removed old signs and installed new signs, including the main
entrance sign.
Additional interpretive signs were developed with professional conservation educator services. Directional signs have also been installed and the IWLA SW WI members helped assemble in-ground benches made of recycled materials.
Benefits to the community include the space being converted from a overgrown, over-looked and under-utilized riparian habitat along an 11-acre stretch of Benton Village property into a more well-known and usable destination.
Now, the most common reaction from residents and other visitors is that they had no idea what this natural oasis had to offer right inside the Village and, for some, within walking distance of home.
The main entry sign and colorful, interactive “What is your wingspan?” sign are contributing to that newfound awareness.
Additional benefits include improved recreational access, public awareness and appreciation for local resource and proper use of it, creation of a safe nearby outdoor learning classroom with an increase of use by students and educators.
The site is poised to be used regularly as a place-based outdoor education classroom for the adjacent high school and elementary school as well as for the public year-round.
