$50,000 Grant from USFWS Boosts More Prairie  and Forest Improvements at UW-Parkside

SOMERS — The ongoing program to improve 210 acres of habitat for the endangered rusty patched bumblebee at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has received a significant boost with an additional $50,000 grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This funding will support prairie and forest enhancements in Phases 3 and 4 of the Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course. The support will increase restoration activities needed to enhance the local plant diversity for native pollinators, reduce stormwater runoff issues, and improve ecosystem services.
 

The project, led by the Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (Root-Pike WIN) in collaboration with UW-Parkside and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aims to convert old farmland, which was once a prairie and oak savanna, back into a highly diversified native prairie. The new grant supplements the $93,424 awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in December, bringing the total funding secured for the restoration to more than $400,000. An additional $2 million is needed to complete additional phases across the course.

Dave Giordano, executive director of Root-Pike WIN, emphasized the importance of the new funding: “This grant helps move the project from good to great. The additional resources provide for more acres of native plantings and additional invasive species eradication over the next four years. Whether you are a Rusty Patched Bumblebee fan or just enjoy the natural aesthetics of the property, the additional funds help bring back the ecological diversity to a rare land type that dominated southeastern Wisconsin before settlement.”

Progress and Future Plans

The additional funding will enable the continuation of invasive species removal and the planting of more native species, providing essential nesting, foraging, and overwintering habitats for the rusty patched bumblebee and other pollinators, such as the monarch butterfly. The restoration efforts will also improve water quality and create educational opportunities for students at UW-Parkside. 
More than 50 acres of the cross-country course have been restored by Root-Pike WIN and UW-Parkside in the last five years with grants from the Fund for Lake Michigan, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Brico Fund, Microsoft, and volunteer efforts. The Somers Fire Department also did an in-kind prescribed burn. Overall, the program has been the inspiration for Root-Pike WIN’s Pollinator Patch Program, which brings pollinator habitat to local K-12 schools through experiential planting projects.

Community and Environmental Impact

UW-Parkside Chancellor Lynn Akey expressed gratitude for the ongoing support: “We are deeply appreciative of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Root-Pike WIN, and other partners for their commitment to this project. Their contributions are helping us create a thriving environment for pollinators, enhancing the campus experience, and restoring this community asset.” 
The program area, located on the university’s cross-country course, is considered a “high potential zone” for the endangered bumble bee, which has experienced an 87% population decline over the past 20 years due to habitat loss and degradation. The restoration campaign also connects the habitat to nearby conservation projects, including the Hawthorn Hollow, Petrifying Springs, Gitzlaff Park and the Pike River North Branch corridor. In the last five years, there have been many confirmed sightings of the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee in the restored areas, which is a sign that the improvement efforts are working.
 

Looking Ahead

The restoration work will be followed by five years of invasive species management, native plantings, and monitoring through December 2029.  
With the new grant, the project continues to make strides toward its ultimate goal: creating a sustainable and thriving habitat for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and other native pollinators, enriching the attractiveness of the campus, and improving stormwater functions – now and for future generations to come. 

About the University of Wisconsin–Parkside
Since its founding in 1968, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has been a trusted partner for the region’s higher educational needs, empowering students to thrive, advancing applied knowledge, and developing talent for the future. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificates and pre-professional programs, designed to foster personal and professional growth through real-world and impactful learning experiences. Located in the dynamic Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, UW-Parkside offers unmatched access to world-class internships, professional networks, and endless career-building opportunities, placing students at the center of it all.

Media Contact:
Communications Manager
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
marcomm@uwp.edu