2008 WGWA Fall Field Trip
Our annual Fall Field Trip on September 20th was a success! We had beautiful weather, knowledgeable guides and stop leaders, and were able to see some places in southeast Wisconsin most of us had never been to, as well as see some familiar places in a new way. Trip highlights and photos are below, please click here to access the Field Trip Guidebook (Part 1), Download Part 2 by clicking here.
The group sits down for a presentation at MMSD’s Jones Island WWTP. We were treated to a special presentation by Kevin Shafer, the Executive Director of MMSD, and a tour of the facility by Joyce Harms, Communications & Community Relations Manager of Veolia Water Milwaukee.
Sandra McLellan speaks to the group about her e.coli research at the Great Lakes Water Institute. We also got a tour of the robotics department by Val Klump, Director of the Institute, and a tour of the fisheries department by Brian Shepherd of the USDA.
The group enjoys a catered lunch at Riverside Park in West Bend.
Professor Bill Kean speaks to the group about the dam removal project at Riverside Park and the rebound of the Milwaukee River ecosystem that has ensued.
A heron graces us with his presence and gives his stamp of approval on the restoration of the Milwaukee River in the stretch at Riverside Park.
Students lead the charge up a spectacular kame at Glacial Blue Hills Park in West Bend. Dr. Bruce A. Brown spoke to the group about the delicate balance between the utilization of the sand and gravel resources of the Kettle Moraine and the need to preserve the landscape for recreation and environmental purposes. We also had a presentation by a local landowner about the work he has done to stem development in this sensitive area. It was very inspiring!
Professor Doug Cherkauer speaks to the group about the unique hydrology of the Cedarburg Bog. It was fascinating, and pictures just can’t capture the beauty of this place!
We are standing on the Devonian Milwaukee Formation at Estabrook Park. Professor Bill Kean spoke about the geology and the history of the Milwaukee Cement Company in this area, and we had a presentation by Vince Bushell of the River Revitalization Foundation about their vision for the Milwaukee River as an important environmental and recreational corridor.
No field trip is complete without fossils!
This is a beautiful rain garden protecting Bradford Beach from bacteria in stormwater effluent (green feature in center is a storm sewer outlet).