Highlights of Town of Grafton's Bird Conservation Efforts

Category 1: Creation and Protection of Habitat

Demonstrate with an attachment that your community is in compliance with Wisconsin's "Smart Growth" law for land use planning and resource management.  

The Town has adopted and is in compliance with Wisconsin’s Smart Growth” law: Ordinance No.  2010-01: AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF THE TOWN OF GRAFTON, WISCONSIN. 

The Town of Grafton also has an ordinance creating an Open Space Program to protect and preserve open space and natural areas within the town. Ordinance 60 authorizes the Board of Supervisors to purchase lands within the town for present and anticipated town purposes, to appropriate money for establishing, maintaining and repairing ecological areas, and to appropriate money to conserve natural resources in the town.

The Town has an active Open Space Commission with a mission to preserve the open space and rural landscape of the Town, which serve to protect birding habitat.

Attach bird monitoring results and/or other data obtained from researchers or local volunteers in the local park system.

The Riveredge Bird Club has included Grafton in the Christmas Bird Count and that is documented by the map of the bird count and found along with survey data on the Riveredge Website

Birding Hotspots are identified by Ozaukee County in the Ozaukee County Trailside Birding Guide.  Of the 11 on-trail hotspots, 4 are in the Town of Grafton.   Of the 9 off-trail hotspots, 4 are in the Town of Grafton.  That means 8 of 20, or 40% of the designated birding hotspots in Ozaukee County are in the Town of Grafton. 

Attach ordinance or other evidence that existing bird habitat has legal protection.

Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve, a prominent Ozaukee County Park and bird habitat on Lake Michigan, is legally protected by a conservation easement held by the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT). The conservation easement assures that Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve will be maintained as a nature preserve, prevents any use of the property that could impair or interfere with conservation, and preserves the lake shoreline, forests, wetlands, bluffs and other natural features of the property. The property is also under the guidance of a Stewardship Grant Contract and Land Management Plan for protecting the natural resources. In addition, there are several other State and Federal properties in Ozaukee County with existing bird habitat under legal protection, including several USFWS Waterfowl Production Area properties, including the Ulao Waterfowl Production Area along Hwy. C north of Hwy. 60.

The Ozaukee Washington Land Trust owns the Bratt Woods and Kurtz Woods properties in the Town of Grafton and holds easements on several properties in the Town of Grafton, notably Woodland Shores with a strong Forest Management Program that supports bird life.

Andrew Struck, chair of the Bird City Wisconsin steering committee, shakes hands with Marjie Tomter, chair of the Town of Grafton's Open Space Commission, who accepted recognition as a Bird City community.

Document that current community planning seeks to provide additional bird habitat.

Updates to the Open Space Program include segments on Important Bird Areas, providing additional bird habitats (e.g. expanding Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve.

The Town of Grafton has begun construction on its 15-mile Multi-Use Trail to connect open space areas within the town.  The Park and Open Space Plan  9.1.3.11 “is intended to provide for areas where the recreational needs ...can be met without undue disturbance of natural areas." The P-1 Park and Recreation District is intended to provide for areas where the recreational needs, both public and private, of the populace can be met without undue disturbance of natural resources and adjacent areas.

The C-1 Conservancy Overlay District is intended to be used to prevent destruction of valuable natural resources and to protect watercourses, including the shorelands of navigable waters, and areas that are not adequately drained, or which are subject to periodic flooding, where development would result in hazards to health or safety, or would deplete or destroy natural resources or be otherwise incompatible with the public.

The RCDO Residential Conservation Development Overlay District is intended to preserve the rural landscape character, sensitive natural areas, farmland and other desirable areas of open land as determined by the Town, while permitting residential development at appropriate densities in an open space setting which is designed to reduce the perceived intensity of development and provide privacy for dwellings.  It is an overlay district to be used in the R-1, R-2 or R-3 Residential Districts by choice of the landowner/developer.  Specific objectives of the RCDO District are as follows: A) To maintain and protect the Town of Grafton’s rural character by preserving important landscape elements, including those areas containing such unique and environmentally sensitive natural features as woodlands, hedgerows, stream corridors, wetlands, floodplains, shore lands, prairies, ridge tops, steep slopes and critical species habitat by setting them aside from development.  Such areas contained in primary environmental corridors, as identified by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, are of particular significance for this District. B) To preserve scenic views and to minimize views of new development from existing streets. C) To provide for the unified and planned development of clustered, single-family, low-density residential uses, incorporating areas of permanently protected common open space.

To aid the Town of Grafton in determining whether the applicant has accomplished the purpose and objectives and has met the design standards of cluster groups and common open space, the development shall include an inventory and site analysis of the tract, including wildlife habitat areas including identification of the predominant species of birds, mammals, amphibians, fish, and reptiles present.  The presence of rare and endangered species shall be noted.

 Attach a copy of local ordinance to demonstrate that the community does not restrict "wild" or natural lawns and landscaping.

The Town of Grafton has many rural properties and has conservation subdivisions.  It does not restrict “wild” or natural lawns or landscaping but does not have an ordinance in place.  Natural landscaping has been an accepted practice in the Town for well over 30 years.

Show how the community offers the public information on control and removal of invasive species.

The Town of Grafton has a noxious weed ordinance requiring that all noxious weeds shall be destroyed prior to the time in which such plants would mature to the bloom or flower state and enforces it through the town’s weed commissioner.  (Link to site)

 In addition:

• The Town’s web site includes information on weed control for residents.

• The Town of Grafton held an community invasive species workshop at Bratt Woods in conjunction with OWLT work day.  Instructor: Steve Wilkinson.

• The Town of Grafton also employs a part-time “weed inspector” who makes annual rounds and sends notices to residents if they have weeds that need control.

 Attach a state publication showing that the community contains a segment of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail or a designated Important Bird Area.

The Town of Grafton has three sites on the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail: Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve, the Ulao Waterfowl Production Area, and the Ozaukee Interurban Trail, which crosses through the Town.

Demonstrate through public documents or publicity that the local Chamber of Commerce (or a similar group) takes an active role in the planning process for protecting and enlarging favorable bird habitat. 

The Town Board has established a mechanism by which the town may appropriate money in the form of monetary donations or grants and/or accept possessory or non-possessory interests in real property to preserve open space areas and conserve the natural resources of the town. The Town has an active Open Space Commission with a mission to preserve the open space and rural landscape of the Town, which serve to protect birding habitat.

OTHER: Demonstrate in an attached narrative.

The acquisition of the Lion’s Den Gorge Natural Area, a natural area of local significance (NA‐3), was made possible by a unique coalition of partners including the Riveredge Bird Club, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Whitetails Unlimited, Town of Grafton, and Ozaukee County. Ozaukee County contributed $300,000 toward the acquisition of the Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve. Additionally, the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust contributed $25,000, the Town of Grafton contributed $100,000, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources contributed $450,000, the Riveredge Bird Club contributed $1,000 and the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program contributed $404,000.

Category 2: Participation in Programs Promoting Effective Community Forest Management

 OTHER: Demonstrate in an attached narrative.
Lot size zoning: The Town provides for oversize lots in various zoning areas R1 and R2 providing room for retaining or regeneration of forest vegetation.  The R-2 Residential District is intended to provide for single-family development, at densities not to exceed one dwelling unit per three (3) acres.

 Protected properties: The Town includes the OWLT protected properties and easements at Bratt Woods, Woodland Shores, and Kurtz Woods, (all of which have healthy forests and bird habitat as part of their overall plan.  Ulao Creek Partnership has an active stewardship program at the Gateway property as well as on numerous private holdings within the Town along Ulao Creek.  

Extending the trees to business districts:

 (a) Landscape Bufferyard: The landscape bufferyard is defined in this district as the 20-foot wide area immediately abutting the property line of residential districts. Plantings in the bufferyard will be arranged so they provide a full linear screening effect throughout the length of the bufferyard. Native plants are encouraged. 

(b) General Landscaping. In addition to the requirements in the landscape bufferyard, general landscaping is also required on the remainder of the lot, including within  the parking lot. Native plants are encouraged.  The number of trees and shrubs required is based on the area of the lot not defined as a landscape bufferyard or occupied by a building.

Category 3: Limiting or Removing Hazards to Birds

 Attach evidence or provide community web link if your community has an educational program to control free‐roaming cats and/or actively publicizes the "Cats Indoors!" program.

The Town of Grafton Open Space Commission website provides this web link to information on controlling free‐roaming cats  http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/catsbirds.htm   Because of our small office space and the infrequency of resident visits to that office, we believe that internet links are the most effective way to inform Town residents on educational topics.  As an incidental support, Ozaukee Humane will not adopt cats to county residents without guarantee that the cats will be kept indoors.

 Demonstrate that your community provides property owners with information on how to protect birds from window‐ strikes.

The Town of Grafton Open Space Commission website provides links to information on how to protect birds from window strikes.   http://www.birdcitywisconsin.org/Protecting/PreventingWindowStrikes.htm

Category 4: Public Education

 Provide web links your community offers to other organizations with information on backyard habitat programs.

The Town of Grafton Open Space Commission website provides web links to information on the creation and enhancement of backyard habitats. 

 http://www.birdcitywisconsin.org/Protecting/PreventingWindowStrikes.htm

http://www.wihumane.org/wildlife/wings/birdsafebuildingparticipants.aspx

http://www.interurbantrail.us/BirdingGuide/Index.htm

 Demonstrate that your community is represented in at least one bird monitoring program such as the Christmas Bird Count, Great Backyard Bird Count, or Swift Night Out.

The Riveredge Bird Club’s Christmas Bird Count includes the Town of Grafton and that is documented by the map of the bird count and found along with survey data on the Riveredge Website (http://www.riveredge.us/default.aspx?id=168

 OTHER: Demonstrate  in an attached narrative.

The Planning and Parks Department and the Ozaukee Interurban Trail Advisory Council have created and installed seven educational signs along the Ozaukee Interurban Trail at birding hotspots ( 8 of which are in the Town of Grafton), which are all identified in the Ozaukee Trailside Birding Guide and are also on the website.  The Town is seeking to add additional birding hotspots to the Town of Grafton Multi-Use Trail as portions of the trail are developed and completed.

The Town seeks to promote birding spots through the Town of Grafton Open Space Commission webpage, the Multi-Use Trail Facebook page, Travel Wisconsin, and through their partnership with Treasures of Oz, which features information, maps, images from and links to the natural sites in the Town of Grafton on the Treasures of Oz website. 

Category 5: Community celebration of International Migratory Bird Day

The Town of Grafton Open Space Commission is actively seeking ways to engage community members in creating the Town’s first annual bird celebration event.  We feel it is important to engage citizen input and creativity rather than to simply offer an event.  We will not be working with annual Ozaukee County celebration, as that takes place at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, although we will promote attendance at that event.  Our current suggestion, pending resident input, is to have an informational gathering on natural landscapes with a focus on bird-friendly landscaping, probably at Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve and possible in conjunction with “The Wild Ones” or Ozaukee County Master Gardeners and Ozaukee County.  This would include encouragement to order native trees and shrubs at the annual Ozaukee County tree sale.