Riverbend
The Milwaukee River is one of the region’s most important natural resources. For more than 40 miles, the river flows through farmlands, forests and urban areas, connecting our communities and linking us to our heritage. At 88 acres, Riverbend Conservancy is one of the few large tracts of undeveloped land along the Milwaukee River in Washington County. Over one mile of shoreline was preserved in 2001 when Riverbend Conservancy was purchased by OWLT. On the northern part of the site is a 20 acre lowland hardwood forest, which serves as a wonderful example of what the river basin looked like before European settlement. Never farmed because of its swampy bottom, it remains very rich and especially diverse in tree species. The natural streamside vegetation provides ideal habitat for waterfowl, belted kingfishers, and herons, and the floodplain forest, dominated by hackberry and swamp white oak, is home to such bird species as warbling vireos, orchard orioles and red-bellied woodpeckers. The remaining 68 acres are in agricultural production except a small one acre wood lot near the south end. Slowly trees will replace crops as the property reverts to pre-settlement form, a mature hardwood forest. Two buffer strips have been established along the east and west shorelines to reduce erosion. A pull-off is proposed for canoeists to take a rest, have a snack, or enjoy the tranquility the property has to offer. The long term goal for the site includes not only the forest planting and invasive species removal but building kiosks and signage to enhance the visitor experience.
