Indian Mound Tour

Join Bob Birmingham, former Wisconsin state archaeologist, and the Friends of Cherokee Marsh as we tour Indian Mounds in Cherokee Marsh. Along the way we'll see animals busily preparing for winter and take in the fall colors at their peak brilliance.

Sunday, October 12, Noon – 2 pm

Yahara Heights County Park

Meet at the Yahara Heights County Park parking lot. From Madison, go north on Highway 113/Northport Drive. Just north of County Road M, turn right (east) on River Road, then take an immediate right onto Catfish Court.

No Charge!

Art of the Marsh

Be sure to stop in and see the "Art of the Marsh" show at the Warner Park Recreation Center. The show, sponsored by the Northside Artists Group and the Friends of Cherokee Marsh, is displaying art that reflects Cherokee Marsh.

October 6 - November 2 at Warner Park Community Recreation Center. The Northside Planning Council's 15th anniversary party is also at the Rec Center, on October 10 from 5-8 pm.

November 3 - December 31 at the Lakeview Branch Library in the Northside Town Center/Sherman Plaza at the corner of Sherman Ave. and Northport Dr.

Join us at a public reception on Saturday, November 15, 1 - 3 pm, at the Lakeview library.

In January, 2009, the show moves to the Manna Coffeehouse on Sherman Ave.

Conservation of the Swamp Metalmark Butterfly

Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association

Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 7 p.m - 8:30 p.m.

Warner Park Community Recreation Center

The Swamp Metalmark butterfly is listed as an endangered species in Wisconsin. Susan Borkin of the Milwaukee Public Museum will present an overview of her research on the natural history of this tiny, beautiful and rare butterfly here in Wisconsin and preliminary efforts to reintroduce it. She will also discuss various elements that are important for the conservation of this species throughout its range. Everyone is welcome to attend this free program.

The swamp metalmark butterfly inhabits fens, which are peat wetlands fed by seeps, springs or ground water. Fens are the rarest wetland plant community in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and Cherokee Marsh has four of them.

Madison Parks Wins a Wisconsin Wetlands Award for Cherokee Marsh

The Madison Parks Division has won the Wisconsin Wetlands Association's first annual Wetlands Enjoyment award. The award recognizes Parks’ work to protect the wetlands in Cherokee Marsh and encourage recreation such as fishing, paddling, birding, and hiking. The Friends of Cherokee Marsh nominated Parks and Conservation Resources Supervisor Russ Hefty for the award.

People on the Water

In September, Conservation Resources Supervisor Russ Hefty led a tour of the marsh restoration for elected officials and others with an interest in the marsh. Attendees included staff from the Department of Natural Resources and Dane County’s Lakes and Watershed Commission, County Supervisors Dorothy Wheeler and Brett Hulsey, and the winner of the Northside's State Assembly primary, Kelda Helen Roys. The tour included a lively exchange of perspectives on how to best protect the marsh and improve water quality in the marsh and the lakes downstream.

Annual Meeting

Our annual membership meeting will be Saturday, January17, 2009 at Lakeview Branch, Madison Public Library, 10 am to noon. Watch for details in December.

Come to a Board Meeting

Members and the public are welcome to attend any Friends board meeting. We generally meet on the second Wednesday of the month at the Lakeview Branch, Madison Public Library at 5:30 pm. Upcoming meetings are on Nov 12 and Dec 10. We'll be happy to send an agenda on request.

About This Newsletter

Originally we had hoped that our cherokeemarsh email discussion group could serve as a means for member communications. But we're finding that for whatever reason, many members haven't been joining the group, so we're experimenting with this more direct form of communications. If you have suggestions or ideas to improve our communications, please let us know.

You can always find the latest news on our website at www.CherokeeMarsh.org. The home page has a link to our discussion group, which is a good source for last-minute news and updates. And you can now reach us at our new Friends phone number, 608-467-5207, which rings at the home of our president, Jon Becker.