On behalf of the Friends of Cherokee Marsh, we wish to voice concerns over multiple developments in the upper Yahara River watershed and, specifically, the proposed QTS data center.

Birding from dawn to dusk, the team spotted 35 species. Highlights included a Rough-legged Hawk at Cherokee Marsh North Unit at dawn, a flock of 10 Bluebirds at Hickory Island, a Harrier and a Northern Shrike far out in the Marsh, and a Kingfisher and Great Blue Heron at School Road Landing at sunset. This year's participants included Jan Axelson, Tim Baker, Marcus Mueller, Barb Noeldner, Paul Noeldner, Brian Schneider, Courtney Woods, and Jim Mand.

A seasonal reminder about opportunities for winter fun in and around Cherokee Marsh: hiking, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, skating, birdwatching, and more.

The Friends of Cherokee Marsh invite all Friends members and the general public to our annual membership meeting on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center. Doors open at 9 a.m, and the program will begin at 9:30 a.m. The morning will include updates from representatives of Madison Parks and Dane County Parks, the Friends’ year in review, and election of Friends board members, followed by our featured presentation on water quality issues.

The annual membership meeting on January 24 of the Friends of Cherokee Marsh includes election of board members. If you are interested in serving on the board, please contact board president Sheila Leary at info@cherokeemarsh.org. Board members serve for terms of two years and can be re-elected to additional terms.

Members of Scout troops 127 & 7127 spent part of a beautiful, dry day in October 2025 placing storm drain markers in Madison Northside neighborhoods that read "No Dumping • Drains to Lake"

Charitable giving is a two-way street. If we ask for your donations and membership, we should also tell you how we have spent donated funds and some of our plans for the future.

Over the two evenings of the August bat walks, the Echometer sensors gave plenty of indications of the presence of bats, even if we can't absolutely rely on the exact IDs. The sensors suggested the possible presence of six of Wisconsin's eight species: Little Brown, Big Brown, Hoary, Silver-haired, Tricolored, and Eastern Red.

Scout Cynthia has been working steadily since February on her Eagle Scout project, with sponsorship and guidance from the Friends of Cherokee Marsh. She has now completed her project of planting a native plant pollinator garden, with the help of many Scout volunteers.

We had more than 40 enthusiastic volunteers this year to survey 24 Dane County sites for aquatic invasive species.

If you’ve paddled or viewed the shoreline of the upper Yahara at Cherokee Marsh this summer, you have noticed large numbers of aquatic plants growing on, above, and under the water’s surface.

Wildflower, Butterfly, Bat, & Bird Walks  We're pleased to offer some new events!

I was very sad to learn of Russ’s passing in June after a long battle with cancer. Russ was a champion of the natural world, with a special love for purple martins, oak savannas, and winter adventuring by snowshoe.

The Upper Sugar River Watershed Association (USRWA) is sponsoring a project to map and manage the non-native phragmites population in Cherokee Marsh. The participating partners in the project are the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association, Dane County Department of Land and Water Resources, City of Madison, Friends of Cherokee Marsh, Wisconsin DNR, and some private landowners along the Upper Yahara River.

60 third-graders from Sandburg Elementary School visited the Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park, North Unit for activities.

Results of the Spring 2025 Snake Survey at the North Unit of Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park

UPDATES: American Family Insurance golf championship & Cherokee Marsh North Unit

Friends volunteers and board members were busy throughout Earth Week.

The goal is to identify snake species present in the park and estimate their populations.

American White Pelicans in the "Cherokee Lake" area of the Yahara River