RECENT NEWS
CNRA 2011Spring Council Meeting
Tour of Abraham's Woods
Naturalist Richard Barloga lead an educational tour of CNRA plant enthusiasts on a tour of Abraham's Woods State Natural Area, a rare example of a Southern Wisconsin Mesic Forest. The woods offer a diverse array of spring ephemerals and wildflowers. Basswood, Sugar Maples and Red Oak comprise the dominat tree canopy. Abraham's Woods was designated as a State Natural Area in 1961 and is owned by UW Madison.
Companion Plants Nodding Trillium and Remnant of a snag
Mayapple in bloom
Lyn Vorpahl examines the remains of the original Sugar Bush
Elward Engle, WI DNR Real Estate Specialist (retired) speaks at 2010 CNRA Annual Meeting
Elward Engle exhibits the Federal and State Endangered Fassettts Locoweed during his presentation "Water, Water, .....Where is It? at the Vorpahl Riverhouse. His talk focused on water quality issues, his work at the DNR to restore the Mecan River and his experience fighting the high capacity well proposed by Perrier at the headwater spring of the Mecan River.
Members from Central Wisconsin Trout Unlimited conduct a water monitoring session at the Mecan River. CNRA's Rumi and Jim O'Brein, Zaiga Freivalds and Jan Scalpone watch as Elward Engle empties a sample of water and its microorganisms to be identified and recorded.
CNRA donates funds for two display cases to showcase the fish collection and other educational exhibits at UW Stevens Point
Dr. Erik Wild, Department of Biology and Curator of the Museum of Natural History and Justin Sipiorski accept CNRA's donation and 50 yr book from CNRA presedint Lisa Geer and Jan scalpone. One of the display cases will be located The Natural History Museum and the second will be near the fish collection in the Daniel O. Trainer Natural Resources Building at UW Stevens Point.
Three CNRA members recently inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame!
George Becker, Emily Earley and Ruth Hine were honored at the 2010 Induction Ceremony, held at the Sentry Theater, Stevens Point WI
on Saturday April 24, 2010, 10 am. Visit the WI Conservation Hall of Fame to view the press release and individual biographie's of inductees. CNRA History page summarizes thier contributions to CNRA.
Clean Wisconsin " .......Public Service Commission of Wisconsin developed rules for permitting wind farms that would make Wisconsin the most difficult place in the nation to put up a wind turbine. " Clean Wisconsin
Administrative rules to standardize statewide requirements for wind farm siting and development in Wisconsin were approved August 30, 2010 by the Public Service Commission as directed by 2009 Wisconsin Act 40. Wind Siting Rules
Renewable Energy World provides a summary in thier blog of the provisions of the PSC wind siting rules which include Notice Requirements, Setbacks, Noise Performance Standards, Shadow Flicker Requirements and A Complaint Resolutions Process: Blog - WI PSC Approves
The final Wind Siting Council report to the PSC of Wisconsin summarizes the process . WSC Final Report and Cover Letter 8-9-2010
For more information please visit:
Wind Turbines in the News
CNRA has been monitoring research amd legal actions pertaining to wind turbines ever since 133 wind turbines were proposed and eventually constructed on the periphery of Horicon Marsh. While we fully support wind as a viable alternative energy source, we are equally concerned about impacts on wildlife and scenic areas.
Causes of Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines: Hypotheses and Predictions
Paul Cryan and Robert Barclay, 2009 Journal of Mammalogy 90, 1330-1340.
Thousands of Industrial-scale wind turbines are being built across the world each year to meet the growing demand for sustainable energy. Bats of certain species are dying at wind turbines in unprecedented numbers. Species of bats consistently affected by turbines tend to be those that rely on trees as roosts and most migrate long distances.
Download article: "Causes of Bat Fatalities at Wind Turbines"
Geographic Variation in Activity and Fatality of Migratory Bats at Wind Energy facilities
Erin Baerwald and Robert Barclay , 2009 Journal of Mammalogy 90, 1341-1349.
Little is known regarding the migratory behavior of bats, due in part to thier elusive nature. Recently, however, fatalities of migratory bats at some wind energy facilities across North America have provided the opportunity and impetus to study bat migration at the landscape level. Using acoustic monitoring and carcass searching, we examined variation in activity levels and fatality rates of bats across southern Alberta, Canada,..............
Download article: Geographic Variation in Activity and Fatality of Migratory Bats
Just Published!
Dear Editor: Opinions and Comments From a Farmer- Naturalist's Viewpoint Plus Other Sketches From Past and Present.
written by CNRA member Harold Kruse edited by Gretchen Kruse
"One of my greatests passions in life is 
saving natural beauty. Nothing else is
more important than saving the earth -
that's where we live. And I don't limit it
to people...I like to look at the whole
picture. Everything fits togeather."
"In developing a well-rounded conservation program - soil, water, woodlands, and wildlife - we must not forget the fifth factor - beauty.....
such a scene also includes healthy and happy people, our most important resource." Harold Kruse
contributions from sales will go to the Baraboo Range Preservation Association
P.O. Box 205, Baraboo, WI 53913
