Little Menomonee Creek Prairie in Mequon

This 73-acre preserve is owned by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District as part of its Greenseams program. 53 acres of it is reconstructed tallgrass prairie, planted in 2012, and several restored wetlands that were constructed in 2011. Little Menomonee Creek and Pigeon Creek flow through the property and meet to form the Little Menomonee River. Plant communities present on the site are tallgrass prairie, emergent wetlands, sedge meadow, and floodplain forest. Thirty-five species of birds have been observed on the site including the Henslow’s sparrow, which is threatened in Wisconsin. Beavers use the site occasionally. They have built a lodge and several dams on the streams. A firebreak that acts as a trail loops around the west side of the preserve, but is not continuously maintained. Crossing the creek to the east side can be tricky. I’ve done it by crossing on the beaver dam at the south end of the property.

 

There is a small, unpaved space for parking on the east side of N. Granville Rd., but the identifying signage isn’t easily visible until you pull into the lot. It is approximately a quarter mile north of W. Donges Bay Rd. Coordinates: 43°12’41.9″N 88°02’35.1″W

 

Gallery (click to enlarge)