Since 1974, CLCF has been working to conserve the natural environment of the Cedar Lakes region.  Thank you for helping us succeed in our race to protect open space!

Photo of a newly protected property in 2023. This is a farmland with Cedar Creek traveling in the middle of it
Current Protected Land2022 Volunteer Support2022 Community Engagement
Total AcresNumber of ActivitiesCLCF Members
2,78451273
   
Total Number of ProjectsNumber of HoursNordic Members
721,562144
   
% of Mission AreaVolunteer ValueTotal Members
21%$46,782417

Land Protection: 
During 2022, CLCF closed on three transactions. In February 2022, the Thomas J. Rolfs Family Foundation donated 40-acres off of Scenic Drive.  This parcel of woods, wetland, and a small agricultural field helps to drain the County Road Z wetland complex. In August 2022, CLCF purchased 8.5 acres of woods in the Primary Environmental Corridor on the corner of Oak Lodge and German Village Roads, and in September 2022, CLCF received the donation of a future interest in a 28-acre parcel in a highly ecologically sensitive area at the headwaters of Gilbert and Big Cedar Lakes.  

So far in 2023, CLCF has closed on two agricultural land easements and has been involved in one alternative preservation project, bringing total protected acres to 2,784.  In February 2023, CLCF completed a 133-acre agricultural land easement on the Norman J. Fehring Family farm on Pleasant Valley Road.  This property, off of Pleasant Valley Road in the valley south of Little Cedar Lake, preserves a farm that has been in the Fehring family since 1846 and that runs along Cedar Creek as it flows south.  In March 2023, CLCF closed on a 24-acre agricultural land easement on the Mantoan Sauve Terre farm, which brings total land protected by the Mantoan family over the years to 118.8 acres.

Thank you to all the landowners, donors, volunteers and corporate sponsors for your support.  We couldn’t do this work without you!

Volunteer Activities:  In 2022, CLCF’s active volunteers donated 1,562 hours of stewardship, event staffing and clerical assistance for a donated value of $46,782. 

Land Stewardship: During 2022, CLCF performed a prescribed prairie burn at the Joan M. Pick Nature Preserve as well as at the Klingler Prairie at the Fox Hill Nature Preserve. Stew Crew volunteers pulled over 2,500 pounds of garlic mustard on its protected properties.  For a second year, CLCF bred and released Cella beetles to be used locally for purple loosestrife biocontrol.  

At the Fox Hill Nature Preserve, staff and volunteers participated in salamander monitoring and identified three varieties of salamanders.  Salamanders are sensitive and avoid unhealthy habitats, so the fact that the area supports them tells us that our conservation efforts are working.

Stew Crew volunteers are essential to CLCF’s success and help us to maintain our trails by clearing downed trees and by working on eradicating invasive species.  If you’d like to volunteer at CLCF, please click here.

Community Relations:  2022 was a banner year for CLCF in terms of events, beginning with the Snowshoe Shuffle, followed by a Kayak Tour at Big Cedar Lake, CLCF’s Somewhere in Time Biennial Gala, CLCF’s Legacy Circle Member event, CLCF’s inaugural Race for Open Space 10K and 5K trail run, CLCF’s Annual History Talk, and four Cocktails & Conservation Neighborhood get-togethers.

We look forward to updating you on our progress over the year to come and hope to see you on CLCF’s amazing public trails sometime soon!