The Coon Valley Conservation Club has dedicated a few acres of the club grounds to be used as an oak savanna. In the 1800’s, Wisconsin was covered by more than 5,000,000 acres of oak savannas. Scientists believe that the oak savanna has existed in Wisconsin for the last 25 million years.
Part of the goal of the CVCC is to transform a part of the farm into what existed prior to the 1800’s. Returning this land to its original state has been a labor-intensive endeavor. Invasive species have had to be removed such as: locust trees, buckthorn, garlic mustard, multi flora rose, and a few walnut trees.
What is an Oak Savanna?
A population of fire-resistant trees (usually oaks) having a canopy density of 10-50% and a prairie understory consisting of grasses, sedges, forbs and some woody shrubs.
There are very few oak savannas in Wisconsin these days. They are quite rare considering the invasive species that have come into Wisconsin in the last couple centuries.
Why restore an Oak Savanna?
Oak Savannahs represent a “park like” setting, teaming with insects and wildlife.
Oak Savannahs once prominent now are very rare. Historically, over 50,000,000 acres of Oak Savannahs existed in the Midwest. Today, less that 0.01% of the acreage exists.
The driftless area offers the greatest opportunity to resurrect the Oak Savannah.
Educational opportunity.
Management
Controlled burns required every 1-3 years.