I’m crazy about Springs!

I think the complex of springs bubbling up to form the headwaters of the Scuppernong River are some of the coolest springs in the Kettle Moraine. The Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail website has tons of great articles and information about The Springs.

The Trail and Springs sit on a 120 acre nature preserve, so you don’t have to worry about getting shot at when you hike or volunteer at this site.

I began working here back in 2003-2004, after I “finished” the Brady’s Rocks Project. I cut the buckthorn on the hillside between Hwy 67 and the trail and also did some work near the Marl Pit bridge. Then I was lured away by the challenge of the Hartland Marsh until May, 2011, when I returned to The Springs.

The first area I focused on was the Indian Spring, which was actually hard to even find back then. Since then, with a lot of help from my friends, we have continued to cut and burn the buckthorn and girdle the black locust and aspen, clearing a wide swath all around the trail.

We are helping the DNR rehabilitate the Scuppernong River, hopefully, all the way back to a Class I Trout Stream.

In the last couple years we have rebuilt many of the decks and boardwalks, lifting them out of the mud to allow the natural movement of water beneath them.

We have sowed native grass and flower seeds and transplanted local native plants to areas that were barren.

Ben Johnson is responsible for the birdhouses and benches!

There is still a lot of work to do at The Springs. Check out the Volunteer page to see how you can get involved.