Post Messenger Recorder -

The Village of Belleville is continuing restoration of the new habitat areas on the Lake Belle View islands that were created during the 2010-2011 construction project. Restoration is necessary to improve vegetation diversity and habitat conditions in the newly created island areas with the ultimate goal of creating healthy, productive floodplain/wetland forest and oak-savanna prairie habitats. It is also required by WI Department of Natural Resources and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to mitigate for the impacts of the original construction project. These mitigation requirements will extend through 2016, and then be scaled back.

This spring (April through June 2015), the Village will implement a series of restoration activities that have been scheduled for several years to meet the permit requirements and restoration goals. These activities include:

Early April: Prescribed burn on the new island habitat areas – Phase 1

Late April: Prescribed Burn on new island habitat areas – Phase 2

Early May: Prairie seeding

Mid-May: Tree seed and wetland area bare root tree and shrub installation

Early June: Larger tree installations in oak-savanna prairie areas

All activities will be done by qualified professionals. Permits for burn activities have been acquired. Because of the newly discovered presence of eagles in the habitat area, the burn and seeding plans have been modified to account for United States Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines for activities around active eagle nests. These modifications include:

No prescribed burn, seeding, tree planting, or human activity will take place within 330 feet from the eagle nest between mid-January 1 and August 1.

Prescribed burn will be managed and implemented during specific wind directions so that no smoke will be carried towards the eagle nest.

Any questions or concerns can be directed to April Little, Village Clerk, at alittle@villageofbelleville.com or (608) 424-1655.