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Middleton council adopts management plans for Pheasant Branch units and Graeber Pond
Summary
The Middleton Common Council unanimously approved two 2025 management plans for Pheasant Branch Conservancy (John C. Bach units) and the Graeber Pond Conservancy, highlighting habitat restoration, stormwater management, and partnerships with county and state agencies.
The Middleton Common Council unanimously adopted two 2025 management plans on Dec. 2 that lay out restoration, recreation and stormwater goals for parts of the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and Graeber Pond.
Evelyn Williams, a restoration ecologist with Adaptive Restoration, presented the John C. Bach units plan for the larger Pheasant Branch system and the Graeber Pond Conservancy plan, describing goals that include restoring native prairie and oak savanna, creating connected habitat corridors, expanding education opportunities, and coordinating stormwater management with adjacent developers and regulatory agencies. "These developments are really gonna change not only how the conservancy is used, but also the ecology and also the hydrology of this conservancy," Williams said during the presentation.
A council member representing the Graeber Pond district noted that $40,000 was earmarked in the city’s proposed 2026 capital budget to begin restoration and management work, calling that figure “almost, but not quite” the amount recommended in the plan. Williams emphasized the need for cooperation among the city, volunteers, the Friends of Pheasant Branch, Dane County Parks and the Wisconsin DNR to carry out the plans.
Councilors moved and seconded adoption of Resolution 2025-55 (John C. Bach units) and Resolution 2025-56 (Graeber Pond). Both measures passed on unanimous voice votes. Officials did not record additional amendments at the meeting; the council directed staff and partners to proceed with plan implementation steps and to coordinate on stormwater mitigation with nearby developers.
The resolutions formalize management priorities intended to preserve and restore native habitats while accommodating passive recreation and public education. Next steps noted during the meeting include refining implementation schedules, identifying volunteer opportunities, and aligning capital budget funding with the plans’ recommended actions.
