Euleo Creek Partnership seeks members, outlines next-decade goals for watershed stewardship

Speakers at the event described the Euleo Creek Partnership's origins, recent volunteer projects and an appeal to local residents to join restoration and stewardship efforts across the watershed.

A presenter said the partnership "was founded in 1995," formed by landowners and other citizens who wanted to respond to deterioration of the creek and its surroundings. The partnership's president said, "we are really trying to focus right now on reestablishing a canopy of trees in the swamp by planting trees and controlling the invasive species." The president added that over the past three years the group has completed many projects and emphasized working with neighboring private landowners to clear downed ash trees and sediment.

One member said they volunteered after being invited 12 years ago and praised the group as multigenerational, listing "men and women, kids, older grandparents" who take part in planting and stewardship. The president said the group's goals for the next decade include increasing awareness of the Euleo Creek watershed in Grafton, Cedarburg and Mequon and growing partnership membership; organizers directed interested people to euleocreek.org for information and volunteer opportunities.

Speakers encouraged participation on private and public lands, noting that some members have undertaken restoration on their own properties (one speaker said they planted more than 1,100 trees on a 30-acre property). Organizers said ongoing work will include additional tree planting, invasive-species control and stewardship to support the watershed's ecological recovery.