Management Map

Pleasant Valley Conservancy is divided into a number of management units, which are shown on the map below. This map is based on high-resolution air photography. A global positioning system (GPS) device has been used to locate boundaries.

The vegetation type in each management unit is indicated by color. The contrast in vegetation between the north-facing and south-facing slopes is striking. The south-facing slope is relatively dry, and consists of prairie remnants (with no trees) on the lower slope, and oak savannas above. The north-facing slope, which remains shaded throughout most of the day, is relatively moist (snow remains long here) and consists of oak woodland, with patches of maple and basswood.

The herbaceous vegetation on the south-facing slope consists of dry prairie grasses and forbs. Because of the open character of the savannas, sunlight is available to the plants throughout the summer, but the soils are dry.

The herbaceous vegetation on the north-facing slope consists of plant species that develop and flower early before the tree leaves have come out (spring ephemerals), and the soils are moist. Once the tree leaves are out, the groundlayer mostly remains in deep shade, suitable primarily for ferns.

The planted prairies (shown in green) are former agriculture fields that had been fallow for some years. The year of planting of each field is shown on the map. Most of these prairies are in the Conservation Reserve Program.

The wetlands at Pleasant Valley Conservancy are relatively large for this part of Wisconsin. Although only part of the wetland is in the Preserve, the rest remains undeveloped under a 10-year agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most of the water derives from a large number of springs spread across the wetland, or from two creeks, East Blue Mounds Creek, and Pleasant Valley Creek. The latter is almost solely spring-fed. Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese nest on the wetland, as well as numerous other bird species. Muskrats and beaver are occasionally seen. In contrast to many wetlands, reed canary grass, a serious invasive species, is relatively uncommon.