By Topf Wells
Dane County has just introduced legislation to purchase a new easement on Halfway Prairie Creek near Mazomanie in partnership with Groundswell Conservancy

The easement will enable the public to fish about 1,250 feet of Halfway Prairie and enable a restoration to occur in the future.  The surrounding land will also lead to more trail development in the Mazomanie/Black Earth area.

Halfway Prairie Creek is not currently listed as a trout stream.  However, in the early stages of the work on this easement, DNR staff reviewed this area at Dane County’s request and noted it has worthwhile potential as trout water.  It is also a key tributary to lower Black Earth Creek.  The partners in this project have been leaders in the restoration of lower Black Earth Creek including Fred Wolf, the landowner and honored by SWTU for his work on Black Earth Creek, Groundswell Conservancy, and Dane County.

Approval of such easements often takes two-three months and COVID 19 makes that schedule more uncertain.  We’ll keep you posted as to when the creek is accessible to the public.

SWTU thanks Fred Wolf, Groundswell Conservancy, Sara Rigelman, Sharene Smith and other Dane County staff, and County Executive Joe Parisi and the Dane County Board for their support of this easement and trout stream conservation in Dane County.