To Sanak Ska Traditional Geocache

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Wis Kid: Hi there,

This listing looks like it is in need of an owner maintenance visit. Note that the guidelines require that your container be in good condition with a signable log at the listed coordinates. Please visit your cache site in the next 30 days and make any necessary repairs or changes. If you do not intend to repair your listing, please archive it to keep it from tying up other listings. If you need more time to work on your cache, just post a note on the cache page indicating how much more time you need. If you are currently unable to perform maintenance because you are sheltering from COVID-19, please post this in a write note on the cache page and we will give you more time.

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Hidden : 11/26/2010
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

It's a bison tube.

The Ho-Chunk Nation purchased the 272-acre To Šanak Ska (White Otter) property in 1998 as part of a continuing effort to reacquire lands in their aboriginal territory. The property, formerly known as the Hurley property, was renamed after Chief White Otter and the village site that was located near this property.

In 2000, the Ho-Chunk Nation began restoration of this property with the conversion of 120 acres of marginal agricultural land back to a functional wetland system. The wetland restoration involved restoring wetland hydrology at the site by re-grading and redirecting flow from an existing drainage ditch into historic wetland basins and newly constructed wetland scrapes. This phase of the project was completed by 2001 and resulted in the germination of an amazingly diverse wetland and wet-prairie plant community.

The second phase of this project involves the ongoing restoration of approximately 130 acres of mesic prairie found adjacent to the wetland communities. This phase was a cooperative effort aimed at preserving and enhancing these areas for the benefit of wildlife and wetland water quality.

The first prairie planting of 40 acres was completed in the spring of 2004 with the remaining 90 acres being planted in the fall of 2004 and 2005. Partners have included the USDA-NRCS, USFWS, Juneau County Land Conservation, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association and the BIA-Circle of Flight Program.

Additional restoration work at the property has included work on the one-mile segment of Lyndon Creek that traverses the property from west to east. Beginning in 2003, a multiphase stream bank stabilization and habitat improvement project was undertaken by partnering with USDA-NRCS, USFWS, Juneau and Sauk County Land Conservation Departments, Dell Creek Priority Watershed Association and the BIA-Circle of Flight Program. Project activities have included re-grading and stabilizing approximately 1,500’ of eroding stream banks, installing trout habitat such as LUNKER structures, vortex weirs, boulder retards and half logs.
Complimenting the restoration work is a walking trail and observation deck constructed with assistance from USDA-NRCS, Golden Sands RC&D and the BIA-Circle of Flight Program.

The over one mile long trail is open to the general public during the non-hunting season and is used routinely for outdoor education events hosted by the Ho-Chunk Nation. Approximately 100 – 200 area school students visit the site on an annual basis as part of White Otter Education Day that focuses on natural resource education. Past stations have included hands on activities relating to forestry, wildlife, orienteering, water quality monitoring, electro-fishing, invert sampling, prescribed fire and cultural resource activities.

Permission was granted to place this cache by William Quackenbush, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Ho-Chunk Nation.

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