Seminary Woods
Background
This revered woodland is located near Lake Michigan in the southeastern portion of Milwaukee County in the City of St Francis. This southern mesic forest contains 68 acres of giant trees, rare ephemeral flowers, migratory birds, and a wide variety of wildlife. The footpaths that crisscross the vast woods have been used by generations of neighbors and distant visitors.
A now rare mix of large beech, sugar maple, basswood, red and white oak, and some white birch tower over the mature ironwood, musclewood, and witchhazel composing the understory (Detailed vegetation studies were performed by James B. Levenson in 1975 as a doctoral study in Plant Ecology with the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. More recently Richard Barloga and Lawrence A. Leitner, principal biologist for SEWRPC, have also separately performed vegetation surveys of the area). This woodland represents the last remnants of what used to be a major forest type along Milwaukee's coast. It has seen fewer of the major incursions from invasive species than many of the other mature hardwood forests in southeastern Wisconsin due to the ongoing efforts of volunteers, its shear size, and relative isolation.
Large colonies of trillium, and both white and yellow trout lilies dominate portions of the forest floor while hepatica, bloodroot, blue stemmed goldenrod, ferns, and the occasional lion's paw dot the spots between moss covered logs and lichen patched boulders in the groundlayer. This high species diversity and canopy maturity along with the low frequency of weeds like garlic mustard, buckthorn, and honeysuckle gives an immediate sense of why it is considered one of the "special places to preserve and protect" by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in the Land Legacy Report.
The future of the woods is somewhat uncertain. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is considering a sale of its portion of the property known as the Cousins Center. The chance of development on any adjacent parcel is a major threat to the integrity of the woods as encroachment and invasive species pressure will quickly degrade the woodland quality. This parcel represents less than one percent of what was once a major component of the natural plant community for the region, any loss or degradation is considered too great.
The Importance of Partnerships
Seminary Woods is under private ownership. There have been conversations and meetings with Seminary decision makers related to purchasing the woods. In addition to the property owner, those involved with the desire for long-term protection of the woods include a broad partnership of local residents, environmental groups, land conservation groups, & government entities. These individuals have joined together resulting in the request of the Milwaukee Area Land Conservancy to seek funding that will help maintain the health and beauty of the woods. The goal for many has been to maintain the sites integrity with sound land management while seeking funds to purchase or by applying other conservation methods that would provide long-term protection of the site. MALC is pleased to partner on this important project to help find a solution that will address all those concerned.