Wilds in the City

Madison has many charms - foremost among them the numerous parks, conservancies, and natural areas.

Judiciously caring for the land and water home to humans, birds, and animals is a delicate balancing act.

In my final ride of the season, I took about ten minutes to rest and admire the beauty of the Nine Springs E-Way.

Locations like the 7 mile stretch of the E-way can be deceiving on an initial appearance.  It's not that many years ago, that land like this could have been filled in with rubble and dirt to create new housing tracts or to encourage business development.

Yet, those birds, raccoons, foxes, and deer need places to live - and their habitat makes the rest of the Metro more liveable for the rest of us.

The E-Way provides a buffer zone from home and industrial development to keep wetlands, streams, and land that transitions from marsh to solid earth natural.

It provides habitat, but it also serves as a sponge that comes in handy when heavy rains come limiting urban flooding.

The trees and plant life provide oxygen while absorbing carbon dioxide.

Perhaps the largest benefit of this ground is the recreational importance for bikers, walkers, photographers, and residents who never venture a foot into this pretty space.

It's a great natural classroom for students from local schools and graduate - level researchers from the university. 

As the home to John Muir and Aldo Leopold, this legacy of natural spaces and areas where nature and people can interact are a big part of the area's identity.

Clean water is a big issue here.  As it should be everywhere.  Think of the dozens of ways we depend on toxin-free water.

Nature's classroom is all around us.  Where the Lewis Nine Springs E-way empties into Lake Waubesa there is a convenient boardwalk to get a closer look.