Downer Woods Natural Area is 11.1 acres of unique urban forest space that resides on the UW-Milwaukee campus. Most community members and many students have heard of or been inside of this forest. However, less commonly known is the work that goes on within Downer Woods. It allows the ecosystem to thrive and remain a space for everyone to enjoy.
Paul Engevold is the on-campus Greenhouse Manager at UWM, and the Interim Field Station Director for UWM’s Saukville Field Station. Engelvold attended UWM for both undergraduate and graduate school for Biological Science and Conservation and Environmental Science.
Engelvold has presided over the greenhouse since 2013 when the new Biological Science Greenhouse facility opened on the roof of the Northwest Quadrant Building, and the Saukville Field Station for the last year and a half. As Interim Field Station Director, the management of Downer Woods falls to him and another Saukville Field Station full-time employee, Ron Tayge. Downer Woods is one of nine outlying properties cared for by the Saukville Field Station, spanning hundreds of acres.
In 2022, former Saukville Field Station Director Gretchen Meyer partnered with former CES Director Neal O’Reilly, Geography Professor Alison Donnelly and the class of CES 471, Practicum in Natural Resource Management. Together, they developed a management plan for Downer Woods. The plan has 2 primary goals; restore the forest’s diverse native plant community structure and maximize the value of Downer Woods for use by the UWM community and neighborhood.
Engelvold seeks creative and collaborative solutions to implement the management plan, and to help overcome limited staffing issues. COVID-19 exacerbated these issues, similar to many other organizations.
The conservation work that occurs in Downer Woods is a team effort with help from student projects, the UWM Conservation Club and other campus groups, in addition to classes such as Dr. Donnelly’s Geography 650 course. These collaborations allow Engelvold to carry out this plan by continuously removing invasive species like glossy buckthorn, and replanting native tree species. In 2023, 75% of the fruiting-sized buckthorn plants were removed, with more plants and seedlings to be removed the following summer.
They also recently removed most of the large dead ash trees that were affected by the emerald ash borer beetle (EAB). Adult EAB beetles lay eggs in the ash tree, and the hatching larva consume the inner bark, eventually destroying the tree’s ability for transporting food and water. An outside logging company was brought in to remove dead ash trees. This allowed workers to perform restoration work without dead trees or falling branches in their way.
Downer Woods remains a safe haven for both animals and the human population. Many students and faculty take strolls through the woods to distract from the chaotic nature of university life.
“I enjoy the peace, vegetation, and diversity that exists in this urban space,” said Engevold.
According to Engelvold, he enjoys the work that gets his hands dirty to keep Downer Woods as a thriving ecosystem. Engelvold hopes that others come and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere that Downer Woods brings.
In future endeavors, Engelvold plans on working more with the Conservation Club to construct trail signage. The signs will provide brief histories of the plants and animals in the area. UWM student organizations in addition with the UWM Green Fund make these efforts possible. Engevold plans to partner with the Office of Sustainability to help keep invasive species from proliferating.
“People have this perception that native spaces don’t need any maintenance,” said Engelvold. “But in an urban environment, we are surrounded by litter and invasive species, and these spaces need quite a bit more care than one would tend to believe.”
The opportunity and beauty that come from Downer Woods puts UWM in a position to reap its unique benefits. Take a moment in between classes to walk through the trails. Enjoy the experience of the natural world before returning to your commute. Give thanks to the sounds you hear and creatures you see, and to the people who keep those woods running.