Image Details

The Valley Creek Corridor is the heart of Port Washington, Wisconsin—a 1.8-mile greenway linking neighborhoods to the Lake Michigan shoreline, harbor, and downtown. Woven through nine public parks, it offers space for recreation while protecting an exceptional mosaic of coastal clay bluffs, forests, meadows, and wetlands. Yet years of habitat fragmentation, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species , stormwater runoff, and erosion have placed this treasured landscape under increasing pressure.

To restore both its ecological health and its community value, the City of Port Washington launched an ambitious watershed restoration effort designed to improve stormwater management, expand public access, and strengthen the corridor's natural resilience. With support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Great Lakes Coastal Program and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, restoration began in 2023 at Birchwood Hills Nature Preserve and Upper Lake Park—two parks that anchor opposite ends of the corridor.

At Birchwood Hills, a 24-acre mesic forest weakened by emerald ash borer and invasive plants is being carefully restored. At Upper Lake Park, where expansive lawns overlook Lake Michigan, native habitat is replacing portions of turf to reduce runoff and enrich wildlife habitat. Together, these projects are restoring the ecological integrity of the corridor while creating healthier, more welcoming public spaces.

The Coastal Program's technical and financial assistance helped the City to remove invasive woody vegetation, preserve ash snags as valuable wildlife habitat, and plant 400 native trees and shrubs representing 20 species. Shagbark hickory and other native trees provide essential roosting habitat for the federally endangered northern long-eared bat, while native shrubs supply nectar, berries, shelter, and host plants that sustain pollinators and migratory birds throughout the seasons. An additional half-acre of turf was transformed into native prairie, creating suitable habitat for monarch butterflies and the federally endangered rusty patched bumble bee.

These early successes have sparked continued investment in the Valley Creek Corridor, supporting long-term stewardship and new low-impact amenities, including a walking trail through Birchwood Hills Nature Preserve. Together, these efforts are creating a greener, healthier landscape that will serve both wildlife and the community for generations to come.