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Madison Audubon Society Inc. July 14, 1992 Dear Members of the Dane County Zoning and Natural Resources Committee, Madison Audubon Society, Dane County's largest environmental organization, opposes petition #53948 to change the zoning from A-1 to C-2 in the Town of Burke. We believe increased urbanization is a threat to the protection of Cherokee Marsh, our natural jewel; Dane County's largest remaining wetland and the major wetland in the Lake Mendota watershed. Cherokee Marsh is a wetland scientists have identified as Priority Group I. This rating is reserved for wetlands that contain many or all virgin traits and unique biological features. Wetlands in this group are the best in the county and in some cases the best in southern Wisconsin. Cherokee Marsh is known to contain a tremendous diversity of wildlife including: all the common mammals of Southern Wisconsin and a large army of songbirds and gamebirds. It is the largest spawning bed for a variety of game fish that inhabit Lake Mendota. Finally, Cherokee Marsh, located at the headwaters of the Yahara River, and is "a major nutrient and flood sponge for Lake Mendota" and the entire chain of lakes. The land in question encroaches on the boundary established by the 1981 Cherokee Marsh Long Range Open Space Plan. This plan was designed and approved by an intergovernmental advisory committee represented by the State, City of Madison, Dane County, Regional Plan Commission and the Towns of Westport, Windsor and Burke. One of the nine objectives of the Plan was to "prevent urban encroachment into the Cherokee Marsh and to have it serve as a natural open space between the City of Madison and adjacent towns". In the future, there will be many difficult land use decisions ahead as we face a growing population in Dane County. However, it is your job to consider plans such as this one in making your decisions. Madison Audubon Society urges you to protect Cherokee Marsh from further urban encroachment and to respect the process of consensus of this intergovernmental body by denying this rezoning request. Sincerely, Pamela A. Porter Conservation Director 222 S. Hamilton Street, Suite #1 • Madison, WI 53703 • 608-255-BIRD to* r Pe led