ATC PARTNERS WITH ROOT-PIKE WIN
TO RESTORE 46 ACRES ALONG THE LAMPAREK DITCH
New Corridor in 'Wisconn Valley' to be Planted with 50 Native Species
Looking West from 90th St, ATC is restoring this 320 foot right-of-way with diverse native species.
ATC is working with Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) to help restore a portion of the Lamparek Ditch, a critical tributary of the impaired North Branch of the Pike River in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. Restoration efforts along this historically degraded and mostly cultivated riparian corridor will aim to promote regional clean water and ecosystem goals. 
The ATC Transmission Line "Green Corridor" Extends from CTH H to 90th St in Mount Pleasant
ATC will provide funds to purchase and plant native vegetation along a new 1.2-mile transmission line corridor between County Trunk Highway (CTH) H and 90th Street. Enhanced seeding and plantings of native, floristically diverse vegetation will help reduce runoff of pollutants, create wildlife habitat, and increase flood water storage capacity for the watershed. 
The corridor restoration will enhance wetland, prairie and riparian vegetation like the ones shown here.
“ATC understands ‘win-win’ and sets a great example for corporate environmental stewardship”, said Dave Giordano, Executive Director of Root-Pike WIN. “They listened to the needs in our Pike River Watershed Restoration Plan and quickly stepped up with a much richer – and more expensive – planting plan. Having a native plant mix with greater diversity translates into reduced sheet runoff, better groundwater infiltration, improved habitat for pollinators, and a richer environmental connection point to the North Branch. These corridors are essential to the current and future health of the rapidly-developing “Wisconn Valley” watersheds.”

“ATC understands ‘win-win’ and sets a great example for corporate environmental stewardship. These corridors are essential to the current and future health of the rapidly-developing 'Wisconn Valley' watersheds.”
Dave Giordano, Executive Director
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network
Diverse native species will include flowers targeted to enrich pollinator habitats.
The diverse seeding and planting will include a mixture of more than 50 species of tall grass prairie, wet prairie, sedge meadow, and submergent aquatic species. Vegetation will include an abundance of flowering plants with bloom times scattered throughout the year to support pollinators during their active seasons. The corridor will be approximately 320-feet wide.
The Lamparek Ditch drains East into the North Branch of the Pike River and its condition
is listed as "very poor" in the Pike River Watershed Restoration Plan (2013).
Claude Lois, Project Director for the Village of Mount Pleasant commented, “The Village of Mount Pleasant works vigorously with our community partners to protect and enhance our environmental assets. We are pleased to be working with community partners to explore ways to rehabilitate and improve the water quality and natural habitat of the Lamparek Ditch as part of the new development in that area.”

"We are pleased to be working with community partners to explore ways to rehabilitate and improve the water quality and natural habitat of the Lamparek Ditch as part of the new development in that area.”
Claude Lois, Project Director
Village of Mount Pleasant
In total, ATC has committed to restoring 46 acres of a previously dominated agricultural setting to native vegetation – 30 acres of new transmission line right-of-way and 16 acres of new substation property along the North side of the tributary. ATC will monitor and maintain the planted areas through 2020. To keep the restored areas resilient long-term, Root-Pike WIN and ATC will seek additional partnerships with other stakeholders along the newly created and enhanced greenspace corridor.  

American Transmission Co . is a Wisconsin-based company that owns and operates the electric transmission system in portions of the Upper Midwest. Formed in 2001 as the nation’s first multi-state transmission-only utility, ATC has invested to improve the adequacy and reliability of its infrastructure. ATC now has $5 billion in assets, including more than 9,890 miles of transmission lines and 568 substations. The company is a member of the MISO regional transmission organization, and provides nondiscriminatory service to all customers, supporting effective competition in energy markets without favoring any market participant. For more information, visit our website at www.atcllc.com .

We are thankful for this new partnership!
For more information, contact:

Dave Giordano
Executive Director
262-496-2199
The Root-Pike Basin Watersheds
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network
Office: 800 Center St Room 118, Racine, WI 53403
Mail: PO BOX 044164, Racine, WI 53404