Nature Undone

The National Park Service celebrated its 100th birthday last Thursday, although the first National Park, Yellowstone, was accomplished by President Grant in 1872.  Last week the press doted on the creation of the managing unit for our national parks, this week they have focused on overuse and misuse of some of our great national parks.  The main focus, in an article earlier this week, was on Yellowstone.  Man can affect nature in a variety of ways.  All things are relative, and this post will focus on the fate of one relatively small, but significantly (relatively speaking) beautiful, piece of state property just west of Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Waterfall at Pewit's Nest

Baraboo is also home to Devil's Lake State Park, the largest of Wisconsin's state parks.  Yet, the Baraboo area is also the location of other unique geologic and historical features not part of the current park.  Even though I worked for a number of years with the Sauk County Planning Office, I never recall having heard of Pewit's Nest.  A State Natural Area encompasses this unique geologic feature.  Pewit's Nest was created by melt waters of former glacial lake Baraboo as it cut through some fine grained sedimentary deposits.  It is a gorge, containing water falls, and pot holes.  Some of the pot holes are rather large and deep.  At one time its waterfalls powered a lathe which was used to make and repair equipment.  Prior to the water of Skillet Creek feeding a lathe, a man lived in a cavern about 10' above the deep water pool in what was termed a Phoebe nest, of which Pewit is an earlier recognized version,  Hence the origin of the name.

Another waterfall

But, the name does not adequately describe this unique geologic feature. Albeit it is kind of a unique name, almost cute. First, it is a state natural area.  Such areas are meant to be enjoyed, but lightly used.  A large number of people now come to not only swim, but to climb and jump off rocks into the water.  It is now much more highly used than its small parking lot would attest.  My only visit to the site was on Monday, August 22, 2016 in mid-morning.  A number of persons were already climbing and jumping off the rocks, in violation of posted signs.  No doubt it can be fun.  But for the Baraboo rescue department it is not fun.  As of last week Tuesday, they had five rescues for the year.  Two rescues alone occurred on August 18.  It is a dangerous place with rocks difficult to see below the surface.  It has become more popular since it apparently has been described as one of the five best swimming holes in Wisconsin.  I did wade into the water to get some photos, but avoided rock climbing and of course no jumping.  It is heavily used and the trampled landscape attests to that use.  The WIDNR would be much better off installing some wood chip paths and trying to restore some ground cover. Given the rescues and overuse, the WIDNR is in the process of coming up with management strategies for the site.  The lack of proper ground cover can lead to erosion which is detrimental to water quality.

A side wall of rock in Pewit's Nest, with Skillet Creek at the bottom

However, the biggest threat to water quality may not be the ground trampled within a few hundred feet of the creek, but what is occurring upstream.  Most all of us like to use highways to get some place fast.  The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WIDOT) is in the midst of a massive highway 12 bypass of project.  (Massive is a word to describe some of the bridges.) The bypass begins north of South Shore Road and will head to the Wisconsin Dells.  I am sure the Dells area business owners are pleased as punch to get Madison west-siders more quickly and less impeded to the Dells.  The new bypass near the west Baraboo area will be less than one-half mile from the current four lane road way.  No big deal most would say, but to Skillet Creek and Pewit's Nest it very well may be a BIG DEAL.

Waterfall from downstream

You see, the bypass in this area is less than one half mile away from Pewit's Nest and it also crosses Skillet Creek.  Oh, you ask, is the purpose of detention ponds not meant to keep water clean and reduce flooding?  As much as engineer's may think they can mimic natural systems, it is not totally possible.  Detained water as it is released has the ability to scour and affect streams which leads to more stream bank erosion.  Storm basins also can lose effectiveness over time, partly due to sedimentation from erosion.

Skillet Creek as it runs though part of the Pewit's Nest State Natural Area

Time has not been pleasant to the land uses along the current Highway 12 corridor on the west side of the Baraboo area.  The current corridor is comprised of standard 1990 to present day land use thinking of big boxes, strip malls and restaurants.  A former Wal-Mart, is now partially occupied by a Gander Mountain, and some past strip malls are vacant.  When thing is sure as taxes, American retailers, unfortunately, follow the interchange.  West Baraboo, has installed water and sewer mains to serve the area of west of the interchange.  West of the interchange will take it closer to Pewit's Nest.  We also know that big box retailers tend to abandon their site after 20 or 30 years and move to a new location. The planning literature is ripe with such exploits of free-enterprise.  Our consumer society likes new, and so then do politicians, at the expense of nature, and economics. Heck, if I were to predict, in 100 years the bypass to the bypass will be built going just west of Pewit's Nest.   

Ready to make the jump from the rock outcropping
into the deep basin at Pewit's Nest

WIDOT likes to say they don't make land use plans, but their decisions certainly affect local decision makers who cannot get enough of an interchange. Perhaps, WIDOT has properly planned storm water control so that the interchange and bypass will have a minimal effect on Skillet Creek. However, I am sure the coming big boxes, strip malls, and other auto-oriented development surely will have a negative effect on this water way, and by extension Pewit's Nest.  Development means more storm water, less natural systems to feed the creek and run through Pewit's nest.   This type of development may not happen right away, but it will happen.  The affect on  the water quality may not occur soon after construction (although remember that erosion is a detriment to water quality), but it will occur.  DOT and the desire of West Baraboo, and Baraboo for what many call economic development may well solve the Pewit's Nest problem for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  

A waterfall as viewed from a downstream location

The engineering and planning literature on water quality tells us that after a watershed is 10% developed, the water becomes impaired.  After 25% the stream quality becomes degraded, or non-supporting.  Regardless of what stormwater management measures are used there will be failures.  There will be problems.  The water quality in Skillet Creek will become so bad, no one will desire to climb the sides of Pewit's Nest and jump in the water. Scouring of the stream bank will occur more quickly eroding the sedimentary rocks than naturally occurs.  Silt will clog the now deep pot holes in which persons jump and swim. Why enjoy the reality of nature when one can enjoy a ersatz experience in the Kalahari Desert just a few miles north in the Wisconsin Dells.  

Source:  2009  City of Fitchburg Comprehensive Plan

Development is not economic when it negatively affects or destroys what nature has taken 15,000 years to create. Economics should not be viewed as destruction, but as working within the carrying capacity of, and more importantly respect for, natural systems.   Unfortunately, man's desire for quick transportation, and our auto-oriented forms of development will undo part of what draws people to the area.  In 100 years Pewit's Nest may be bordered by Baraboo versions of a Wisconsin Dells water park.  Nature Undone.  

Photos by author, taken on Monday, August 22, 2016.