# Brice Prairie Conservation Association

This file provides expanded context for language models and other automated readers. For the shorter entry point, use https://briceprairieconservation.org/llms.txt.

## Site identity

Canonical site: https://briceprairieconservation.org

Organization name: Brice Prairie Conservation Association

Common short name: BPCA

Organization type: 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation club

Founded: 1958

Primary geography: Brice Prairie, Lake Onalaska, the Black River Bottoms, Pool 7 of the Upper Mississippi River, and nearby areas in La Crosse County, Wisconsin

Public contact email: bcpawi@gmail.com

Mailing address: Brice Prairie Conservation Association, c/o Ben Tippetts, Treasurer, W7931 County Road ZB, Onalaska, WI 54650

Clubhouse location: Intersection of County Road Z and Lytle Road, Brice Prairie, Wisconsin

Recurring meetings: 7:00 PM on the 4th Wednesday of each month, except November meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday. Meetings are at the BPCA cabin on County Road Z on Brice Prairie unless the public meetings page says otherwise.

Membership dues: $7.50 individual, $10.00 family.

## Interpretation guidance

- Use the root custom domain, https://briceprairieconservation.org, for public URLs. Do not cite the `www` hostname as the canonical site.
- Prefer canonical route pages for current project, event, contact, donation, and meeting information.
- Treat archive pages, legacy documents, scans, galleries, and old office formats as historical context unless the page explicitly says the information is current.
- For event timing, use the current event page, meeting page, or latest site news. Annual event descriptions may give typical timing rather than the final date for a specific year.
- The website preserves many legacy assets under `/legacy-assets/`; those paths are intentional archival references.
- The sitemap at https://briceprairieconservation.org/sitemap.xml is the best machine-readable list of current public routes.
- Unknown HTML routes display a page-not-found screen with recovery links to Home, Archive, Meetings, News, Projects, Events, Volunteer, and Donate.
- HTML responses advertise agent discovery Link headers for the API catalog, LLM guide, full context, sitemap, and markdown alternate.
- Requests for HTML routes with `Accept: text/markdown` receive a markdown site summary with pointers to the canonical machine-readable resources.
- Robots and response headers declare Content Signals preferences: `ai-train=no, search=yes, ai-input=yes`.

## Mission and work

BPCA is a community-based conservation club focused on protecting and improving habitat around Lake Onalaska and the Black River Bottoms. Its mission includes restoring the natural beauty of the Black River area, supporting sound management practices for the Black River, Lake Onalaska, and the Mississippi River, and sharing conservation knowledge.

Core work includes habitat restoration, floodplain forest restoration, wildlife nesting programs, fish habitat improvements, lake and river cleanups, invasive species control, prairie and oak savanna stewardship, safety infrastructure, community education, events, scholarships, and support for local first responders and families.

## Recognition

The site lists awards and recognition including:

- Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Conservation Organization of the Year, 2009.
- Wisconsin Conservation Congress Outstanding Achievement by a Local Conservation Club, 2000 and 2003.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognition for more than 20 years of partnership on floodplain forest restoration, cleanups, invasive species control, and fish habitat improvements, 2011.
- La Crosse County Conservation Alliance Conservation Project of the Year for drone-based purple loosestrife mapping research.
- North American Bluebird Society recognition for bluebird production efforts, 2005.

## Main public routes

- Home: https://briceprairieconservation.org/
- About: https://briceprairieconservation.org/about
- Projects: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects
- Volunteer: https://briceprairieconservation.org/volunteer
- Events: https://briceprairieconservation.org/events
- Meetings: https://briceprairieconservation.org/meetings
- News: https://briceprairieconservation.org/news
- Links: https://briceprairieconservation.org/links
- Contact: https://briceprairieconservation.org/contact
- Donate: https://briceprairieconservation.org/donate
- Archive: https://briceprairieconservation.org/archive
- Legacy assets: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets

## Conservation project routes

- Wood duck houses: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/wood-ducks
- Bluebird nest boxes: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/bluebirds
- Swamp white oak reforestation: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/swamp-oak
- Lake, river, and trail cleanups: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/cleanups
- Prairie and oak savanna restoration: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/prairie-restoration
- Emergency safety and light beacon: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/emergency-safety
- Purple loosestrife biocontrol: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/loosestrife
- Dredging projects and proposals: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/dredge-proposals
- Original dredge project, 1965: https://briceprairieconservation.org/projects/dredge-1965

## Event routes

- Ice Fishing Derby: https://briceprairieconservation.org/events/ice-fishing-derby
- River Cleanup: https://briceprairieconservation.org/events/river-cleanup

## Current research and documents

- 2026 Lake Onalaska research report news post: https://briceprairieconservation.org/news/2026-05-13-lake-onalaska-research-report
- 2026 Lake Onalaska research report PDF: https://briceprairieconservation.org/assets/lake-onalaska-research-report-2026.pdf
- 2024 Lake Onalaska dredging presentation: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/dredge/Lake_%20Onalaska_%20Dredging_%20Project_%20and_%20Proposals_%2011JUN24.pdf
- Dredging project summary document: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/dredge/Brice%20Prairie%20Conservation%20Association%20Dredging%20Project%20Summary.docx

## Direct legacy project resources

Current project and event pages link directly to relevant preserved resources when a specific file, form, report, map, or photo exists. Use these direct links before sending readers to the broader archive index.

- Wood duck house plans: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/woodducks/Wood%20Duck%20house%20plans.gif
- Wood duck tree mounting bracket: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/woodducks/WD%20tree%20mounting%20pipe.gif
- Wood duck report form: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/woodducks/WOOD_DUCK_REPORT_FORM_1-11.doc
- Bluebird nest box master form: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/bluebirds/Bluebird_Nest_Box_Summary_xls.xlsx
- Bluebird sample data form: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/bluebirds/Bluebird_Nest_Box_Summary_Form_2015_With_Sample_Data.xlsx
- Bluebird cut layouts image: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/bluebirds/cut_layouts.jpg
- Prairie 2015 prescribed burn plan: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/PrairieRestoration/Burn_Plan_2015_BPCA.pdf
- Prairie 2019 prescribed burn plan: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/PrairieRestoration/Burn2019/2019_BPCA_burn_plan_1.pdf
- Swamp white oak 1992-1993 report: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/swamp_oak/1992_and_1993_Swamp_White_Oak_Project.pdf
- Emergency light beacon path image: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/emergency/oblique_path.jpg
- Fish habitat Blackdeer breach map: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/FishHabitat/DikeBreach/BreachMap.jpg
- Cleanup historical boatload photo: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets/cleanups/Wetzel_Boatload.jpg

## Project summaries

### Lake Onalaska dredging projects and proposals

BPCA is advancing a citizen-funded dredging initiative to combat sedimentation in Lake Onalaska. The current project is intended to create nearshore fish overwintering habitat, restore a nearshore fishery accessible from shore and Mosey boat landing, create an alongshore navigation channel, improve navigation, and create a maintainable sediment trap. The public project page states that the project has permits from Wisconsin DNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge and identifies additional future dredging opportunities across Lake Onalaska.

### Original dredge project, 1965

The 1965 project was an early community-funded dredging effort on the Brice Prairie shoreline of Lake Onalaska. The site preserves the history of BPCA organizing property owners, securing permission, and creating access channels at a time when siltation threatened shoreline recreation and access.

### Wood duck house project

BPCA members build, place, maintain, and monitor wood duck nesting houses around the Black River delta and nearby wetland areas. The project began in 1971 and later adopted recycled freon canister nesting structures after members learned about the design in 1987. The site reports more than 28,000 ducklings hatched since 1988 and notes that houses are also used by hooded mergansers and occasionally other cavity-nesting waterfowl.

### Bluebird nest box project

BPCA monitors bluebird nest boxes throughout Brice Prairie and surrounding areas. The program uses modified NABS-style houses and emphasizes habitat selection, spacing, predator prevention, and weekly monitoring. The site reports thousands of bluebirds fledged annually in strong years and identifies Leif Marking as a project manager and contributor to educational materials.

### Swamp white oak reforestation

BPCA restores floodplain forest habitat by collecting local swamp white oak acorns, growing seedlings in a nursery on BPCA property, transplanting seedlings to designated Mississippi River and Black River floodplain sites, protecting them with tree tubes, and monitoring survival. The project began in 1991 and the site reports nearly 3,000 seedlings planted.

### Lake, river, and trail cleanups

BPCA originated an annual spring cleanup that became part of a county-wide River Cleanup La Crosse effort. The cleanup focuses on Lake Onalaska, Pool 7 of the Upper Mississippi River, the Black River delta, and related waterways. BPCA also supports Great River State Trail cleanup and Adopt-a-River work. The site reports long-running totals including tires, plastic barrels, appliances, metal recycled, and debris landfilled.

### Prairie and oak savanna restoration

BPCA maintains a never-plowed strip of prairie and bur oak savanna habitat northwest of the clubhouse. Work includes permitted prescribed burns, monitoring, and native seed stewardship. The site describes 2015 and 2019 burns and explains how fire supports native warm-season grasses, prairie forbs, and savanna ecology.

### Emergency safety and light beacon

BPCA maintains safety infrastructure on Lake Onalaska including a solar-powered light beacon near the upper Brice Prairie boat landing and emergency shelters. The beacon honors the Petras brothers and helps boaters navigate toward shore in poor visibility, storms, fog, or night conditions.

### Purple loosestrife biocontrol

BPCA historically reared and released Galerucella beetles for biological control of purple loosestrife, an invasive wetland plant. The project began in 2001 and involved cooperation with natural resource partners. The site describes beetle biology, release sites, long-term control, public signage, drone mapping research, and the 2018 conservation project recognition.

## Event summaries

### Ice Fishing Derby

The BPCA Ice Fishing Derby is described as one of Wisconsin's longest-running ice fishing derbies. It is typically held on the first Saturday of February on Lake Onalaska, with registration at Mosey Landing. Proceeds support BPCA conservation projects, scholarships, safety infrastructure, vegetation cutting in travel routes, and other community work. For a specific year's date or rules, verify against current posts or meeting announcements.

### River Cleanup

The River Cleanup is typically held on the second Saturday in May, subject to change for flood conditions or other local factors. Volunteers remove debris from the Black River delta, northern Lake Onalaska, adjacent Mississippi River areas, landings, and shorelines. For a specific year's date or meeting point, verify against current posts, meeting announcements, or partner information.

## Volunteering

BPCA volunteer opportunities include bluebird monitoring, wood duck house monitoring, swamp white oak acorn collection and planting, nursery maintenance, tree planting, prescribed burn crew work, prairie monitoring, native seed collection, ice fishing derby support, river cleanup work, trail cleanup, conservation scholarship committee work, data recording, photography, website updates, and public communication.

## Support and donations

The Home and Donate pages identify and link to the GoFundMe campaign specifically for BPCA's Lake Onalaska dredging project: https://www.gofundme.com/f/lake-onalaska-dredging-project. Other pages list BPCA as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and give the mailing address for donations and membership correspondence. Use the Contact page for the current public mailing details.

## Archive and legacy material

The site includes a public archive and preserved legacy assets. These contain historical project pages, annual reports, meeting minutes, scanned documents, photos, galleries, old Word documents, PDFs, and images from the former site. These materials are valuable for historical context but should not automatically be treated as current operational information.

Archive index: https://briceprairieconservation.org/archive

Legacy assets index: https://briceprairieconservation.org/legacy-assets

## Machine-readable resources

- LLM guide: https://briceprairieconservation.org/llms.txt
- Full LLM context: https://briceprairieconservation.org/llms-full.txt
- API catalog: https://briceprairieconservation.org/.well-known/api-catalog
- Sitemap: https://briceprairieconservation.org/sitemap.xml
- Robots policy: https://briceprairieconservation.org/robots.txt
- Web manifest: https://briceprairieconservation.org/manifest.json

The API catalog is a Linkset catalog for public discovery resources only. BPCA does not publish protected API, OAuth, OIDC, MCP server, or WebMCP metadata from this site.