Gilson Creek I

Location: Brown County

Area Protected: 31 acres 

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Gilson Creek II

Location: Brown County

Area Protected: 11 acres

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In 2008, Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust acquired 31 acres of rare and fragile habitat. Then again in 2015, we protected another 11 acres adjacent to the Gilson Creek I Preserve. These properties were added to the existing Red Banks Alvar State Natural Area in Brown County. Bordering Gilson Creek is a unique white cedar woodland community and habitat for many threatened endemic animals and plants.

The Gilson Creek Preserves are situated in the Gilson Creek drainage basin, an area rich in biodiversity. They provide a unique habitat that protects many rare and natural plants and animals, that are under constant pressure from the surrounding urbanized environment. 

Gilson Creek I protects approximately 1,000 feet of Gilson Creek (a.k.a. the Little Red River), one of Brown County’s few trout streams, and supports a local brook trout population.  There is also an old gravel pit near the entrance to the property. The Great Peshtigo Fire, a disturbance of historical significance burned over this property in 1871.

Current threats to the sites include the encroaching of common buckthorn and trembling aspen and the intrusion of home development along Gilson Creek.  The properties provides a vital buffer from development along Gilson Creek, helps minimize habitat loss, and protects water quality.  Removal of the exotic species will enhance iris populations and create areas for continued expansion and protection for this species. These properties are owned and managed by the Land Trust for the general public to enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing, bird watching, fishing, nature study and hunting. Please visit NEWLT’s hunting page for specific hunting rules regarding Gilson Creek Preserves.

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