b'58 ATWENVIRONMENTALAppleton Intl Puts Sheep to Workon Conservancy Wetlands BY PAUL NOLANIn an industry where high- that ATW contracted the flock for a full tech solutions such as artificialsummer of work this year.intelligence and biometrics are FACTS&FIGURESconstantly in the spotlight, sometimes thePutting sheep to work for weed Project: Turf Management; Invasive Species Removal best path to efficiency and cost-savings iscontrol might be a little outside the box, but its another example of how we seek Sponsor: Appleton Intl Airport, in WI decidedly more low-tech. Thats the casecontinuous improvement and limit our Strategy: Using sheep to maintain wetlands for Appleton International Airport (ATW)carbon footprint, said Airport Director mitigation areawhen it comes to groundskeeping. TheAbe Weber after the 2023 trial. Location: 17-acre Casaloma Conservancy central Wisconsin airport is keeping things in Grand Chute, WI (about 5 miles from airport) organic by using a flock of sheep to helpWetlands MitigationGroundskeeping Service: Wooly Green Grazers tend its offsite wetlands. and Money SavingsWork Crew: 20-40 sheep (more in summer, whenWith seemingly endless appetites, theThe wooly animals are dispatched on vegetation is thickest)sheep devour vegetation and eliminateCasaloma Conservancy, about 17 acres of Grazing Frequency: 24/7, spring through fall invasive species such as buckthorn andnatural wetlands ATW purchased in 2011 Cost: About $1,500/month vs. $2,500/month for traditionalPhragmites australis, more commonlyto balance airport land it had developed for grounds crew labor & herbicides known as ditch weed. And they usuallyrunways and buildings. Located about five Project Timeline: Concept tested in Sept. 2023; fullwork 24/7. The sheep are provided andmiles northeast of the airfield, the conservancy growing-season contract in 2024 managed by Wooly Green Grazers, an all- features natural viewing areas and nearly two Key Benefits: Cost savings; organic solution to removingnatural brush removal service located justmiles of public hiking trails near the Wisconsin invasive species, grass & other unwanted vegetation withoutsix miles from the airport. What started asTimber Rattlers minor league baseball park, harming newly planted trees & shrubsa test run last September worked so wellanother popular family spot.September 2024AirportImprovement.com'