Wisconsin’s Oldest Land Trust: A Vision Realized

The Ridges Sanctuary, Wisconsin’s first land trust, was born of a passionate grassroots effort to save a parcel of land and has continued to stay true to its roots ever since. This organization’s founding also created a ripple effect of land conservation throughout Door County (and Wisconsin!), which has contributed to the beautiful place it remains today.

75 years after its founding, The Ridges has announced a $3.5 million campaign to raise funds for a new visitor center, the Cook-Albert Fuller Center; and we are reminded of its ties to the past through the realization of its founders’ original vision.

An artist’s conceptual rendering of the future visitor center.

The visitor center received a leading gift of $1 million from the late Chester Cook, who was a long-standing member of The Ridges and wanted to be a part of the project even though he could not be there in person.

Cook had a very personal connection with The Ridges Sanctuary and had worked for the man who was a founder of the organization when he was only 17 years old.

Albert Fuller had been traveling to Door County to study the rare flora that grew on a parcel of land in Baileys Harbor but poor eyesight prevented him from driving. Fuller decided to hire 17-year-old Cook to take him on his trips and assist him as he inventoried the flora.

Cook and Fuller were on a trip together when they heard news that the city had plans to develop a trailer park on the land that had held these flourishing flowers. Following this discovery, Cook accompanied Fuller and Jens Jensen as they made numerous presentations to Baileys Harbor residents advocating for the land’s preservation and protection.

Albert Fuller and Chester Cook studying wildflowers from Baileys Harbor.

In 1937, Fuller and Jensen were backed by Anna McArdle, Emma Toft, Olivia Traven, William Sieker and George Sieker as well as others in the community and they formed The Ridges Sanctuary in order to protect these 40 acres of land.

The group went on to protect over 1600 acres of land using this same model of grassroots organization.  Today, the sanctuary is open to the public year round and the group continues to work to preserve and protect the area.

Cook was passionate about the project and felt that the building of the new visitor center is a sign that the vision of the founders is beginning to become a reality. We should all be excited to see what The Ridges has in store for Door County in the future and look forward to this founder’s vision being realized for years to come.

Family and fireflies: preserving land in La Crosse County

The donation of a recent conservation agreement between Sue Strehl and Mississippi Valley Conservancy comes from a longing to protect the land that made Sue who she is today.

Sue and her dog at the farm.

On a 100-acre farm plot in the Town of Shelby, fond memories of family and fireflies were formed for Sue Strehl. This farm has been in Sue’s family for 99 years and was established in 1914 when Sue’s grandparents, the Neidercorns, purchased the first 60 acres. The farm was used for a dairy operation, growing potatoes, and for a short time, growing tobacco.

Sue has many fond memories of the land; in an interview she recalled one night where she took off exploring, “I had hiked to the back 40 one evening [and] I was standing there as it got dark, just enjoying the sounds of nature. As the last traces of the sun’s glow disappeared from the sky, the valley in front of me filled with more fireflies than I had ever seen. I was awestruck.”

Because the land has been with her family for nearly a century Sue says she wants to protect it so that the “future owners of the land… get the same joy from the property as my family has experienced.”

The rolling hills of the Strehl Farm.

Mississippi Valley Conservancy is overjoyed that they will be able to help Sue and her family protect this beautiful land from development and mining while still allowing the property to stay under the private ownership of Sue’s Family.

Reflecting on the conservation agreement, Tim Jacobson, the Conservancy’s executive director, said “Caring for the farm in this lasting way is the true embodiment of the ‘land ethic’ that Wisconsin conservationist Aldo Leopold wrote about.”

Ancient pines, local food, and you! Thanks for a great day…

Each year, the Land Legacy Gathering is our opportunity to honor the people who make our work possible – the people without whom some of Wisconsin’s most special places wouldn’t be protected.  (Psst…we’re talking about YOU!)

This year was no different. On the first nice day of spring, we partnered with the Driftless Area Land Conservancy and met in Ridgeway to celebrate the great work that this land trust is doing in southwest Wisconsin.

The 6th annual Gathering began with a tour of the impressive grounds at The Malcolm Stack Foundation Headquarters. This property has been permanently protected by the Driftless Area Land Conservancy. Hikers were able to experience the beauty of this property…

View from Malcolm Stack Foundation Headquarters

As well as the Foundation’s ancient pine forest…

A common theme throughout the property – pines thriving on the edge.

After the hike, attendees gathered back at the Foundation Headquarters to enjoy tasty, local and sustainable food thanks to Enos Farms. Local wine and beer also flowed freely. Thank you to everyone who came out on this wonderful spring day to the 6th annual Gathering to celebrate all of the wonderful conservation work happening in Wisconsin!

A BIG thank you to our sponsors who made the event possible:

Partner

 Contributors

Bay Tek Games
Organic Valley
Sadoff Iron & Metal Company
Steep & Brew

Hosts

Mike Jameson
Mark & Celine Lillie

Co-Hosts

Sherry & Douglas Caves
Kristine Euclide & Doug Steege
Barbara & Brad Glass
Jean & Walter A. Meanwell
Sandra Shane-DuBow

Supporters

Anne W. Bolz
Mary Clare & D.J. Freeman
Lyn & Jay Carlson
Michael Dearing & Debora Morton
Jane Dennis & Bill Brooks
Jason Dinges
Judy Fossen
Sharon & Warren Gaskill
David Johnson
Rick & Katy Luedke
Stewart Macaulay
Marcia Mackenzie & Jerry Borseth
R.T. Melzer
David Musolf & Roger Packard
Nancy Nichols
Peter & Sharm Peshek
Gene & Jean Roark
Jeffrey Strobel
Mary & Roy Thilly
Gail & William Van Haren
Levi & Janet Wood

For more event photos, head over to our Facebook page.  And mark your calendars for next year’s Land Legacy Gathering, Saturday, April 26th, 2014!

Explore the Door!…County, that is

The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Door County’s finest open spaces and wild places. The Land Trust maintains numerous preserves located throughout Door County that are open to the public at no charge. Most of these nature preserves are available for hiking, cross-country skiing, birding, photography, nature study, fishing, hunting and other low-impact recreational uses.

A 2012 participant in our Land Trust Excellence & Advancement Program (LEAP), the Door County Land Trust received one-on-one assistance from GWC to strengthen their operations to protect more of the special places in Wisconsin’s favorite vacation corner…and exploring those special places just got a little easier…

With the help of a new hiking map and 72-page guide book that features the thousands of acres that have been protected by the land trust, just about anyone can head out and find an adventure.  Here’s a look at just a few of the properties available for public use:

Grand View Scenic Overlook

Door County’s iconic Grand View property in Ellison Bay has been purchased and transformed into a beautiful scenic overlook and park. Not long ago the land was slated for a large-scale condominium and residential development but with the help of Door County Land Trust and the town of Liberty Grove this land and breathtaking view will be protected forever.

Map of the 483-acre purchase

Door County Land Trust has also purchased 483 acres of wilderness as part of the Shivering Sand State Natural Area. This land acquisition will be the largest conservation project in Door County in over 45 years. The land will be available to the public to enjoy and will “be a place that brings the community together… where people who appreciate nature can share their common interests” as stated by one of the former owners of the property. Although such a large piece of land may be intimidating to think about, with the new hiking map it’s easier than ever to find your way around it!

Camp Cuesta Girl Scouts at Kangaroo Lake

Partnering with the Girl Scouts of Camp Cuesta, Door County Land Trust helped to protect 32 acres of historic land along the northwest side of Kangaroo Lake in Baileys Harbor. According to Terrie Cooper, the land program director of DCLT, the partnership is a “win-win” for both organizations; it helps to increase land protection in the area as well as provide income and educational experience for the girl scouts.

The land trust is also celebrating the creation of a new nature preserve in Heins Creek, Jacksonport. The preserve was established with a 74 acre purchase and will open next spring.  This preserve, among others, has been made more “user-friendly” with the release of the new hiking map and guide book. These two valuable tools can help plan out a trip that fits exactly what your needs are and even lets you know what you might expect to see on each trail!

With the weather warming up, you may want to go visit some of these beautiful locations! Find out more about these preserves and how you can visit by going to Door County Land Trust’s website.

A Week in our Shoes

We had a busy, busy week last week. Want to hear about it?  Here’s a snapshot of some of the day-to-day and out-of-the-ordinary things that fill our days as we work to strengthen Wisconsin’s land trusts…

Ben Niemann (GWC board member) and Sue Niemann with Executive Director Mike Strigel at the WLIA Conference

Gathering Waters’ Executive Director spent last week conference hopping!  This may not sound exciting to most of you out there, but we’re land conservation geeks and love the opportunity to hear from industry experts and explore new ideas to enhance our work.  The first conference that Mike attended was the Wisconsin Wetlands Association‘s Conference and presented a valuable opportunity to explore the role that land trusts can play in strategically protecting Wisconsin’s wetland gems.  The second conference, the Wisconsin Land Information Association Conference, helped advance a current GWC initiative in which we’re exploring how geographical tools and technology can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of land trust work.

Government Relations Director, Mike Carlson, hard at work at his desk.

Mike Carlson, our government relations director, was busy last week getting ready for the release of the Governor’s draft executive budget (due to be released later today!)  To ensure that public funding remains available to land trusts to protect the special places in our communities, Mike works to make the value of land trust work known among our policy-makers. This involves meetings with legislators, as well as connecting local land trusts with their legislators to tell the stories of how their work enhances the quality of life of citizens across the state.

Land Trust Program Director, Kate Zurlo-Cuva, looking happy to work with Wisconsin land trusts!

Kate spent the week reviewing application for support from land trusts across the state.  Through our Land Trust Excellence and Advancement Program (LEAP), land trusts can apply for one-on-one services that address their particular needs and enhance their capacity and sustainability.  Applications were due last week, and new program participants will be announced in early March.   Stay tuned!

Program Assistant and event planner extraordinaire, Becky Binz

Sara and Becky have been busy preparing for our upcoming Land Legacy Gathering – a fun and inspiring event that honors the people who make our work possible.  This year we’re thrilled to partner with the Driftless Area Land Conservancy — a special land trust in southwestern Wisconsin working to protect the rugged features and ancient geology of Wisconsin’s driftless area.  If you’d like an opportunity to tour one of the region’s most beautiful protected properties, meet GWC and land trust leadership, or just enjoy some locally-sourced food and drinks, mark your calendar and join us on April 27th!

Associate Director, Sara DeKok

At GWC, we love Wisconsin — and all of the special places that make it home.  And these are are just a few of the things that we go to work to do to help people protect those places for all of Wisconsin.

What did you do last week to help protect Wisconsin’s special places.  We’d love to hear your story!  Share it with us here or email info@gatheringwaters.org.

LEAPing into 2013

Land trusts are impacting communities through our signature program!

For those of you not involved in land trust work day-to-day, it can be tough to stay on top of the lingo and acronyms.  LEAP, or Wisconsin’s Land Trust Excellence & Advancement Program, is GWC’s signature program to deliver services to land trusts to help ensure their sustainability, effectiveness, and credibility.

We launched the program in 2011 in partnership with the Land Trust Alliance to address the growing challenges faced by our maturing land trust community.  Through small grants, customized support, trainings, and mentoring, we’re building land trusts’ capacity to continue to steward and protect the forests, farms, trails, rivers, and urban green spaces across Wisconsin.

We’re two years in to LEAP and already starting to see local, on-the-ground impact of this program.  Here’s one inspiring example…

With support from LEAP, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy is inspiring a lifelong love of nature through storytelling.

It is well documented that today’s youth are more disconnected from nature than ever before – a trend that more than one local land trust is working to reverse.  

Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) is a small, yet powerful land trust working to protect the rugged beauty and ancient geology of southwest Wisconsin’s driftless area.  As a 2012 recipient of a special services grant through LEAP, DALC received support to enhance their work connecting local children to the special, natural places in their backyards.

For the younger set (ages 2 – 5), DALC is partnering with the local library on a nature and farm-based storytelling program to inspire a lifelong love of the land.  Kids ages 6 -11 have the opportunity to  experience nature, join in outdoor activities, and reflect on the natural world through the Driftless Explorers Club.

DALC is growing the next generation of conservation leaders in southwest Wisconsin and instilling in them the gift of a lifelong relationship with the land.  Thank you, DALC!

This is just one example of the myriad impacts that land trust are having on communities across the state — and we’re here to help enhance that impact.  Through LEAP, we’re proud to report that we’ve offered customized, one-on-one support to 34% of Wisconsin land trusts. In addition, we’ve:

• Coached 750 land trust staff and board members through trainings, workshops, one-on-one assistance, and virtual learning opportunities.
• Helped increase the number of nationally accredited land trusts in Wisconsin from one to six (while also helping several more in process).
• Provided direct grants to land trusts to help them hire their first staff, improve outreach techniques to the community, or acquire valuable leadership development training.

GWC is currently accepting applications for a new set LEAP Standards & Practices grants.  Stay tuned for a forthcoming announcement of the land trusts joining the program in 2013!

Conserving Local Farms, Food, and Our Heritage

Jim Welsh and Caleb Pourchot of Natural Heritage Land Trust with Dorothy and John Priske.

“We wanted to be proactive and take responsibility for this land.”

That was the sentiment expressed by John and Dorothy Priske, farmers who have lived on, and farmed, their land¹ in Columbia County for nearly 30 years. To accomplish their goals of conservation, the Priskes worked with their local land trust, the Natural Heritage Land Trust, which provides conservation assistance in Dane County and the surrounding region.

But even just a few years ago, the Priskes, as well as 15 other farmers in Wisconsin would not have been able to conserve their farm like this because there wasn’t a state farmland protection program.

Working lands working for their communities

Farms like the Priske’s have been protected across Wisconsin with support from their local land trust and Wisconsin’s farmland protection program – a program
fought for by Gathering Waters Conservancy and our partners.

As with other farmland protection programs across the country, Wisconsin’s Purchase of Conservation Easements (PACE) program allows farmers to receive funding for conserving their land while still retaining ownership and management decisions. The land continues to stay on the tax rolls as well, and farmers are free to sell, bequeath, lease, and transfer the land, subject to the conservation agreement.

In addition to the PACE program, funding for this project was also provided by the USDA Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, The Conservation Fund, and the members of Natural Heritage Land Trust. PACE-funded land protection projects are intended to be anchors in areas that have been designated locally for farmland protection.

The Priskes are one such anchor, known throughout the community for their commitment to farming and sustainability.

Community anchors preserving local foods

According to Caleb Pourchot, Natural Heritage Land Trust’s conservation specialist, “Continuous improvement in the health of their land is a passion for the Priskes. Each new conservation practice they incorporate on the farm led them to another.

“After restoring wetlands, controlling runoff from the farm, leaving some pastures ungrazed to benefit nesting grassland birds, and installing a 50-kilowatt wind turbine that powers the entire farm, deciding to work with the local land trust to place a conservation easement on the farm to protect it in perpetuity was a logical next step.”

Farmland and our farming economy are central to many Wisconsin communities. Gathering Waters Conservancy, working with land trusts, the business community, agricultural organizations and farmers, and countless individuals, continues to work to enhance and grow the state’s farmland protection program.

During a challenging State budget cycle, your financial support of and participation in trainings, advocacy work, and educational programs will be very important in the coming year as we work to breathe new life into this farm-friendly program that serves Wisconsin’s agricultural heritage and economy. Together, one farm at a time, we’re bringing local food and our farm economy closer to long-term sustainability.

Why Gathering Waters?: I Serve to Advance My Tribe’s Beliefs & Goals

“Why Gathering Waters” is a special blog series that tells the stories of our supporters and why they choose to support Gathering Waters. Our third blog post of this series was written by Jeff Crawford, Gathering Waters Conservancy board member and a member of the Potawatomi Tribe. Continue reading to learn what Gathering Waters means to Jeff.

My name is Jeff Crawford and I have served as the Attorney General for the Forest County Potawatomi Community in Milwaukee since 1997.  I am also a member of the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe. Prior to my current role, I was an associate at Robins, Kaplan, Miller, & Ciresi and then an attorney for General Mills. More recently I have served Wisconsin as a member of the board of the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming and as a board member at both the Wisconsin Business Council and Gathering Waters Conservancy.

Through my work with the Potawatomi, I have spent considerable time on land preservation and trust issues.  Throughout the 1800’s, much of the Potawatomi land holdings were taken.  Since then, the tribe has been trying to reacquire lands to fulfill its desire to live in accordance with its beliefs. These beliefs include the existence of special places in Wisconsin that need to be preserved, protected, and treated with respect.  I chose to join the GWC board because I recognized an organization with shared beliefs, and the opportunity to advance those beliefs outside the tribal context was appealing to me.

The Potawatomi is working to manifest its land ethic through the tribal land process, just like GWC works with local land trusts and engages government and private partners to pursue its mission.   Because of our shared goals, we have opportunities for information sharing, goal setting and building strategic partnerships.  I am proud to be a part of such a strong organization – both the board and the staff are excellent – through which I can work to advance the goals of my tribe and help to protect the special places in Wisconsin.

Post-Election Rundown

With the November elections behind us, we’re now focused on the upcoming state budget process here in Wisconsin and several important issues in Congress.  We will continue our non-partisan approach to our public policy work, reaching out and connecting land trusts with elected officials across the political spectrum.

One notable take-away from the recent elections is that conservation continues to be a high priority for citizens across the country, with 46 of 57 conservation-related ballot measures passing nationwide (an 81 percent success rate).  Through these measures, communities across the country approved more than $2 billion in conservation funding.

At the state level, we’ve been preparing for the next state budget process, which will formally begin with the release of the Governor’s Executive Budget proposal in January.  According to the Wisconsin Department of Administration, the state begins the 2013 fiscal year with a $342.1million surplus which is the largest opening balance since fiscal year 2000-01.

We are focused on our two top priorities – the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and the statewide Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) Program.  The Stewardship Program is authorized at $60 million annually through 2020, and we will be working with the Governor’s office, the Department of Natural Resources, and leadership in the Legislature to maintain this funding and to ensure that the program operates efficiently, and with the utmost transparency and accountability.  The Stewardship Program continues to be strongly supported by the public and provides direct support to the state’s tourism and forestry sectors, while enhancing the quality of life in communities throughout the state.

The statewide PACE program remains on the books but is currently unfunded and we are partnering with the American Farmland Trust and a broad Friends of Farmland Protection coalition to advocate for the program and identify possible sources for future funding.  Early this year, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection released a PACE Evaluation Report, which provides a good basis for stream-lining and improving the program.

On the federal front, we are currently in a 45-day sprint to renew the enhanced tax incentive for the donation of easements and to pass the Farm Bill before Congress adjourns.  We’ve been working with partners like the Nature Conservancy, the Land Trust Alliance, and land trusts throughout the Great Lakes region to move these important conservation priorities forward.  Learn more.

As the negotiations on the “fiscal cliff” begin to ramp up, we’ve also been hearing that Congress may be looking to cap charitable deductions.  This issue is much larger than land trusts and would impact the broader nonprofit community nationwide, but it could have a very real impact on our work.  Learn more.

Please contact your elected officials to tell them how important these issues are for your organization and your community.  Here is contact information for state officials and for Wisconsin members of the House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

Stay tuned to the Conservation Policy section of our website for further updates.

Nurturing At-Risk Youth Through Conservation in Dane County

What follows is an incredible example of the non-traditional partnerships being pursued by Wisconsin land trusts that are having a multi-layered impact on their communities.  Congratulations to the Natural Heritage Land Trust for being such forward-thinking leaders in the Dane County area.

Natural areas that need restoration and young people at risk both benefit from a new partnership between Natural Heritage Land Trust and Operation Fresh Start. The project is thanks, in part, to a recent $38,400 grant from the Madison Community Foundation.

The Dane County Partners for Recreation & Conservation (PARC) grant program, the other main funding source, awarded $21,700 to the joint project in May. Project partners will use the funds to make lasting improvements to protected lands in Dane County and provide job skills and a conservation education to low-income youth.

The project will employ Operation Fresh Start (OFS) crews to complete conservation and facility improvements at five sites where Natural Heritage Land Trust is working to permanently protect natural habitats and wetland features.

OFS has decades of success preparing youth struggling against poverty, school failure and other life-limiting difficulties to become self-sufficient through employment training and education programs. Work on environmental projects is part of the OFS focus on community service.

Through a partnership with Operation Fresh Start, Natural Heritage Land Trust will work with at-risk youth on their protected properties, including Westport Drumlin seen here.

Starting in the fall and winter of 2012, crews will construct fishing platforms and piers at Black Earth Creek and Lake Belle View in the Village of Belleville, and construct or reconstruct trails at Cross Plains Conservancy Parks and the Westport Drumlin State Natural Area.

The program also involves restoration work on various prairie, wetland or savanna habitats at places like Hickory Hill on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Patrick Marsh, Lake Belle View and Westport Drumlin.

Besides the conservation of cherished local landscapes, says Natural Heritage Land Trust Executive Director Jim Welsh, the joint effort will help the public enjoy and understand these exceptional and accessible natural areas.

“This project is an important chance for our two organizations to invest, along with funders, in the future of our communities,” he adds. “With the support of the Madison Community Foundation and the PARC program, Natural Heritage Land Trust and OFS can give some motivated young people hands-on experience managing natural places, possibly introducing
them to careers that involve environmental protection and the out-of-doors – a benefit to all of us and our natural heritage.”