Three More Wisconsin Land Trusts Receive National Seal

As we previewed last spring, we’re pleased to announce that Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Bayfield Regional Conservancy, and Caledonia Conservancy are officially accredited!  Our hats are off to you!

See a video we made about the process and hear testimonials from these land trust leaders.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission was incorporated in April 2006 as an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance to operate a land trust accreditation program to build and recognize strong land trusts, foster public confidence in land conservation and help ensure the long-term protection of land. The Commission is governed by a board of diverse land conservation and nonprofit management experts from around the country. Commissioners volunteer their expertise to verify that a land trust is carrying out specific indicator practices from Land Trust Standards and Practices.

The accreditation seal is a mark of distinction in land conservation. It recognizes organizations for meeting national
standards for excellence, upholding the public trust, and ensuring that conservation efforts are permanent.

The invitation to apply comes after many months, often years, of work revising policy, updating records, and fund-raising to ensure perpetual agreements are upheld.

Previously there had only been one accredited land trust in WI, Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, so these three additions are significant!  Each of these organizations has had connections with and received services from GWC and the Land Trust Alliance as recently as this year.  As we look ahead to meeting our goals for the Land Trust Excellence and Advancement Program (LEAP), we’re proud to share with you these accomplishments that align so squarely with our commitment to land trust excellence.

Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy, a Gem for Future Generations

While volunteering with Gathering Waters Conservancy during his winter break from college, our friend Will Erickson wrote the following story about a terrific land trust accomplishment close to his heart.

A new agreement between the Village of Williams Bay and the Geneva Lake Conservancy will permanently protect the Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy. This agreement ensures that the 215-acre conservancy will not be subdivided or otherwise developed, a goal a long time in the making.

The Village of Williams Bay originally purchased the land from private owners in 1990.  The land consists of natural undisturbed woodland, wetlands, and prairies, with many trails for observation of birds, wildlife and native plantings.  And now thanks to a conservation easement held by Geneva Lake Conservancy, the land will be protected forever.

For many years Williams Bay had been turning down development proposals that would have had a detrimental impact on Williams Bay and Geneva Lake.

In 1989, following a citizen outcry regarding another more extensive project, the Williams Bay Board took the initiative and purchased this site for preservation.  In July of 1990 the board created the Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy to “ensure the protection of this fragile shoreland-wetland area for future generations”.

My late grandfather, Herb Erikson, was one of many concerned Villagers in 1989 when extensive development offers were coming into the Bay.  It is with great pride and gratitude that I, one of the children of “future generations,” may still enjoy the Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy.  To be able to appreciate this shoreline as my grandparents knew it is truly a gift, both to my generation and the health of Williams Bay and Lake Geneva.

The Largest Easement Donation to a Wisconsin Land Trust

On December 1, 2011, the Winter Park Pines Nature Preserve was established with the granting of a perpetual conservation easement by Ken and Carolyn Aldridge to the Northwoods Land Trust.  This 3,195 acre property -nearly  five square miles – includes about 43 kilometers of cross-country ski and snow shoe trails at the core of the Minocqua Winter Park Nordic Center’s trail system.  This project is the largest conservation easement ever donated to a land trust in Wisconsin.

Minocqua Winter Park is regarded as one of the premier cross-country ski trail systems in the Midwest.  The ski chalet is located on 40 acres of land owned by the Town of Minocqua and managed for public use under an agreement with the Lakeland Ski Touring Foundation, Inc.  The Winter Park Pines Nature Preserve surrounds the chalet property.

Through the land protection agreement, the Aldridges have granted skiers perpetual access to the existing trails, allowed for sustainable forestry, and limited land fragmentation and development which will keep the land in its natural state.  Through the Aldridge’s generosity, the land will remain forever open to the public for winter sports including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and skijoring (skiing with dogs).

The conservation agreement also protects over 13 miles of natural shorelines on the Squirrel River, Yukon Creek, Howard’s Creek, and other small, un-named streams and ponds.  In addition, the land provides natural habitat buffers around and adjacent to the Squirrel River Pines State Natural Area.

The public is invited to the dedication of the new  Winter Park Pines Nature Preserve on  Thursday, December  29^th at 11 a.m.  at the chalet.  

To get to Minocqua Winter Park, take Hwy. 70 about 6.5 miles west of Minocqua, turn south on Squirrel Lake Road for about 4 miles, and follow the signs east ¼ mile on Scotchman Lake Road to the entrance drive.   For more information on the preserve or dedication, contact land trust Executive Director Bryan Pierce at (715) 479-2490.   

Squirrel River, Northwoods Land Trust Photo

Celebrating Frog Bay

On Friday, November 18th, Bayfield Regional Conservancy closed on a superb property with the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.  The following post is excerpted from an article by Dennis McCann in BRC’s newsletter

David Johnson remembers that when he bought a prime piece of Lake Superior frontage at public auction in 1980 he learned from a county clerk that the Red Cliff tribe had wanted the land but could not afford to put in a bid. It made him feel a bit funny to obtain onetime tribal land in such a way, he said recently, but not enough that he considered turning the property, which he knew would someday have much greater value, back to the tribe.

But fast-forward more than 30 years and that is exactly what is happening. In a move applauded by tribal officials, Johnson and his wife, Marjorie, are selling the property to the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, in partnership with the Bayfield Regional Conservancy. The acquisition will protect the now 88.6 acre property, including Johnson’s original 40 acres and an adjacent piece he added later, along with keeping in its pristine state the nearly quarter mile of sandy and pebble beaches offering views of five of the Apostle Islands.

Rose Gurnoe Soulier, tribal chairperson, said Red Cliff residents are elated at being able to again have access to a site that holds cultural and spiritual significance and which historically was within the reservation boundary and in tribal ownership.

Even better, that new access to what Soulier calls “this gem” will soon be enjoyed by more than just tribal members. In an unprecedented move for a Wisconsin Indian tribe, Red Cliff officials are planning to repurpose the property as Frog Bay Tribal National Park, open to both tribal and non-tribal members for hiking, birding, beach use and other recreational opportunities. The tribe will also use the property for gathering medicinal plants, nature-based educational activities and traditional and spiritual ceremonies, uses that will both protect the property and help preserve tribal traditions and way of life.

To further ensure long-term protection of the property, the Bayfield Regional Conservancy will hold a conservation easement on the land that will permanently restrict uses that are not compatible with protection of its conservation values, including subdivisions, development, excessive logging and more.

How the transfer came about involved more than a bit of serendipity. The Johnsons were longtime close neighbors and even closer friends with former Sen. Gaylord Nelson and his family. It was Nelson, of course, who is deemed the father of the Apostle Islands, and the view from the Johnsons’ Frog Bay property was of islands managed as part of the Gaylord Nelson Wilderness. It was Nelson’s daughter, Tia, who said Marjorie Johnson was “like a second mother to me,” who put the Johnsons’ in contact with Ellen Kwiatkowski at BRC and initiated discussions that led to tribal acquisition.

“One of things that I really like about this project is it brings so many groups together,” said Kwiatkowski. The purchase is being funded by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency’s Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program which provides funding for local units of government to acquire important coastal lands. This will be the first time that a Native American tribe receives funding from that program to reclaim coastal lands. The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program also provided a lot of technical support to help bring the project to fruition. Kwiatkowski noted, “This is our first partnership project with the Red Cliff Tribe and we see many opportunities for future collaboration. Our mission of land conservation is very much in alignment with the Native vision of land stewardship that looks seven generations into the future to evaluate sustainable land use.”

Celebrating Our Partnerships this Fall with the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust

In October, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust sponsored  a unique opportunity to showcase its partnerships to the Land Trust Alliance’s Rally conference participants.  OWLT has been innovative with neighboring industries including the Fondy Food Market, Mequon Nature Preserve, and Sprecher Brewery.  Follow along as the participants make a few stops along their beautiful fall hike.  Or, better yet, head to Milwaukee’s north side and re-create the journey yourself!

Hikers start off at the Mequon Nature Preserve

OWLT executive director Shawn Graff addresses LTA Rally field trip participants at the Mequon Nature Preserve

Steve Petro of the Fondy Market takes pride in the field trip lunch presentation. Fresh vegetables prepared for the lunch were grown just ½ mile from the Forest Beach Migratory Preserve in a partnership with Afterglow Farms.

Field trip participants end the day with smiles at the Sprecher Brewery. Here the group gets a tour before sampling the wares.

This is the third of a three-part series featuring the terrific field trips offered at Rally in Wisconsin last month.  We hope they inspire you to get outside and love the places that make Wisconsin special.

The Milwaukee River Basin Like You’ve Never Seen It

We were so impressed by the field trips our member land trusts offered at the Land Trust Alliance’s Rally that we’re giving you a glimpse of the action.  Last week we featured some gorgeous shots of the Ice Age Trail in the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest near Parnell Tower and today it’s a trip along the Milwaukee River with the River Revitalization Foundation.  Join the lucky Rally participants and see what this organization has done for the Milwaukee’s riverfront!

The Milwaukee river basin was a bit windy but the weather was excellent, crisp and sunny.

During the 2+ hour hike, we worked our way through a 2.5 mile loop from the east to the west bank, including stops at the Urban Ecology Center and Riverside Park.

From this magnificent location, hikers walked back along the estuary to Milwaukee’s Ale House on the river for a beer and some cheer.

These photos are part of a three-part series.  Check back next week to see our final set of highlights from Rally in Wisconsin.

The Northern Kettles in All Their Fall Glory

Attending the Land Trust Alliance’s Rally gives us a few key reminders about our work.  That we are here to uphold perpetual land conservation, that we have lots to learn from each other, and that our landscapes are stunning and worth protecting for our grandchildren’s grandchildren.  If you were lucky enough to join in on a field trip with Kevin Thusius of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, you got to witness this scenery.

These photos are part of a three-part series.  Check back to see more of highlights from Rally in Wisconsin in the coming weeks.

Tall Pines Conservancy Concert on the Farm

On Saturday, October 1st, Tall Pines Conservancy hosted its first ever Concert on the Farm as part of their annual Fall Harvest festival.  For the past 3 years Tall Pines has been gathering at a local barn to celebrate the results of their work over the previous year.

This year, the Fall Harvest is at one of the first 16 farms chosen to participate in the PACE program to highlight the importance of working lands in Southeastern Wisconsin and across the state.  The inaugural Concert on the Farm was held at the Zwieg Maple Acres farm.  Zwieg Maple Acres is a 6th generation Dairy farm operating in Ashippun and Lebanon since 1856.

After Tall Pines worked to establish an Agricultural Enterprise Area in the Towns of Ashippun and Oconomowoc, Joe Zweig was the first landowner to step up to enroll in the PACE Program.  “He and his son, Kyle, contacted me and said they wanted to preserve their farm and do it with Tall Pines and through the PACE program,” notes Susan Buchanan, Tall Pines’ executive director.  Kyle is the 6th generation working on the farm and plans to continue the agricultural tradition.

Adds Buchanan, “This family just gets the importance of combining working lands with conservation to protect Wisconsin’s specialness.  They have an absolutely picture perfect 250-acre working farm that is a great model for PACE and, with three generations currently living on the farm, they are great spokesmen for the program.  They have hosted a variety of meetings and events on their farm for us, including our “Ride to the Barns” for the last two years.”

This year’s event featured a book signing and concert by Michael Perry and the Long Beds.  Michael was the perfect fit for an event like this.  His books, most recently, Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting, chronicle the highs and lows of farm life in rural Wisconsin.

Additionally, Fall Harvest showcased local food prepared by a local chef in the town of Lebanon.  Bodhi Personal Chef and Catering specializes in sourcing local & seasonal food and in 2010 Bodhi won the Milwaukee Iron Chef Competition.  One of this year’s features will be beef burgers made from Scottish cattle raised in the area and seasonal vegetable salads.

We at Gathering Waters are very excited to announce this marquee event for Tall Pines Conservancy.  It is just another example of the great work being done by Wisconsin’s land trusts and another reminder that we can all play a role in helping protect the places that make Wisconsin special.

All In An Excellent Day’s Work

On July 28th we packed the GWC staffers into a minivan and headed up to the West Bend area to do some field work on one of Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust’s fee-title properties.  We feel lucky to work with and for land trusts, whether it’s in our offices finding solutions to administrative and strategic issues or by pulling thistles and burdock in former pastures.  To us it represents another way people can help land trusts do their work better.

On this particular steamy Friday we all benefited from the experience; the land trust gained a few more volunteers and we spent a terrific day amongst friends getting our hands dirty.  We see as much value in protecting land as in stewarding it.  To be able to participate in this work is an honor and also fun.

OWLT has a full calendar of volunteer activities and events all summer long.  They’re also our pick for Land Trust of the Year and will be coming down to Madison on September 29^th to celebrate with us.  One way or another, we encourage you to join us in celebrating this organization’s great work protecting the places that make Wisconsin special in Ozaukee and Washington Counties.

LEAP is Underway!

By Kate Zurlo-Cuva

In January we kicked off the Land Trust Excellence and Advancement Program and are pleasantly surprised by the tremendous positive momentum we have garnered in the land trust community.  Our two years of preparation and development are coming to fruition this summer – we’ve kicked off our first round of customized services grants and have made new trainings universally available to Wisconsin land trusts.

MaryKay O’Donnell from the Land Trust Alliance (our program partner) and I have been furiously aligning our resources for services with the six land trusts receiving an assessment, implementation plan, and a grant to reach a major goal.  Just this past week alone we had the pleasure of beginning an implementation plan on a gorgeous sunny day for the Green Lake Conservancy with a porch-side view of Green Lake itself, began the guided organizational assessment process for the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, and initiated a path to accrediting the Ice Age Trail Alliance.

Green Lake Conservancy board members, Kate, & MaryKay celebrate planning success over lunch

Each of these organizations is the recipient of a multi-year commitment from GWC and the Land Trust Alliance for mentoring, coaching, and improvement activities – these services total nearly $20,000!  The land trust community has collectively pledged a commitment to perpetual land protection and we take this very seriously.  We feel striving for excellence is the key to our future success.

We’ll continue to develop new opportunities to learn from experts in the field as well as our peers in the Wisconsin land trust community.  And, we’ll open up a new period for applications to the customized suite of services for land trust excellence at the end of the year.

Later this year, we’ll head to Lac du Flambeau to tackle a few goals with the Northwoods Land Trust. We’ll also carry out guided organizational assessments with Natural Heritage Land Trust and the Prairie Enthusiasts.

Please support our efforts to strive for excellence in the land trust community.  Your contribution can make the difference in a land trust becoming nationally accredited, contribute to vital trainings to bring land trusts up to industry standards, and assist us with meeting our mission of protecting the places that make Wisconsin special.