Can City-Dwellers Be Conservationists?

Does living in a city mean you’re less connected to the natural world? A scientist from The Nature Conservancy tackled this question recently on TNC’s website feature, ‘Ask the Conservationist’:

Rob McDonald, the Nature Conservancy’s senior scientist for sustainable land use, explored the question as to whether or not city-dwellers can be conservationists and how connected a person can be with the natural world if they do not experience it often.

“The key is making sure that every child has at least some formative experience in nature.”

Surely city-dwellers realize the benefits of nature – fresh air, clean water – but do they realize exactly where their food comes from? They most likely have less knowledge about how a forest system works  than a logger does, but does that mean that they don’t care?

History suggests otherwise; the major victories for the environmental movement – The Clean Water Act, The Clean Air Act, The Endangered Species Act, The Montreal Protocol – were all advocated for primarily by city-dwellers. People living in urban areas realize that their cities need nature to thrive and that protecting the environment is in their own best interest.

However, recent evidence suggests that having valuable experiences with nature is correlated to caring about the environment.

How can conservationists make sure that city-dwellers end up caring about the environment?  The Nature Conservancy says that “the key is making sure that every child has at least some formative experience in nature”.

This is where Gathering Waters Conservancy and Wisconsin’s land trusts fit in: The more places we protect and make available to adults and kids, the more opportunities we can provide to connect people and nature.

What do you think?  Let us know here.

Outdoor Recreation Creates Jobs and Supports Local Communities

With so much focus on jobs and the economy right now, one bright spot is the outdoor recreation industry.  Nationwide, Americans spend $646 billion on outdoor recreation, according to a new study by the Outdoor Industry Association.  Here in Wisconsin, outdoor recreation generates $11.9 billion in consumer spending; 142,000 direct Wisconsin jobs equaling $3.6 billion in wages and salaries, and $844 million in state and local tax revenue.

Wisconsin’s 50 land trusts help to support this burgeoning part of the economy by working with communities to provide the places and the amenities for people to connect with the outdoors.  One great example is the Ice Age Trail Alliance.  In 2012, the Ice Age Trail Alliance together with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and other partners undertook a survey of Ice Age Trail users and businesses along the trail.  Researchers determined that the Ice Age Trail draws an estimated 1.2 million visitors every year, and Trail users contribute approximately $113 million annually to statewide and local economies.  The full report can be found here.

Special places, like the one shown here along the Ice Age Trail, draw thousands of visitors each year, contributing to local economies and providing the high quality of life that we’ve come to expect in Wisconsin.

The economic impact of land trusts’ work doesn’t stop with outdoor recreation.  Industries in Wisconsin such as the $22 billion forestry industry and $59 billion agriculture industry are also supported by land trusts as they help willing landowners protect working landscapes throughout the state.  For example, in early 2012, the Conservation Fund worked with Lyme Timber and the WI DNR to complete the largest working forest conservation easement in Wisconsin history, the Brule-St. Croix Legacy Forest.  This project, which leveraged funding from the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, will ensure that nearly 70,000 acres of timberland will remain in production, while providing public access for recreation, among other public benefits.

At Gathering Waters Conservancy, we recognize the many ways that land trusts help to support local communities and the economy, which is why we work so hard to make land trusts stronger organizations and to make sure that they have the tools and the public and private resources to accomplish their goals.

New Access to the Milwaukee River!

The last gap of public access to the Milwaukee River is finally being closed and will make it possible to easily cross from the “RiverWalk” to the Milwaukee River Greenway.  The River Revitalization Foundation has purchased the land and a ranch-style house that will serve as their new business office.  This purchase of land along the Milwaukee River provides public recreation, helps to improve water quality, and revitalizes area neighborhoods.

The half-acre lot and ranch-style house that will be used by the River Revitalization Foundation for their offices

By moving the office to the trail, the Foundation will be closer to the resource they’re working to protect as well as the people they’re hoping will use it. The new land allows the public to walk along the RiverWalk all the way up to the Beer Line Trail to take the pedestrian bridge to the East Bank Trail, then up to the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, Riverside Park and the Urban Ecology Center.  Plans are already being envisioned for the ecology center which would organize group hiking and camping trips for Milwaukee children in the river corridor.

Once this area is combined with the Foundation’s three-acre Wheelhouse property next door, it will serve as an oasis within the bustle of Milwaukee and will help to create lasting experiences for residents in the area.

The Foundation received a loan from The Conservation Fund to acquire the riverfront property and is now seeking a reimbursement grant from the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program to pay for the purchase. Learn more about this and the other exciting work that will connect Milwaukee adults and children with the river and nature in a recent article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

New, Close Outdoor Fun for Madisonians

Thanks to Natural Heritage Land Trust, a new land acquisition along the Sugar River will be Dane County’s second largest acquisition of land for conservation and its largest acquisition including river frontage ever.

The land and river will be open to the public for hiking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, hunting and trapping. The river itself is known to offer some of the best trout fishing in the area and with only a 30-minute drive from downtown Madison this land is sure to be popular for years to come. Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said it well: “This will truly be a destination for people in Dane County and beyond”.  The protected land will likely raise property values in the area and help businesses in Verona and Montrose as well.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi speaks at a press conference about the acquisition.

The land was previously owned by the Bruce Co. for around 25 years who had planned to build a golf course on it but were stopped short when the local government did not grant approval. However, the Company is now eager to protect the land from development and share it with the county. The acquisition will include 340 acres that are being purchased by the county and an additional 126 acres which will be placed in a conservation easement to limit future development. Natural Heritage Land Trust, who is partnered with Dane County, has also applied for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant in order to pay for half of the acquisition.

Read more about this exciting project in the Wisconsin State Journal and at madison.com.

Photo taken by M.P. King of the Wisconsin State Journal

New Opportunities for Recreation & Sustainable Forestry in Bayfield County

Folks in northern Wisconsin have new community forest in which to recreate and explore thanks to the work of Bayfield Regional Conservancy.

The Conservancy completed the purchase of a 400-acre forested property from Plum Creek Timber Co. in late December, and will convey the newly established community forest to the Town of Lincoln in late 2013 pending a majority vote by town residents to accept the gift.

This new community forest in will allow for public access for hunting, fishing, hiking, birding and other non-motorized uses, and it will also provide protection for two miles of Marengo River shoreline along a highly erodible section of the river, so that it remains pristine for fishing.

Bayfield Regional Conservancy became involved in the project after being alerted to the realty listing by a group of town residents who asked for help in preserving it.

In addition to offering public recreation, the property is intended to serve as an example of sustainable forestry and restoration. The Conservancy plans to hold field days in collaboration with other forest management organizations to further sustainable forestry tenets.  An additional management goal is to promote the prevalence of native tree species resistant to climate change, in order to ensure forest adaptability in response to climate change impacts expected for our region.

The land is largely forested, including a mosaic of forest types, and serves as habitat for state rare and endangered species, along with at least 145 species of birds. Other wildlife includes bear, deer, bobcat, fisher, American marten, grey wolf , wood turtle and more.

Already, a Friends of Lincoln Community Forest group has been formed to help with management of the property.  The Conservancy will participate in management of the property with a volunteer committee and promote school activities at the forest as well.

A Gathering Waters member, Bayfield Regional Conservancy is a non-profit land trust dedicated to preserving the places you love in northwestern Wisconsin.  Funds for the $673,000 purchase came from matching grants from the US Forest Service Community Forestry Program and the state of Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Connecting Families and Kids to Nature in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area

Established in 2000, the Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC) works to protect the rural landscape and quality of life in southwestern Wisconsin including the protection of farms, forests, grasslands, wetlands, soils and the natural beauty of the region.

In just two years since joining DALC as the sole part-time executive director, David Clutter has ushered this land trust into a period of growth.  Following the recent hire of DALC’s third staff person, their new land protection associate, this organization is tackling some exciting new initiatives.

A New Project Brings Family Together
DALC’s most recent project involved the protection of Barbara Smith’s 58-acre property. Barb’s land (which includes beautiful and unique remnant prairie and oak savanna) is bridging the gap between the generations and providing her family with shared experiences that bring  them closer together.  In July of this year Barb and her family chose to permanently protect the parcel, while keeping it on the tax rolls so that it can be passed along to the next generation.

Connecting Kids With Nature
DALC recently kicked off a new project that focuses on creating positive and joyful outdoor experiences for kids ages 6-11. They based this program on research that shows kids are becoming more and more disconnected from the natural world and are unlikely to share a passion for the land and conservation. The Explorers program gets kids into nature, having fun, and hopefully finding that sense of wonder many of us felt as children . . . and still do as adults. If you have questions and/or know of someone with a child that could benefit from this experience, please feel free to contact the staff at Driftless.

To learn more or support this great organization, consult the Driftless Area Land Conservancy’s website.

Floating Bridge Opens Up Marsh for Visitors at Guckenberg-Sturm Preserve

Last week, the Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust held a dedication ceremony to open a floating platform in their 48 acre Guckenberg-Sturm Preserve. The Preserve is situated along the west shore of Little Lake Butte des Morts and bordered on the north by Mud Creek at the point of its convergence with the Fox River as it travels northeast into Lake Michigan’s largest bay, Green Bay. This new platform will allow Fox City residents and visitors to venture into the marsh all the way from the upper flood plain to the water’s edge. The ability of the platform to float makes this area accessible from March through May when the annual spring floods come in as well as at other times when the water level is lower.

This wetland is home to a variety of wildlife. In the fall one can see thousands of Canadian Geese coming and going as well as otters gliding through the waters. In the summer one might see hundreds of ducks or handfuls of White Pelicans in the water. This area has always been an important preserve, and now people can really explore and experience what this 48 acres has to offer.

Not only is the Guckenberg-Sturm Preserve a beautiful scenescape, it is also an important area for health reasons as well. In a 2005 Clean Water Testing Report, it was concluded that this “marsh is a healthy, highly functioning filter for the Fox Valley’s soil and water cycle”. Because the Fox River Valley is one of Wisconsin’s most urbanized and industrialized areas, it is important that this wetland maintain its health in addition to its beauty.

Photo Credit: Northeast WI Land Trust

You can visit this beautiful spot!  Find out more at Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust’s website.

Kettle Moraine Land Trust Earns National Accreditation

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission announced last week that 23 new land trusts around the nation have earned the accreditation seal, with one Wisconsin land trust among them.

Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT) has become just the fifth Wisconsin land trust to earn this coveted recognition!  A Land Trust Excellence & Advancement Program participant, KMLT joins Bayfield Regional Conservancy, Caledonia Conservancy, Kinnickinnic River Land Trust, and Mississippi Valley Conservancy.  The Nature Conservancy, which works internationally and has a very active Wisconsin Chapter, was also awarded accreditation last week.

President Jerry Petersen with KMLT’s Accreditation Files

Why is this a big deal?  The accreditation seal is truly a mark of distinction for land trusts because it recognizes that they have met strict national standards for excellence, upholding the public trust and ensuring that conservation efforts are permanent.

Sue Heffron, a board member for the KMLT, expresses how important achieving accreditation is: “We learned that the steps to protecting and preserving land are not trivial, and must be done correctly. By achieving the seal of excellence through national land trust accreditation, we embrace the serious work of permanently preserving important lands in our community.” Operating with nonprofit excellence is increasingly important as Kettle Moraine Land Trust increases its pace of conservation work in Walworth County.

Congratulations on this supreme achievement!

A (Cleaner) River Runs Through It

There are countless benefits to land preservation and conservation; the hard work our member land trusts do every day. Examples of these benefits are often hidden from view or difficult to demonstrate. Fortunately, sometimes they are obvious and elegant. It rained heavily in Green Lake County during the afternoon of May 3rd. Bur Zeratsky, president of Green Lake Conservancy (GLC), was on the east end of the lake when he noticed two remarkably distinct streams of water flowing side-by-side from the Silver Creek estuary to drain into the lake. The north side stream was clear and clean-looking. The south stream was brown, muddy, and loaded with runoff silt.

Clear and a silty streams come together to drain into Green Lake

That murky stream largely stemmed from Dakin Creek, which flows through farming operations that include tillage into or very near the stream bank. The “clean” stream came from Silver Creek which flows through several GLC-protected properties that use better farming practices.

A stark example of effects of land use practices on water quality

Bur admits he had a bit of an ‘A-ha!’ moment.  As part of their mission, GLC is dedicated to land conservation that improves water quality and is also working to consider the greater community impact in the Green Lake watershed. To meet this end, GLC wanted a bigger, better tool belt, so to speak.

GLC decided to apply to Gathering Waters Conservancy for customized LEAP services to help professionalize their organization. Over the past two years Gathering Waters conducted a guided assessment using land trust standards and practices, developed an implementation plan to address the recommendations from the assessment, and determined a targeted goal for improving board member communication and record-keeping through development of an online database. As a result, LEAP is helping GLC conform to best practices for the land trust industry and assisting them with meeting their broader goals.

According to Bur, “While my observations would have occurred regardless, my ability to explore action to address the underlying concerns is greatly enhanced due to Gathering Waters’ expertise and generous support. Thanks for all the ongoing support as the Green Lake Conservancy ‘grows up.’”

 To see Bur Zeratsky’s narrated video of the water flowing under the bridge from Silver Creek inlet into Green Lake, please click here.

Land Trusts and the Conservation Congress

On May 10th, Shawn Graff from the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust and Eric Forward from the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust joined GWC’s Government Relations Director, Mike Carlson, for a presentation at the Wisconsin Conservation Congress’ Annual Convention in Manitowoc.  The title of the session was “Reaching Beyond the Traditional Network” and focused on both statewide and local perspectives on how land trusts and the sporting community can work together on projects ranging from land acquisition and habitat restoration to public policy and education.

The Conservation Congress’ Vice-Chair Larry Bonde invited GWC and the land trusts to the convention, and we really appreciate being included in the program.  We’re looking forward to continued work with the Conservation Congress and others in the sporting community in the future.

It was really impressive to hear about several collaborations already happening between land trusts and groups like Ducks Unlimited, the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, and Pheasants Forever.  Shawn and Eric described several examples where their land trusts have come together with the sportsmen and women and other partners to accomplish shared conservation goals.