As Ozaukee County celebrates decades of conservation work, the grant program behind much of it has expired
TMJ4 reports on how Ozaukee County officials are now leaning on federal funds and private fundraising to keep parks and restoration projects moving forward.
News from Team Knowles Nelson: July 14
A recap of recent site visits, media coverage, and two chances to connect in person this month.
Wisconsin conservation fund expires after 30 years
WBAY covers Knowles-Nelson’s expiration after more than 30 years of conserving and maintaining land across Wisconsin, from state forests to neighborhood parks.
Conservation group prepares for life after Knowles-Nelson
With Knowles-Nelson expired, the Door County Land Trust is seeking private donors to complete a 338-acre conservation purchase near the Gardner Swamp Wildlife Area that would have relied on state matching funds.
Southwest Wisconsin impacted by expiration of Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
The Telegraph Herald examines how Knowles-Nelson’s expiration is hitting southwest Wisconsin, with groups like Driftless Area Land Conservancy and local governments already feeling the impact.
Kellner Fen Natural Area expands amid Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program end
The Door County Land Trust expanded Kellner Fen Natural Area by 149 acres just as Knowles-Nelson expired, with the organization turning to local donors to fill the gap left by the loss of state matching funds.
Lawmakers’ failure to re-authorize Knowles-Nelson is shameful | Letter
A Greenfield resident’s letter to the editor in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calls Knowles-Nelson’s expiration shameful and urges every state legislator to return to work until funding is restored.
How a Small Town Budget Crisis Killed the Knowles-Nelson Conservation Fund
The Northwoods Ledger traces how a local tax dispute in a town of 300 people helped derail Knowles-Nelson reauthorization, leaving trail grants, park projects, and land acquisitions across Oneida, Vilas, and Lincoln counties without a funding source.
Charles Carlin on funding for Wisconsin’s state parks system
In a PBS Wisconsin interview, Gathering Waters’ Charlie Carlin puts Knowles-Nelson’s expiration in national context, noting that Wisconsin now ranks last in state park investment while neighboring states are accelerating their conservation spending.
Visiting Hartman Prairie with Senator Wall
Baird Creek Preservation Foundation hosted Senator Jamie Wall for a tour of Hartman Prairie to talk about what the Knowles-Nelson lapse means for land protection.
