The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has been on hold since June, but the work to get it back on track hasn’t stopped. We’re continuing to meet with candidates and legislators across the state to talk about Knowles-Nelson, share what we’re hearing from land trusts and communities, and make the case for restoring the program as soon as possible.
Recently, we sat down with Rep. Alex Dallman and the team at Green Lake Conservancy. Green Lake Conservancy is an all-volunteer land trust that has been protecting special places around Green Lake since 1995. One of their most well-known projects is Tichora Conservancy, a former camp on the shores of Green Lake that they protected in 2018 with help from local supporters and a Knowles-Nelson matching grant.
Our conversation looked ahead to the 2027 legislative session. We talked about what a successful session could look like and how legislators on both sides of the aisle can work together as champions for conservation. Knowles-Nelson is named for a Republican governor and a Democratic governor, and for more than three decades it has had support from both parties. That shared commitment is a big part of what has made it so successful.
Knowles-Nelson has always worked best as something Wisconsinites share. Conversations like this one are how we get back there, and we’re grateful to Rep. Dallman and Green Lake Conservancy for taking the time to talk with us!
