The Fall 2024 issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine highlighted partnerships between the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local land trusts aimed at protecting the state’s high-quality waters. This collaboration is pivotal to the DNR’s Healthy Watersheds, High-Quality Waters initiative, which focuses on safeguarding healthy water bodies and their surrounding watersheds.
Key to the success of this initiative are collaborations with local organizations, particularly land trusts. These community-based nonprofits play a crucial role in preserving land while balancing conservation with future land use. Land trusts not only protect valuable natural areas but also provide public access for recreation, education, and community enjoyment, fostering a deeper connection between residents and their natural surroundings.
Land trusts use different strategies for protecting watersheds, one of which involves buying land or accepting donations to manage as nature preserves or conservation areas. Mike Carlson, Gathering Waters Executive Director, points to the Pelican River Forest project as a prime example of this approach. Through the sale of a conservation easement, 70,000 acres in northern Wisconsin, including 68 miles of streams, have been permanently protected.
“This easement is not just protecting a lot of land, it’s protecting some of the most important waters and watersheds in the whole state,” said Carlson.
Conservation easements allow landowners to keep ownership while ensuring the land is protected for future generations. Northwoods Land Trust is a great example of this method; having protected over 15,000 acres and 83 miles of shoreline across seven counties, primarily through the use of conservation easements.
“The majority of land in Wisconsin is private, so private land conservation is essential if we’re going to protect our waters and natural resources,” stressed Northwoods Land Trust Executive Director Ted Anchor.
Conservation easements are made possible by individual landowners like Jim and Kate Weinert, who recently donated 222 forested acres in the Spider Lake watershed to Landmark Conservancy. Inspired by their neighbors’ similar conservation efforts, the Weinerts are now part of the community stewardship ripple effect.
“To be able to protect this land and the surrounding waters is something we’re so proud to be doing,” said Jim Weinert. “We’re hopeful more people will do the same while these amazing resources can still be protected.”
Featured image by Dave Hoefler, 2019.
