On Earth Day, it feels worth remembering: Gaylord Nelson – the same Wisconsin governor whose name is on the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program – founded Earth Day in 1970 because he believed protecting land and water was a Wisconsin value, not a partisan one. More than 50 years later, that’s still what we’re fighting for.
The legislative session ended without a Knowles-Nelson reauthorization. We know that’s hard to sit with. But the work is far from over, and the coming months matter more than ever.
Save the Date: April 30 Organizing Call
Join us on Thursday, April 30 at 10:00 am via Zoom for our next Team Knowles-Nelson policy update and organizing call. Whether you’re a longtime advocate or just starting to get involved, we’ll talk about how to keep the momentum going and stay engaged through the summer.
What Knowles-Nelson Is Still Getting Done
Even as the Stewardship Program’s future hangs in the balance, it’s still working for Wisconsin. Here are a few recent wins we wanted to make sure you knew about:
Devil’s Lake State Park just got bigger. The DNR recently finalized the acquisition of 100 acres inside Devil’s Lake State Park. This land was nearly lost to private development, and the expansion will extend hiking trails and open up new overlooks, including along the Ice Age Trail.
Whittlesey Creek’s headwaters are protected. Landmark Conservancy permanently protected 160 acres of forest and wetlands on the Bayfield Peninsula, transferring the land to Bayfield County for public use. The property includes over a half mile of stream frontage and springs that feed into the creek’s coaster brook trout fishery.
A new wildlife corridor has taken shape in Vilas County. A 200-acre addition to the Upper Wisconsin River Legacy Forest near the Wisconsin River headwaters connects to Vilas County Forest land and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, expanding public access for hikers, hunters, and anglers.
Visiting the Driftless with Rep. Todd Novak
Earlier today, we joined Driftless Area Land Conservancy for a site visit with Rep. Todd Novak (AD 51) at DALC’s Big Rock Preserve, a property acquired with Knowles-Nelson funds. We talked about what the Stewardship Program has made possible in the Driftless region and the ongoing push for reauthorization, including last-minute negotiations between the legislature and the governor’s office.
Big Rock Preserve has a Trout Unlimited-restored stream running through it and bald eagles nesting on site. Knowles-Nelson made this special place possible, and places like this are why we keep fighting for it.
Pictured: Charlie Carlin (Gathering Waters), Rep. Todd Novak, Jen Filipiak and Laura Daniels (DALC).
Nominations Open For Governor’s Outdoor Industry Awards
Nominations for the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation’s 2026 Governor’s Outdoor Industry Awards are due Monday, April 27. The awards celebrate the people, businesses, organizations, and places making Wisconsin’s outdoors more accessible, vibrant, and economically strong.
Seven categories are open for nominations:
Destination of the Year
Outdoor Business of the Year
Trailblazer of the Year
Tandem Award for Collaboration
Big Tent Award for reaching new and diverse audiences
First Ascent Award for Innovation
Rising Star Award for individuals new to the field within the last five years
