DOCSLIB.ORG

Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program Informational Paper 61 Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau January, 2019 Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program Prepared by Eric Hepler Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau One East Main, Suite 301 Madison, WI 53703 http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Public Ownership of Land in Wisconsin ...................................................................................................... 1 Program Funding and General Requirements ............................................................................................... 3 Stewardship Subprograms ............................................................................................................................ 5 Land Acquisition Subprogram .............................................................................................................. 6 Property Development and Local Assistance Subprogram ................................................................ 12 Recreational Boating Aids Subprogram ............................................................................................. 15 Grants to Nonprofit Conservation Organizations ....................................................................................... 15 Public Access on Stewardship Lands .......................................................................................................... 17 Public Information ................................................................................................................................ 21 Motorized Access ................................................................................................................................. 23 Stewardship Earmarks ................................................................................................................................ 23 Stewardship Program Oversight ................................................................................................................. 24 Stewardship Debt Service ........................................................................................................................... 25 Appraised Versus Assessed Value .............................................................................................................. 26 Aids in Lieu of Property Taxes ................................................................................................................... 28 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program ............................................................................................ 30 Appendices .................................................................................................................................................. 31 Appendix I Stewardship Program Expenditures: Fiscal Year 2008-09 through 2017-18 ............. 32 Appendix II DNR Land Acquisitions Under Stewardship by County as of June 30, 2018 ......................................................................................................... 33 Appendix III Stewardship Program Transactions Over $5 Million, or Where Acres Acquired Exceeded 10,000 ................................................................................... 35 Appendix IV Land Acquisition and Local Assistance Grant Programs Activity Under Stewardship by County as of June 30, 2018 ............................................... 38 Appendix V Stewardship Major Development Projects ................................................................. 40 Appendix VI Stewardship Public Access Requirements.................................................................. 43 Appendix VII Statutory Stewardship Program Earmarks by Biennium ............................................ 44 Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program Wisconsin's first stewardship program was cre- bonding below the statutorily enumerated total. ated in 1989 Wisconsin Act 31 to acquire land to expand nature-based outdoor recreational oppor- tunities and protect environmentally sensitive ar- eas. Under the program, the Department of Natu- Public Ownership of Land in Wisconsin ral Resources (DNR) acquires land and provides grants to local units of government and nonprofit organizations for land acquisition and property de- Public conservation land throughout the state velopment activities through the issuance of 20- of Wisconsin is estimated to include approxi- year tax exempt bonds. These bonds are backed by mately 5.9 million acres, or approximately 17% of the full faith and credit of the state, and the gov- the state's land area. The federal government holds ernment is required to use its taxing power if nec- approximately 1.8 million (30.3%) of the publicly essary to repay the debt. Annual debt service pay- held acres, the majority of which consists of na- ments for principal and interest on stewardship tional forests. Lands in county ownership, primar- bonds are primarily funded from general purpose ily county parks and forests, are estimated at ap- revenues (GPR), with a portion paid from the seg- proximately 2.5 million acres (42%) of the total. regated (SEG) conservation fund. Table 2 summarizes public land ownership by governmental source. Since its creation in 1989, the program has been reauthorized twice—in 1999 Wisconsin Act The Department utilizes both fee title and con- 9 and in 2007 Wisconsin Act 20. The current au- servation easement purchases in its land acquisi- thorization runs through 2019-2020. The statutory tion activities. Fee title acquisition involves out- allocations under each reauthorization of the pro- right purchases of land by the state, allowing for gram are shown in Table 1. complete DNR management of the parcel. The Department makes aids in lieu of property tax pay- The current program, as amended by 2015 ments to local governments on the land it owns. Wisconsin Act 55, has an annual bonding author- These aids are discussed in a separate section. ity of $33.25 million through 2019-20. Beginning in fiscal year 2011-12, any remaining unobligated As of June 30, 2018, DNR owned approxi- bonding authority may not be used in future fiscal mately 1.5 million acres of land, which represents years, effectively reducing authorized program approximately 4.3% of the state's land area. The Table 1: Stewardship Allocations by Purpose Stewardship Reauthorized % of Original 2000 Stewardship Total Total DNR Land Acquisition $150,800,000 $345,250,000 $175,500,000 $671,550,000 52.5% State Property Development* 35,000,000 65,000,000 74,750,000 174,750,000 13.7 Local Assistance (Grants) ** 45,200,000 155,250,000 199,000,000 399,450,000 31.3 Recreational Boating 0 6,500,000 25,000,000 31,500,000 2.5 Total Allocations $231,000,000 $572,000,000 $474,250,000 $1,277,250,000 100.0% *Including Kettle Moraine Springs Fish Hatchery renovations authorization of $7 million in fiscal year 2014-15. **Including grants to nonprofit conservation organizations (NCOs) and grants for county forests from the land acquisition subprogram. 1 (a) improving land management, (b) decreasing Table 2: Estimated Public Conservation Land Ownership in Wisconsin forest fragmentation, or (c) increasing public ac- cess to the land. Further, the Act specified that the % of total acreage of public lands managed by the Land Owner Acres State Land Board may not exceed the total acreage of public County 2,503,600 7.20% Federal 1,790,600 5.15 lands managed by the Board on May 3, 2006. As State of Wisconsin of that date, BCPL managed 77,845 acres. 2005 DNR 1,506,800 4.34 Act 352 also required DNR to set aside $2,000,000 BCPL 75,800 0.22 in each fiscal year from the stewardship program KVR 7,400 0.02 School Forests to acquire land for BCPL. The requirement has (K-12/Higher Ed.) 27,700 0.08 been eliminated, although DNR may use its gen- Total 5,911,900 17.01% eral land acquisition authority for such purposes. State Land Area 34,758,500 Federal ownership includes land owned in fee title and managed by the federal government, in- DNR ownership represents approximately 25.4% cluding lands of the four major federal land man- of the publicly owned conservation land in Wis- agement agencies: the U.S. Forest Service, Na- consin. Additional state-held acreage in Table 2 is tional Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- shown for the Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR), vice, and Bureau of Land Management. The fed- which includes 7,400 state-owned acres in Vernon eral figures in the table exclude lands managed by County and is open to outdoor recreation. the Department of Defense. It should also be noted that the acres listed as federal land exclude land As of December, 2018, the Board of Commis- used for such purposes as office buildings or pris- sioners of Public Lands (BCPL) owned approxi- ons. In addition, approximately 645,000 acres of mately 75,800 acres of school trust lands, bringing tribal lands in the state are not included in the ta- total state-owned conservation land to approxi- ble. Although these lands are held in trust, they are mately 1.59 million acres. BCPL’s lands are in- not "owned" by the federal government and public cluded in this total as they are open to the public access may be restricted on these lands. for hunting, fishing, trapping and other nature- based outdoor recreational activities. It should be School and community forests, which are noted that BCPL has
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 2011-13 W Isconsin State B Udget
    Comparative Summary of Budget Recommendations 2011 2011 Act 32 - Budget State Wisconsin 13 (Including Budget Adjustment Acts 10, 13, and 27) Volume I Legislative Fiscal Bureau August, 2011 2011-13 WISCONSIN STATE BUDGET Comparative Summary of Budget Provisions Enacted as 2011 Act 32 (Including Budget Adjustment Acts 10, 13, and 27) Volume I LEGISLATIVE FISCAL BUREAU ONE EAST MAIN, SUITE 301 MADISON, WISCONSIN LEGISLATIVE FISCAL BUREAU Administrative/Clerical Health Services and Insurance Bob Lang, Director Charles Morgan, Program Supervisor Vicki Holten, Administrative Assistant Sam Austin Liz Eck Grant Cummings Sandy Swain Eric Peck Education and Building Program Natural Resources and Commerce Dave Loppnow, Program Supervisor Daryl Hinz, Program Supervisor Russ Kava Kendra Bonderud Layla Merrifield Paul Ferguson Emily Pope Erin Probst Al Runde Ron Shanovich General Government and Justice Tax Policy, Children and Families, and Workforce Development Jere Bauer, Program Supervisor Chris Carmichael Rob Reinhardt, Program Supervisor Paul Onsager Sean Moran Darin Renner Rick Olin Art Zimmerman Ron Shanovich Sandy Swain Kim Swissdorf Transportation and Property Tax Relief Fred Ammerman, Program Supervisor Jon Dyck Rick Olin Al Runde INTRODUCTION This two-volume document, prepared by Wisconsin's Legislative Fiscal Bureau, is the final edition of the cumulative summary of executive and legislative action on the 2011-13 Wisconsin state biennial budget. The budget was signed by the Governor as 2011 Wisconsin Act 32 on June 26, and published on June 30, 2011. This document describes each of the provisions of Act 32, including all fiscal and policy modifications recommended by the Governor, Joint Committee on Finance, and Legislature. The document is organized into eight sections, the first of which contains a Table of Contents, History of the 2011-13 Budget, Brief Chronology of the 2011-13 Budget, Key to Abbreviations, and a User's Guide.
    [Show full text]
  • SPRING 2021 PRESIDENT’S Report
    R Falls BARRON LANGLADE Medford W Antigo Merrill i s ST. CROIX TAYLOR c Marinette DUNN CHIPPEWA o n Chippewa s MENOMINEE Wausau i n DOOR Falls OCONTO Menomonie MARATHON Sturgeon R River R Bay Eau Claire i Falls v CLARK e SHAWANO PIERCE r EAU CLAIRE G R E E N B A Y PEPIN Marshfield Green Algoma Stevens Bay Point SPRING 2021 PRESIDENT’S report to spring, a season for enjoying nature and the glorious opportunity to be outside. Whether you walk your dog, head out with your family for a day hike, or have taken on the challenge to become a Thousand-Miler, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail provides a chance for quiet recreation while following the glacial history of Wisconsin. During the past year, a record number of people discovered the Ice Age Trail, and the Alliance membership has grown to over 4,500 strong. I’m excited to welcome all our new members. 2020 was an excellent year for land acquisition, thanks to the many who contributed to our land protection efforts. It was also the year where despite COVID-19 limitations, 1,499 volunteers donated 53,297 hours as dedicated caretakers of our wonderful Trail. While some of our efforts understandably shifted during the pandemic, we continued to maintain our high standards of providing a top-notch Trail experience for all. In 2021, I invite you to join one of the small-scale Trailbuilding and Stewardship Reconnect projects available through your chapter or one of the large-scale events scheduled later this summer.
    [Show full text]
  • Trail Challenge Resources
    Trail Challenge Resources Hiking Trails Ice Age National Scenic Trail ● Description​: One of only 11 National Scenic Trails in the country, the Ice Age Trail is a 1,000-mile footpath contained entirely within the state of Wisconsin. Ancient glaciers carved the path through rocky terrain, open prairies, and peaceful forests. Now, day hikers, backpackers, and outdoor lovers of all ages rely on the Ice Age Trail for a place to unplug, relax, and enjoy nature. ● Ice Age Trail Map Interstate State Park, MN ● Description:​ Interstate State Park includes 293 acres of diverse plant and wildlife habitat. Established in 1895, it protects a unique landscape and globally-significant geology along the St. Croix River. A billion years ago, dark basalt rock formed here when lava escaped from a crack in the earth’s crust. Just ten thousand years ago, water from melting glaciers carved the river valley. Within that water were fast moving whirlpools of swirling sand and water that wore deep holes into the rock. Today, we call these holes glacial potholes and you can see more than 400 examples of them at the park. ● Interstate State Park Map Interstate State Park, WI ● Description:​ ​There are more than nine miles of hiking trails in the park that offer the walker many opportunities for viewing the spectacular scenery and natural attributes of the park. Guided hikes are offered during the summer months. Pets must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter at all times. Hiking trails vary in difficulty. Not all trails are surfaced; use caution on steep bluffs and near cliffs.
    [Show full text]
  • Ice Age National Scenic Trail Corridor Plan and Environmental Assessment for Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin
    ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL CORRIDOR PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR KEWAUNEE, MANITOWOC, AND SHEBOYGAN COUNTIES, WISCONSIN Prepared by: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Parks and Recreation National Park Service, Ice Age National Scenic Trail Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission December, 2006 PUB-PR-811 06 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board Gerald M. O'Brien, Chair Christine L. Thomas, Vice Chair Jonathan P. Ela, Secretary David Clausen Howard D. Poulson John W. Welter Stephen D. Willett Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921 This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio tape, etc.) upon request. Please call 608-266-2181 for more information. You can also view this document on the Web at: http://www.dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/ PUB-PR-811 06 Acknowledgments Lake Michigan Corridor Ice Age Trail Planning Team Lake Michigan Corridor Ice Age Trail Core Planning Team Jean Potter Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Jeffrey Prey WDNR - Bureau of Parks and Recreation Mark Walter Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission Pam Schuler National Park Service Mary Tano National Park Service Lake Michigan Corridor Ice Age Trail Guidance / Oversight Team Peter Biermeier WDNR - Bureau of Parks and Recreation Tom Gilbert National Park Service Andrew Hanson Ice Age Park and Trail Foundation Mapping and GIS Services Tony Bellovary Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission Ice Age National Scenic Trail Corridor Plan and Environmental Assessment For Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin December, 2006 Table of Contents Executive Summary – Ice Age National Scenic Trail Corridor Plan For Kewaunee, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan Counties, Wisconsin.............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix N Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests
    Final Environmental Impact Statement Appendix N Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests Existing and Proposed RNAs, SMAs, and OG Final Environmental Impact Statement Appendix N Existing and Proposed RNAs, SMAs, and Old Growth & Natural Features Complexes (MA 8 E, F, and G) RNA = Research Natural Area SMA = Special Management Area OG = Old Growth & Natural Features Complex * = prior designation Ecological Reference Areas Chequamegon Table N-1. Chequamegon Ecological Reference Areas Proposed /Existing Site ID# Name District Designation LTA Ka04 (A) A501 Moquah Natural Area Washburn RNA* LTA Ka07 (B) B501 Barksdale Ponds (Bladder Lake) Washburn SMA B502 Wanoka Lake Esker Washburn OG LTA Ja03 C C501 Long Lake Branch Washburn OG C502 Upper Fourmile Creek Washburn OG LTA Jc05 (D) D201 Dry Lake Great Divide RNA D202 Iron Creek Great Divide OG D203 Hell Hole Creek Great Divide OG D204 Minnow Creek Great Divide OG D401 Bullhead Lake Great Divide OG D402 Eighteen Mile Creek Great Divide SMA D501 Lake Owen Washburn SMA N-1 Appendix N Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests Proposed /Existing Site ID# Name District Designation D503 Drummund Woods Washburn SMA D504 Perch & Lund Lakes Washburn OG LTA Jc06 (E) E401 Southwest Lake Great Divide OG E501 Camp Nine Pines Washburn RNA & SMA E502 Pigeon Lake Washburn OG E503 Bearsdale Creek & Hyatt Spring Washburn RNA & SMA E504 Northeast Lake Washburn SMA E505 Mountain Lake Washburn OG E506 Lake Sixteen Washburn OG LTA Jc13 (F) F501 Big Brook Washburn OG F502 Tars Creek Washburn OG LTA Jc07 (G) G401 Rock Lake Great Divide SMA G402 Namekagon Fen Great Divide RNA G403 203 Hemlock Swamp Great Divide OG G404 Burke Tract Great Divide RNA & SMA LTA Jb01 (H) H201 St.
    [Show full text]
  • 2009 STATE PARKS GUIDE.Qxd
    VISITOR INFORMATION GUIDE FOR STATE PARKS, FORESTS, RECREATION AREAS & TRAILS Welcome to the Wisconsin State Park System! As Governor, I am proud to welcome you to enjoy one of Wisconsin’s most cherished resources – our state parks. Wisconsin is blessed with a wealth of great natural beauty. It is a legacy we hold dear, and a call for stewardship we take very seriously. WelcomeWelcome In caring for this land, we follow in the footsteps of some of nation’s greatest environmentalists; leaders like Aldo Leopold and Gaylord Nelson – original thinkers with a unique connection to this very special place. For more than a century, the Wisconsin State Park System has preserved our state’s natural treasures. We have balanced public access with resource conservation and created a state park system that today stands as one of the finest in the nation. We’re proud of our state parks and trails, and the many possibilities they offer families who want to camp, hike, swim or simply relax in Wisconsin’s great outdoors. Each year more than 14 million people visit one of our state park properties. With 99 locations statewide, fun and inspiration are always close at hand. I invite you to enjoy our great parks – and join us in caring for the land. Sincerely, Jim Doyle Governor Front cover photo: Devil’s Lake State Park, by RJ & Linda Miller. Inside spread photo: Governor Dodge State Park, by RJ & Linda Miller. 3 Fees, Reservations & General Information Campers on first-come, first-served sites must Interpretive Programs Admission Stickers occupy the site the first night and any Many Wisconsin state parks have nature centers A vehicle admission sticker is required on consecutive nights for which they have with exhibits on the natural and cultural history all motor vehicles stopping in state park registered.
    [Show full text]
  • September 2019 2018 September September
    IN US FO O R J SEPTEMBER 20182019 HaveFunOutside.org Madison, WI 5370 WI Madison, 3 211 S. Paterson Street, Suite 270 Suite Street, Paterson S. 211 Permit No. 669 No. Permit for land trusts land for Madison, WI Madison, alliance alliance ’s wisconsin PAID U.S. Postage U.S. Nonprofit Org. Nonprofit Wisconsin Land Trust Days have something for everyone! Explore your favorite places or discover somewhere new. Enter to win a YETI® cooler! The more events you attend, the better your chances! Visit HaveFunOutside.org for more information. Presented by: Sponsored by: wisconsin’s alliance OF WISCONSIN for land trusts LTD-Postcard-Calendar_2019.indd 1 8/14/19 9:13 AM The Fungus Among Us: Fall Fungi and Mushroom Hike September 20 Bailey’s Harbor Host: Door County Land Trust Each year, Door County’s forests transform into a wonderland of fall color. For those who know where to look, the appearance of ephemeral and mysterious fungi can be a spectacle rivaling the famed spring wildflower bloom. Explore Door County Land Trust’s Kangaroo Lake Nature Preserve during this 1.5-mile stroll. Caledonia Conservancy 25th Anniversary and Fall Picnic September 21 Mount Pleasant SEPTEMBER EVENTS Host: Caledonia Conservancy The Caledonia Conservancy’s 25th Anniversary and Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts Wisconsin Land Trust Days picnic celebration will take and its member land trusts are pleased to invite you place on a picturesque horse farm in Mount Pleasant. to join us at the following events. Come join us as we celebrate with food and friends, wisconsin’s alliance for land trusts Find more details at HaveFunOutside.org hayrides, pony rides, pie auctions, and more.
    [Show full text]
  • LANGLADE COUNTY ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL USER INFORMATION (As of September 3, 2018)
    LANGLADE COUNTY ICE AGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL USER INFORMATION (As of September 3, 2018) CAMPING Most of the trail in Langlade County passes through lands owned and managed by the Langlade County Forestry and Recreation Department. Primitive camping is allowed up to two weeks on the trail through county forest lands. Two primitive fee lakeside campsites along the trail through Veterans Memorial Park are available. Each campsite includes a fire ring, picnic table, privy and can accommodate up to four tents. Four rustic cabins are also available for shelter at the county park. Reservations for the fee sites and cabins can be made by calling 715-623-6214. Other than these camp sites, the county does not require any advance notice or registration but it would be advisable to let the coordinator or county forestry office know of your trip plans. Hikers camping along the trail are encouraged to minimize any disturbance of the natural setting and take out their garbage. Areas in which camping is not allowed are the non-county owned lands on the Kettlebowl segment south of the ski hill at Wisconsin 52, the Lumbercamp segment through the Peters Marsh State Wildlife Area, the privately owned land on the Highland Lakes segment and a stretch of the Parrish Hills segment south and north of the Prairie River ford to just east of County Trunk Highway H. Camping is not allowed at Spychalla Lodge on the Old Railroad segment and the ATV shelter north of 5 Cent Road on the Parrish Hills segment. These county facilities are open to day use only.
    [Show full text]
  • St. Croix Falls Segment (Atlas Map 1F)
    St. Croix Falls Segment (Atlas Map 1f) SNAPSHOT 9.0 miles: Ice Age Trail Western Terminus in Interstate State Park to River Rd. 4 3 This segment highlights several outstanding features including the Dalles of St. Croix River, Hospital Esker and Riegel Park. At the Ice Age Trail Interpretive Center At Interstate SP (incl. Interpretive and other locations in Interstate State Center), Polk County Tourist Info Cen- Park, the Polk County Tourist Informa- ter, Lions Park and St. Croix National tion Center and Lion’s Park. Scenic Riverway campsite. From the St. Croix River, Big Rock By law, dogs must be leashed in Inter- Creek and other small streams/creeks. state SP. Do not take water from Mindy Creek as other uses Portions overlap with bike trails, ski the headwaters are at the site of an old landfill. trails, roads and sidewalks. Interstate SP and the Wert Family Walk-in campsite (BP20) in the St. Nature Center have a network of trails; Croix National Scenic Riverway. Riegel Park and Ray Zillmer Park each Interstate SP campgrounds and camp- have white-blazed loop trails. grounds in nearby Taylors Falls, MN other uses Portions of this segment may be suit- (see Area Services). able for those using wheelchairs or similar devices. At Interstate SP and Lion’s Park. TRAIL ACCESS AND PARKING Ice Age Trail Western Terminus in Interstate State Park: From St. Croix Falls at the intersection of USH-8 and STH-35, take STH-35 south for 0.6 mi. Turn right, enter Interstate State Park and follow park roads 1.5 mi to the Pothole Trail parking area.
    [Show full text]
  • Northern Paddle and Trail Calendar, 2018
    Northern Paddle and Trail Calendar, 2018 Difficulty scale .… Please RSVP the trip leader - They need to know to expect you, and there 1 a breeze : 5 tough may Be changes in the details of the outing that you need to know. Sat, May 5 Paddle – 1st section of Bearskin Creek 10:00 a, 2 hr Canoe the Bearskin Creek from Goodnow to Harshaw. County Hwy K west of Rhinelander about 12 miles. Right(north) on Lakewood Rd about 4 miles to the 2nd creek Difficulty 2 crossing in Goodnow. RSVP Guy 715-360-4325(cell), 715-282-5810(land) Fri, May 11 Hike – Giant Pine Trail 10:00 a Hike the 2-mile Giant Pine Trail, a longtime favorite, south of Three Lakes. Enjoy seeing hundreds of year old pines in early spring, before the bugs are out. We will also stop at the Shelp Lake Parking area and do a visit by Difficulty 3 car and short walk to one of the oldest glacial boulders in the state. Ice cream or lunch afterward optional. Meet at the Three Lakes Winery parking lot on the corner of Hwy 45 and A by 10:00 am to drive together to NR2414 (Giant Pine Rd) off of Scott Lake Rd. Contact by May 10th. RSVP Lynn and Larry 715-546-2131(land), 715-499-1683(cell) Minimum 4 participants Wed, May 16 Paddle – Pelican River 5:00 p Little George Creek Culvert on Hwy P about 7 miles east of Rhinelander at 5:00 pm. Some class 1 & 2 rapids. Take out at River Bend Road about 7:00 pm depending on water level.
    [Show full text]
  • New Year Edition
    New Year 2008 President’s Corner Inside this Issue Superintendent’s Notes p. 2 “The north wind doth blow, Treasurer’s Report p. 2 and we shall have snow…” Naturalist’s News p. 3 Anonymous Friends of WI State Parks p. 5 Calendar of Events p. 5 News from Glacier’s Gifts p. 6 I n December it seemed we were headed for an “old fashioned winter” but as I write this we are in the midst of a January thaw. I think it’s best that we not let our guard down and do re- member that this is Wisconsin and it is the winter season. (Editor’s note: Sage advice. That was last week—followed by a January freeze!) With that thought in mind I want to remind you of our annual Candlelight Night at Inter- state Park on February 9th. Hopefully there will be snow for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. This is a family event with horse drawn wagon rides, bon fires and re- freshments—and it will go on with or without snow. Check out the enclosed flyer. Come and bring family and friends. A warm welcome to Dwight Ferguson who has volunteered to join the board of directors. Dwight is a long time friend and neighbor of Interstate Park. Thank you Dwight for being will- ing to serve and for bringing our board to full strength. Currently the board is in the process of reviewing the Friends of Interstate Park by-laws. See you at Candlelight Night. Angie Lundin FIP President Page 2 Friends of Interstate Park Board of Directors President Superintendent’s Notes Angie Lundin Vice President Hi to all Friends of Interstate Park.
    [Show full text]
  • Wisconsin's Stewardship Fund Enters a New
    Stewardship Fund Insert:Layout 1 9/12/08 10:59 AM Page 1 ENTERS A NEW ERA Connecting people with nature “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children.” • John James Audubon Stewardship Fund Insert:Layout 1 9/12/08 10:59 AM Page 2 tion from 2010 to 2020. The Legislature agreed, and the annual bonding authority was increased from $60 million to $86 million for this 10-year period, which reauthorizes the fund while maintaining its historical purchasing power. Proponents of the increase argued successfully that as land prices increase so too must funding for Stewardship. Land value appreciation in the last 30 years has put even solidly middle class families in the position of facing financial difficulty in passing land down to the next generation. Estate and property taxes Why are often more than the heirs can afford. Lifestyle changes also warrant Stewardship reauthorization. Recreation continues to lead to organized activities rather than inde- pendent outdoor exploration. Stewardship is the primary tool that we Stewardship? have to purchase land close to population centers and provide oppor- tunities for kids from all backgrounds to just “be” in nature. Building on a major conservation achievement. Stewardship also provides public access to recreational areas in a time when farmland and forest fragmentation have created less oppor- Natasha Kassulke tunity for public access as compared to the past when large private hold- ings were open for exploration and recreation. n Wisconsin our natural resources are not just a part of our landscape, “The greatest threat to the vast majority of species that have called they’re a part of who we are.
    [Show full text]