Governor Doyle today announced more than 21,000 acres of new land across the state will be protected for public use. The Governor made the announcement as part of the 20th anniversary observance of the state’s Stewardship Fund.

“These are incredible additions to public lands in Wisconsin that will now be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come,” Governor Doyle said. “Our natural resources are one of the main reasons why people want to live, vacation, and move here. They are why businesses want to locate here. The future of our state is closely linked to our natural resources, and I’m pleased that, today, that future is looking even brighter with the protection of these lands.”

Since taking office Governor Doyle has protected more than 275,000 acres of land across Wisconsin through the Stewardship Program and reauthorized the program through 2019. Since 1990, the Stewardship Fund has preserved over 580,000 acres of public land.

Under Governor Doyle’s leadership the state has had the greatest environmental accomplishments in decades. In the last seven and a half years, major strides have been made to reduce mercury in our air and water and major water major water clean up efforts such as the Kinnickinnic and Fox River projects have moved forward. Wisconsin is now a world leader in forest certification, ensuring sustainable management to protect our forests for future generations. Governor Doyle also led the passage of the Great Lakes Compact.

At events around the state today, Governor Doyle announced purchases in Waukesha, Wausau, Forest County and Washburn and Douglas counties. Following are details on each purchase:

Vernon Wildlife Area, Waukesha

The State of Wisconsin is purchasing 128.9 acres of land from Fred Lathers, LLC for $773,000 as the second part of a two-phase transaction. The state has now acquired a total of 188.9 acres, with all but the northeast 10 acres within the project boundary of the Vernon Wildlife Area.

This was one of the last remaining large blocks of land available in the project boundary and is a critical parcel for the project as development continues to surround the marsh and effectively envelop the property. The parcel has significant upland buffer which will provide nesting habitat for waterfowl, grassland birds, and reptiles, including the state threatened Blanding’s turtle.

This parcel adds to the public land that is in high demand in southeastern Wisconsin. The additional land base will provide more recreation, and increase overall satisfaction of users on state land

State Forest Legacy Easement, Forest County

The State has reached agreement with Wisconsin Timber Associates to purchase State Forest Legacy easements on 18,438 acres of high quality hemlock-hardwood forestland in Forest County. Combined with adjoining national forests and county forestland, this easement contributes to several hundred thousand acres of intact forest containing Wisconsin’s two highest ranked wild lakes (Wabikon and Riley) and headwaters to Green Bay on Lake Michigan.

This purchase combines the best of environmental protection and economic development. The public will have access to over 18,000 acres and the land will continue to be a working, sustainably managed, forest that provides family supporting jobs.

The easement requires future, sustainable management of an uneven age forest, ideal for wildlife habitat benefits. All nature-based outdoor recreation activities are provided for the public under the easement terms. The transaction is complemented by The Nature Conservancy and U.S. Forest Service National Forest System’s concurrent acquisition of the company’s land on Wabikon and Riley Lakes for addition to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Rib Mountain, Wausau

The Governor is providing Stewardship funding to construct a public entrance and visitor stations at Rib Mountain State park and improve the roadway leading up to the park. The project will:

Reconstruct 1.5 miles of Park Road from Violet Lane on the east side of the park to the proposed PEVS development area;
Construct year-round water, and sanitary sewer service connected to the Rib Mountain Water and Sanitary District;
Install an eight- to 10-foot wide multi-use path alongside Park Road separated where possible; and
Construct a 1,390 square foot public entrance and visitor station.

Totogatic Wild Rivers Project, Washburn and Douglas Counties

The State is also purchasing 2,114 acres from The Conservation Fund to establish the Totogatic Wild Rivers Project. The acreage encompasses seven different blocks of land and provides about six miles of two-bank frontage for the Totogatic. In addition, the tract provides 1/2 mile of two-bank frontage on the Five Mile Creek and 1/4 mile frontage on Minong Flowage. In 2009, the Governor signed into law legislation designating the nearly 70 miles of the Totogatic River as a “Wild River”. This designation results in the preservation and protection of one of the truly last great pristine areas of the State of Wisconsin. The Conservation Fund recently acquired the property from Wausau Paper Company. Funding for the acquisition is made possible by the state’s Stewardship Fund and a $400,000 grant from the Doris Duke Foundation.