Late in the 19th and early in the 20th century, the lands of northern Wisconsin were in upheaval. Timber companies had stripped over a million acres of trees and then abandoned the denuded landscape. A wave of farmers, many of them immigrants, tried to cultivate the land. Much of it was not suitable for many types of farming and the massive stumps posed a huge obstacle. Many of those farms were abandoned. Government stepped in. Northern Wisconsin's cherished public forests—the national, state, and county forests—resulted from government action. That was the first Golden Age of Public Lands in Wisconsin. Like many Golden Ages (the Golden Age of the Roman Empire, the Golden Age of the European empires) greed and suffering formed the foundation of the age. I think the legacy of Wisconsin's public lands is much more positive than the effects of some of those other epochs.

Wisconsin has the opportunity for a second Golden Age of Public Lands without the injustice and suffering. It will take some government action and gold and the efforts of folks like you and me.

Folks of my age are now planning their estates (if you don't have a will, please, please create one). Some have land they bought years ago for outdoor recreation and conservation. Many farmers are retiring and in some instances, their children choose not to farm the family lands. These landowners cherish land and preserved and improved wonderful natural resources. They now grapple with a key question: what to do with the land. A heartwarming number of these landowners want their wonderful natural resources cared for and the public to enjoy them. Accordingly, accredited land trusts throughout southern Wisconsin, including SoWBA, will tell you many want to sell or donate their lands for conservation. Already this has produced 1000s of acres of land with incredible conservation and public values being preserved and eventually opened for public enjoyment. A wild rice marsh on the Lower Wisconsin River, Big Rock Creek (including the Big Rock, which is jaw dropping), another stunner on the Lower Wisconsin, over 1000 acres in the Kickapoo watershed are just some of the treasures that come to mind. And there's SoWBA's acquisition of the Gunnulson property near Cambridge, a Bobolink heaven. The Executive Directors of those land trusts will tell you that such successes can be multiplied many times over if ... THE STATE LEGISLATURE RENEWS AND ADEQUATELY FUNDS THE KNOWLES-NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program (knowlesnelson.org)

The land trusts (the DNR too) need funds to purchase such lands and waters and the Stewardship Fund (KNSP) is the best and most reliable source of funds. It requires land trusts to raise 50% of the purchase and thus serves as a powerful incentive for citizens and foundations to contribute to land conservation.

The decision to renew KNSP should be as easy as falling off a log. Polling shows big majorities approve of KNSP and think it should continue—90% of Wisconsinites favor the Legislature keeping the program. KNSP purchases are met with widespread acclaim and gratitude* and public access is meaningful. Almost all KNS lands are open for birding, hunting, fishing, hiking, foraging, etc. However, prognostication has it that many Republicans want to abolish or substantially de-fund the program. I really don't know why any legislator would want to end such a popular and effective program. Maybe public debates on the floors of the State Senate and Assembly will reveal that. Meanwhile, we must persuade all the legislators of both parties to renew a robust Stewardship program.

See this link from Gathering Waters, the statewide organization of land trusts for contacting your legislators — as well as the letter at the bottom of this blog post. A bit of advice: many Republican legislators have a visceral opposition to anything Governor Evers proposes. I doubt that urging them to support the Governor's proposal of $100 million a year will help persuade them. Rather focus on the good that KNSP has done and will do and ask for enough annual funding for the program to be effective across the state. As lobbyists and legislators supporting KNSP work over the spring a funding figure will be developed. I hope it's $100 million, a wholly realistic figure. But if we remain alert and stay in touch with legislators, we shall support whatever amount emerges as the goal for this legislation.

The incredible opportunity that Wisconsin has to increase environmental protection, the conservation of land and water, and the public's enjoyment of these treasures will not last forever. Folks will finally sell and, if a land trust or the DNR cannot, someone else will buy. Please act now. Children, grandchildren, flora and fauna will bless your name—okay, that's an exaggeration but our grandkids will have more cool places to do cool stuff. And the plants and animals we love will have more secure and abundant futures.

Take care and stay warm,

Topf Wells, advocacy committee

P.S. Some of the fabulous land trusts in our area, besides SoWBA are Groundswell Conservancy, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, Green Rock Audubon Society, The Prairie Enthusiasts, and the Ice Age Trail Alliance. All have depended on KNS for vital purchases.

Dear friends,

State agencies have submitted their 2025-27 budget requests to the Department of Administration, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed a historic investment in protecting our state's land, water, wildlife, and way of life.

As part of their request, the DNR has called for a 10-year renewal of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, with annual funding of $100 million through 2036. This bold initiative would represent a $1 billion investment in Wisconsin's natural resources and mark a defining moment for conservation in our state.

In 2021, Governor Evers proposed funding Knowles-Nelson at $70 million annually for 10 years. However, the program was ultimately only authorized at $33 million per year for four years, and is now set to expire in 2026. Returning to a 10-year reauthorization would offer the stability and predictability needed for effective and strategic project planning.

The DNR's proposal is an early but important step forward. Governor Evers will be including more details about how funding will be allocated among subprograms and various conservation priorities in his executive budget in February. The legislature will then consider this as part of the state budget debate in the spring. If funding isn't renewed, Wisconsinites will lose the best program we have for protecting vulnerable landscapes, providing public access for outdoor recreation, and managing public lands.

All 2025-27 biennial budget agency requests can be viewed here.

We'll keep you updated as the budget process unfolds. In the meantime, consider creating a personalized postcard in support of Knowles-Nelson that we'll send to your legislators, or explore our advocacy toolkit filled with key information and resources.

Thank you for your continued dedication to preserving our state's natural heritage. Together, we're ensuring a bright future for conservation in Wisconsin.

-Charlie, Mike, Morgan, and all your advocates at Gathering Waters