DNR Approves Long Planned Stewardship Land Purchases, Despite Debate

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) board has voted to buy land or conservation easements on about 11,000 acres in Wisconsin.

The purchase comes amidst calls by the state GOP to downsize Wisconsin’s land preservation Stewardship program.

The DNR stresses that the land deals approved by the Natural Resources Board Wednesday have been in the works for up to several years, long before Republicans now on the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee recommended big cuts in the stewardship program. The largest of the new agreements is for a 9,000 acre easement in Adams County that will allow sustainable forestry and public recreation, as well as more protection for two endangered species.

DNR Real Estate Manager Doug Haag says the central Wisconsin site is farther south than most of the state’s protected large bloc industrial forest land.

“You know: close to Madison, close to Milwaukee. People can drive there within a day and use it. Also close to Wisconsin Rapids and some of our central Wisconsin population base as well. It’s played a role in public park recreation for a long time, and it will continue to do so under this easement.”

Federal money is paying for most of the forest easement, but $1.8 million is from state Stewardship funds. DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp says all the new Stewardship deals – which also include projects in northern and southern counties – are good: “We wouldn’t bring them forward if we didn’t think so.”

Stepp won’t say if Governor Walker will try to restore some of the Stewardship bonding authority that the finance committee wants to axe. Stepp simply says there could still be changes to lots of the state budget.