News & Events

NEWS

915-acres Protected in 2011!

I am very pleased to report that early this year we closed the last of eight (8) conservation easements for 2011. Linda Lynch donated a 30-acre conservation easement on her farm in Ridgeway, WI located along the Military Ridge State Trail and at the headwaters of Strutt Creek (a Class 1 Brown trout stream and Exceptional Resource Water). The pasture on this farm supports a small beef herd and serves as important buffer to Wisconsin DNR's Pine Relict State Natural Area. Linda's long-term goals include restoring this property to native prairie and oak savanna.

We are also very pleased to announce that a number of neighboring landowners, including Eliot and Barbara Protsch, Dale Moody, Russ and Nancy Moody, Dick and Bonnie Grossenbach and Jim Miller, donated conservation easements on six (6) important adjacent properties creating a core of 780-acres of permanently protected lands within the Lower Wisconsin River Blufflands. Located in northwest Iowa County’s Pulaski Township, near Avoca and Muscoda, these properties protect working lands, active springs, rugged ravines, secluded valleys, rare plants and animals, and continentally important “Driftless Area Features” such as oak woodlands, oak openings, native prairie remnants, and unique rock outcrops.

Speaking on behalf of the Dry Dog property owners, landowner Eliot Protsch said that they "have been contemplating entering into a conservation easement for our properties for a number of years in order to preserve the quality and sustainability of the land for our heirs and future generations to come. All of us are very pleased to have chosen to work with Driftless Area Land Conservancy to accomplish our objectives. We found the Staff and Board to be very responsive in assisting us with crafting easements that will ensure the priceless nature of our properties is forever preserved.”

Alliant Energy Foundation also served as an important conservation partner by providing support for the long-term monitoring and of the properties through their employee match program. “We are pleased to provide a gift of over $18,000 through the Alliant Energy Foundation Matching Gift program in support of this conservation easement gift from two of our Alliant Energy retirees,” said Julie Bauer, Executive Director – Alliant Energy Foundation.

And earlier this year The Malcolm Stack Foundation, Inc., led by their President Anne Connor, donated a conservation easement on 105-acres of Pine Relict and oak forests, rock outcrops, wetlands, and open grasslands. Lying adjacent to the 54-acre conservation easement that they donated to the Conservancy in 2003, this beautiful property is also directly adjacent to Wisconsin DNR's Ridgeway Pine Relict State Natural Area.

We'd like to thank all of our property owners and conservation partners for their commitment to our children and to all who value the function, beauty and wonder of nature. We'd also like to thank all of our supporters for the financial contributions that you've given this past year that have enabled the Conservancy to work with private landowners who care to make a difference. Not everyone has land to donate, but we all have a role in protecting this very special Driftless landscape. Thank you for your support and partnership.

EVENTS

We are putting together the 2012 calendar - come back soon too learn more!