Partnerships are at the heart of conservation. This week, we’re celebrating some good news: a special conservation win made possible by the joint forces of organizations, landowners, supporters, and public agencies. 

Groundswell Conservancy and Ducks Unlimited have permanently protected nearly 2,000 acres along the Lower Sugar River in Rock County (see map link). This is the largest land protection project in Groundswell’s 43-year history. It’s also a significant conservation win for southern Wisconsin. View the press release here.

The remarkable property includes more than two miles of Sugar River frontage and a sweeping landscape of wetlands, floodplain forests, prairies, and other habitats. This land will forever support ducks, fish, pollinators, and countless other wildlife. It will also support countless hikes, paddling adventures, fishing expeditions, and more. A conservation win benefits us all. 

“As a local land trust, we’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with an international organization in Ducks Unlimited to protect this very significant resource for southern Wisconsin,” said Groundswell Executive Director Heidi Habeger. 

In time, the land is expected to be transferred to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The property will be managed as part of the Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area. In the meantime, the land is immediately open for public recreation, including hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing, and wildlife viewing. 

Nearly 2,000 acres of land along the Lower Sugar River, which is now protected and is expected to become part of Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area in Rock County. Photo by Logan Killam, Vyberant

“Acquiring this property is a huge win for wildlife and outdoor recreation,” said Jason Cotter, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife biologist who manages the Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area. “Public access lands are limited in this part of the state, despite nearly 2 million people living within an hour’s drive. This achievement was only possible because of strong partnerships and a shared commitment to protecting these natural resources.” 

This is the fourth Avon Bottoms land protection project for Groundswell. Thanks to the conservation vision of several landowners, we’ve worked together to permanently protect 2,600 acres of wetlands, stream corridors, and more in this region. View more details and see these projects on a map by typing Avon Bottoms in the search field on this page.

Projects like this don’t happen overnight. They start with a willing landowner and take years of planning, strong partnerships, generous donors, and public investment. This landmark project was made possible thanks to the following:

• a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program grant administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• generous private donors
• support from conservation partners, including the National Wild Turkey Federation and Pheasants Forever

We’re grateful to all of them for making this vision a reality.  

We especially want to thank two anonymous donors, Willi Van Haren, and Cate & John Harrington for their gifts toward this project. 

One source of funding deserves special attention. Before the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program expired on June 30, Groundswell helped secure a Knowles-Nelson grant for this project. Without that grant, this project would not have happened; the property would remain privately held. It’s a powerful reminder that the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is an investment in conservation, recreation, and our future. We hope the Legislature and the next governor will restore funding to this critical program. 

Together, we’ve protected one of southern Wisconsin’s largest remaining floodplain landscapes. That means cleaner water, healthier wetlands, reduced flood risk, and a stronger wildlife corridor that will benefit both people and nature for generations. 

Whether you’ve contributed, volunteered, attended an event, collaborated in some way, or simply shared our work with others, you’re part of moments like this. You’re helping protect the places that make southern Wisconsin special—forever. To give in support of local conservation, visit our Donate page. 

Today, we’re celebrating a milestone. Tomorrow, we’ll get back to work protecting special places. 

With our fiscal year ending on June 30th, we at Groundswell Conservancy are reflecting on a major milestone—and we have so much to be grateful for.

Last month, we shared news of a landmark partnership between Groundswell, Dane County, and the Ho-Chunk Nation. Together, we’re protecting 165 acres of vital land along the Yahara River in the Town of Dunn. Thanks to Dane County’s approved funding to purchase the Herro property, this land will officially be returned to the stewardship of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

The community’s response has been inspiring. Since the announcement, news outlets across the state have highlighted the story, shining a spotlight on this unique landscape and the teamwork that’s making it happen.

We’re grateful to share a few of these stories with you:

• PBS Wisconsin’s Here & Now featured the project in its June 19 episode, including interviews with project partners and footage from the property.
• The Capital Times published a thoughtful piece on why this landscape matters and the years of collaboration that helped bring the project to this point.
• WORT Community Radio spoke with Groundswell’s executive director about the conservation effort and the importance of protecting places like this as development pressures continue to grow.

This coverage highlights a truth we hear from supporters like you every day: People care deeply about protecting southern Wisconsin’s unique lands, waters, and history.

Projects of this scale don’t happen overnight. They require patience, trust, and a shared commitment. We’re incredibly proud to partner with Dane County, the Ho-Chunk Nation, and many others to bring this vision to life.

As our fiscal year comes to a close, there’s still time to make a difference for conservation where you live. When you donate to Groundswell, you aren’t just protecting southern Wisconsin’s vital lands and waters—you’re helping us seize urgent opportunities to bring people and nature together.

Thank you for being part of this work. We couldn’t do it without you.

Map highlighting Herro property and other conservation properties in the Town of Dunn region

We’ve reached a major milestone in our joint effort with Dane County to permanently protect an exceptional landscape along the Yahara River.

On Thursday May 14, the Dane County Board approved funding to acquire the extraordinary 165-acre property in the Town of Dunn. This is a significant step toward returning culturally important ancestral lands to the care of the Ho-Chunk Nation while ensuring protection forever. This exciting news was featured in the May 17 Wisconsin State Journal (subscription is required to view the full article) and on WORT Community Radio 89.9 FM on May 20.

For nearly a decade, we have worked alongside the Herro family, Dane County, and the Ho-Chunk Nation to bring this vision to life. Trust, patience, and deep collaboration brought us here, from early archaeological reviews to site visits with Ho-Chunk legislators.

Supporters like you make it possible for Groundswell to play a role in rare and extraordinary efforts like this one.

Before taking to the water, partners gather beside a dugout canoe to experience the property from along the Yahara River. Pictured from L to R: Back row: Vic Villacruz of Mundo Esperanza, Tony Abate of Groundswell Conservancy, Jessie Conaway of the Ho-Chunk Nation. Front row: Bill Quackenbush of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Heidi Habeger of Groundswell Conservancy, landowners Susanna and Stuart Herro, Chris James retired from Dane County, and Danielle Benden and Ernie Boszhardt with Driftless Pathways.

Local leaders have also shown strong support. Town of Dunn Chair Steve Greb noted, “Residents of the county, especially those nearby in the Town of Dunn and Village of McFarland, will benefit for generations to come.”

A Rare Landscape Worth Protecting
The Herro property is a true crown jewel within the Lower Mud Lake Natural Resource Area. Its vital wetlands, tallgrass prairies, and oak woodlands provide a safe sanctuary for local wildlife. With a mile of shoreline along the Yahara River and Lower Mud Lake, the land plays a critical role in protecting water quality across the entire Yahara watershed.

The property also holds an extraordinary concentration of archaeological and cultural features, including rare burial mounds and historic village sites that reflect generations of Ho-Chunk history. As the Madison metro area continues to expand, the opportunity to protect such vulnerable ancestral land is exceedingly rare.

We are deeply honored that the Ho-Chunk Nation recognized Groundswell Conservancy’s leadership in helping protect this property and elevate its ecological and cultural importance.

“We have a responsibility to care for this land and create opportunities for people to understand its cultural value.”

— Mąąšųsga | Jon Greendeer, President of the Ho-Chunk Nation

What Happens Next
Before the land is officially transferred to the Ho-Chunk Nation, Dane County will place a permanent conservation easement on it. Groundswell Conservancy will co-hold this easement with the County, ensuring these vital protections remain in place forever.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect a landscape where natural beauty and deep human history meet. We look forward to sharing more updates with you in the months ahead as this project moves forward.

As always, we are so grateful for your continued support for conservation where you live.

When I joined Groundswell nearly six years ago, I had a vision for how we would provide equitable access to farmland beyond renting land to farmers. We would help create a pathway to ownership by making farmland more affordable.

Today, I’m excited to share that this vision has become a reality with the closing of our first farmland ownership project and will set the stage for many more in the coming years!

Landowner E Makar

In December 2020, landowner E Makar reached out to me and expressed their interest in transitioning Elizabeth Rock Farms—a 21-acre property in the Town of Verona—to a farmer who would take care of it. As a conservation-minded person, they wanted to ensure their family legacy lives on.

I was only two months in with Groundswell at that time. I remember telling E that I had a vision, but it may not come to fruition for a few more years. E and I stayed in touch (or as much as we were able to because they were busy with medical school and post-graduate residency while I relentlessly created a plan).

In 2022, I was ready to put the ideas into action. I reached out to Alison Volk with American Farmland Trust (AFT) for help. She had completed a farmland access project in Minnesota using the “Buy-Protect-Sell” land ownership model. AFT would help Groundswell acquire the farm and protect it with an agricultural conservation easement. AFT has an amazing Buy-Protect-Sell program to “bridge the gap between retiring and aspiring landowners to keep land in agriculture.” AFT was the perfect partner to collaborate with.

What is Buy-Protect-Sell? Sometimes abbreviated as BPS, Buy-Protect-Sell is a strategy land trusts use to make a piece of land more affordable. We purchase agricultural land, protect it with a conservation easement, and sell it to an emerging farmer. With this strategy, we can sometimes reduce the price of buying farmland by up to 60%. If BPS interests you, read more about it here.

New landowner and farmer Adam D’ Angelo

Adam D’Angelo’s love for trees started at a young age in New Jersey, where his family had a Christmas tree farm. He always knew he wanted to be a farmer, but he couldn’t afford to buy farmland in Wisconsin. He searched for options to buy land for the past decade but never succeeded.

“It was so hard to buy farmland because of how expensive it is. I started to contact everyone and every organization helping farmers access farmland,” Adam said. Eventually, he worked with Bonnie Warndahl from Renewing the Countryside’s (RTC) Farmland Access Navigator Team and applied to buy Elizabeth Rock Farms.

On his newly acquired farm, Adam will be growing fruit trees, including paw paw, persimmons, honeyberries, sour cherries, and hazelnuts.

Our first pilot project wouldn’t have been successful without the right team players.

We appreciate how much work Alison Volk and AFT have contributed to the project. The land protection process requires determination, resilience, and patience to get to the finish line.

We would like to thank the following partners for believing in us, and in our creative solution to farmland access and succession. They play a critical role in funding our equitable farmland access work:

• Schlecht Family Foundation
• Nimick Forbesway Foundation
• Racine Dominican Mission and Forward Community Investments

We’re grateful to our partners who provided support, expertise, and feedback for finding the farm’s new owner:

• Renewing the Countryside
• Compeer Financial
• Universities of Wisconsin Food Finance Institute

Dane County’s Land and Water Resources Department put the finishing touches on the project by funding the difference between the purchase agreement price and the agricultural resale value of the land. “Dane County is proud to partner in the permanent protection of this farmland and to work alongside American Farmland Trust and Groundswell Conservancy to bring this innovative Buy-Protect-Sell project to life,” said County Executive Melissa Agard. “This effort supports retiring farmers, creates opportunity for the next generation, and ensures this land will remain in agriculture for years to come.”

Together, we provided E an option to pass on their family legacy, helped Adam buy farmland at an affordable price, and protected 21 acres of productive farmland forever this winter.

Partnerships, faith in a creative solution, and taking some risk (when there may be unknowns) make all the difference.

We look forward to sharing our next farmland access project with you soon!

Yours in conservation,

Yimmuaj Yang
Community Director

One of the best parts about working as Groundswell’s Easement Stewardship Manager is meeting people who value conservation. Vern and Vicki Treinen are two such people. Today, I want to share the great work the Treinens are doing on their farm in DeForest.

We have some exciting news! At the end of August, we worked with the City of Sun Prairie and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to expand opportunities for people to enjoy nature at Patrick Marsh, a wetland gem in Dane County. What does this mean exactly? Patrick Marsh is now a City of Sun Prairie conservancy park.

“Working in collaboration with partners to protect special places like Patrick Marsh is at the heart of Groundswell’s mission,” said Heidi Habeger, Groundswell’s Executive Director. “We are thrilled to see this change of ownership, knowing there will be so many benefits for wildlife and for people who enjoy getting out at Patrick Marsh.”

Win-win-win agreements are complex. In fact, this may be our most intricate conservation project to date.

Partners in the Patrick Marsh land swap at the project closing. Pictured from L to R: Cindy Burtley, Kristin Grissom, Kathleen McDaniel, Arrin Linzenmeyer, Debbie Fox-Schroeder, Heidi Habeger, Pat Wende, Mark Smith, Aaron Oppenheimer, Brandon Mann, Tony Abate, Jeanne Behrend, Dan Fields

Here’s how this “land swap” agreement unfolded: First, WDNR transferred ownership of Patrick Marsh to us. Next, Groundswell protected the land with a conservation easement. Finally, we gave Patrick Marsh to the City of Sun Prairie. This ensures that Patrick Marsh will remain protected forever.

In exchange for Patrick Marsh, Groundswell transferred 10 properties to the WDNR. These are properties we have protected over the years, with the intention of transferring ownership to the WDNR. These properties are located at places like Cherokee Marsh and Lodi Marsh, and along Black Earth Creek and the Lower Wisconsin Riverway.

The properties we transferred expand WDNR ownership and oversight at several state wildlife and fisheries areas. This transfer means the land can be managed more efficiently for both plants and animals in these special places. Another win!

What does it mean that Patrick Marsh is now a Sun Prairie conservancy park?  Sun Prairie will manage trails, signage, and other infrastructure to ensure public accessibility and enjoyment. Groundswell and its volunteers will continue to manage the wildlife habitat for future generations. Together, we’ll connect even more people with nature.

Sun Prairie Mayor Steve Stocker called Patrick Marsh becoming part of the city “a landmark moment for Sun Prairie.”

Partners in the Patrick Marsh land swap, including the Mayor of Sun Prairie, Steve Stocker

“Securing more than 200 acres for this conservation park not only preserves the habitat and natural beauty for generations to come, but it demonstrates what strong partnerships can achieve,” he said. “We are grateful to Groundswell Conservancy for its dedication to protecting this land, and we are looking forward to working together to provide a thriving habitat and natural park space for our community.”

Groundswell has been protecting and managing land at Patrick Marsh since 2004. Over the years, we’ve worked to connect the community to this special place — including the nearby middle school — through nature hikes, volunteering, and other events.

In the short term, you won’t notice much change at Patrick Marsh. It will remain a beautiful place to hike, birdwatch, admire wildflowers, and walk your dog. In the years to come, Groundswell is excited to partner with the City of Sun Prairie to make park improvements. In the meantime, Groundswell will focus on improving habitat for plants and wildlife.

Notably, Groundswell will continue to own and manage lands on the south side of Brazee Lake. If you access Patrick Marsh via Schuster Road, or Derby or Town Hall Drive, you’ll continue to enter via Groundswell land.

Groundswell is excited for the next chapter in protecting this special place!

Good news! Last week, Groundswell Conservancy and the Town of Dunn partnered with landowner Dana Sperloen to protect 46 acres of land near Lake Kegonsa forever. This special place is located right on Highway 51, just south of the lake.

Heidi Habeger, Groundswell’s Executive Director, shared why this is so meaningful: “We’re not only conserving 46 acres; it’s about protecting some of the country’s best soil and connecting it to other protected lands,” she said. “By doing so, we help sustain farming, preserve our rural character, and leave a legacy for future generations.”

Nearly all of Dana’s property is classified as prime farmland soils, the most productive soils for growing food. These soils are an important resource that we must protect for future generations. However, they are a resource that’s under threat from increasing development, especially in Dane County, which is growing faster than any other county in Wisconsin.

Dana recognized the importance of protecting the land, sharing: “It’s an honor to be a part of preserving the land and to be recognized for it.”

Kelsey Shepperd, who helped lead the project as the Town of Dunn’s Land Use and Conservation Manager, had this to say:

“This property is located along a well-traveled highway and will be a visible reminder of the Town of Dunn’s commitment to preserving open space to many passers-by,” she said. “This easement is also located less than a mile, as the crow flies, from both US Fish and Wildlife Service and Wisconsin DNR lands. Expanding protected lands supports the town’s goal of creating connected corridors of conservation. Many thanks to NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service), Groundswell Conservancy, our townspeople, and Dana Sperloen for their commitment to preserving this property in perpetuity.”

Groundswell Conservancy, along with Alan and Carol Breed and the Town of Dunn, has made sure that over 48 acres of land near the Yahara River will be protected forever. The Breeds have lived on this land, located on East Dyreson Road, for 25 years.

“Given our deep ties to the town and the land’s rich cultural and natural resources, protecting it with a conservation easement was a meaningful step in our mission to advance local conservation,” Groundswell Conservancy Executive Director Heidi Habeger said. “We protect special places forever, and the land Alan and Carol have carefully stewarded over the years is special in more ways than one.”

The Yahara River curves around the north and east parts of the land for about half a mile as it flows south from Mud Lake. People paddling on the river will always be able to enjoy the view of this peaceful and natural area.

Even though the land isn’t open to the public, it can still be seen from the Dane County-managed Lower Mud Lake Natural Resources Area, which is right across the river. Alan and Carol Breed will continue to own and farm the land. The soil on the property is great for farming. This land becomes even more important as more rural places are developed.

“This property is remarkable for its agricultural, environmental, and historical significance,” said Ben Kollenbroich, who helped lead the project as the Town of Dunn’s former land use and conservation manager. “Thank you so much to the Breeds for wanting to ensure that this property is protected forever, and that it remains an agricultural, environmental, and historical treasure.”

The money to protect the land came from several sources: the Dane County Conservation Fund, the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the Town of Dunn’s Purchase of Development Rights Program, and Groundswell’s supporters. Since 1997, Groundswell and the Town of Dunn have worked together to protect more than 4,000 acres of farmland and wetlands.

Groundswell Conservancy has protected its first land in the Town of Dunkirk, closing on the Brehm Quayle Conservation Easement that will permanently preserve 175 acres of wetlands and rewilded farm fields near the Yahara River.

The property’s owner, Joyce Brehm, joined Groundswell staff and Town of Dunkirk officials for the closing on Friday, March 28. With the final signatures, her property along County Highway N south of Stoughton will remain a special place forever and contribute towards Groundswell’s goals of acting on the climate crisis.

The land is bordered by wetlands. They act as a natural sponge that protects local communities from flooding. One of the ways Wisconsin is feeling the effects of climate change is through heavier rainfall.

The state has already lost nearly half of its wetlands. This easement will ensure those on Brehm’s property remain intact for the betterment of people living nearby and the animals, plants and insects that make the wetlands their home.

The easement will also protect the Yahara River which flows just across Highway N from Brehm’s property. The runoff drains into the river, carrying whatever pollutants it might pick up along the way.

This conservation easement is the first of many in a partnership between Groundswell and the Town of Dunkirk. In the coming months and years, Groundswell and the town expect to close on many more easements in the community as part of long-term land use planning in the area.

Funding for this easement acquisition came from the Town of Dunkirk, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant, and supporters of Groundswell Conservancy. Special thanks to Ducks Unlimited for their partnership in obtaining the NAWCA grant.

On Friday, February 21^st, Groundswell purchased 42 acres of wetlands at Lake Mills Wildlife Area in Jefferson County. Now this land will be protected forever. That means more wildlife habitat, better water quality, and increased public access.

Land protection can take a long time. It also takes commitment from a willing landowner to see it through. Marilyn Trieloff and her sons worked with Groundswell for many years to protect this land for future generations. But as David Trieloff, one of Marilyn’s sons, put it, “We knew this was the right thing to do.” We’re thrilled by their decision to leave a land legacy!

The Trieloff Addition to Lake Mills Wildlife Area offers habitat for waterfowl, amphibians, and other wildlife. This habitat is important for migratory species that depend on large, protected areas for feeding and resting during their long journeys.

Protecting this land is great for public access, too. Partnering with Groundswell, Jefferson County plans to redevelop a small part of the property. These plans include putting in better parking facilities and easier access for canoeing and kayaking. When that’s done, the property will be donated to Wisconsin DNR and opened for outdoor activities like paddling, hiking, hunting, and fishing.

As we gathered around the table at the closing last Friday, David Trieloff shared some memories about the property. For example, David’s grandmother used to spend countless hours fishing on the lake in their small boat. When it was time to go home, David’s grandfather called her in by ringing a large bell mounted on a pole along the shore. Now David is grateful that others will have the chance to create their own memories there.

Groundswell would like to thank the Jefferson County Parks Department, Lake Mills Area Community Foundation, Wisconsin DNR, Ducks Unlimited, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their important financial and practical help on this project.

This conservation success wouldn’t have happened without Groundswell’s supporters. Thank you for helping protect this special place forever!