We’re happy to share the good news that today, we purchased 38 acres of land along Black Earth Creek. The property includes 3/4s of a mile of shoreline on both sides of the creek and is adjacent to land owned by the Department of Natural Resources as part of the Black Earth Creek Fishery Area.
The landowners have been good stewards of this land for many years. This acquisition is the happy product of many years of work by Trout Unlimited, the DNR, and others to build a strong relationship with the landowners and their neighbors. Groundswell is fortunate that we were in the position to purchase the land when they were ready to sell. Groundswell will own and manage this property as part of the public conservation lands along the creek.
The Black Earth Creek valley is indeed a special place. As many people know, Black Earth Creek is a high-quality, Class I trout stream with a national reputation. The stream has been rated as one of the 100 best trout streams in the nation by Trout Unlimited and is recognized as one of the most productive wild brown trout streams in Wisconsin. Lands owned by the DNR and public fishing easements along creeks in the valley provide public access and protect important wildlife habitat.
Thanks to the conservation vision of many landowners, this is the 16th land protection project Groundswell has completed in the valley since 2001. In all we have worked together to permanently protect 1,116 acres of farmland, wetlands, stream corridors, and hiking trails in the valley.
Funding to purchase the property came from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, the Dane County Conservation Fund, and Groundswell’s Norm Anderson Conservation Opportunities Fund.
We’re happy to share the good news that today Groundswell purchased 35 acres of wetland and woods at the Becker Lake Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) in northern Columbia County.
Like our purchase of wetlands last week for the Anderson Waterfowl Production Area in southern Columbia County, this is a wonderful example of what conservation-minded landowners can do for our wildlife.
Becker Lake WPA is rich in wildlife, especially grassland birds. Grassland birds are among the most imperiled group of birds in the United States. Total populations have declined more than 40 percent since 1966.
Becker Lake was one of the study sites for BJ Byers, Groundswell’s Conservationist, as part of his 2017 master’s degree. BJ studied a variety of grassland birds and waterfowl inhabiting the WPA, including Eastern Meadowlark, Henslow’s Sparrow (Threatened in WI), Grasshopper Sparrow, Bobolink, Dickcissel, Savannah Sparrow, Blue-winged Teal, and Mallard.
Becker Lake is one of thirteen WPA’s in Columbia County. It covers 360 acres of wetland, grasslands, and woods. The WPA is managed by the Leopold Wetland Management District of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for breeding and migrating ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. WPAs also provide important habitat for deer, turkey, pheasants, and other wildlife. All the WPAs in Columbia County are open for hunting, fishing, and trapping (subject to applicable Federal and State laws) as well as wildlife observation, hiking, cross-country skiing, nature study, and photography. Groundswell will donate the property to the Fish and Wildlife Service for long-term ownership and management.
Funding to purchase the property came from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Ducks Unlimited, Madison Audubon, Pheasants Forever, and Groundswell supporters including donors to our Norman Anderson Conservation Opportunities Fund. Thanks to Ducks Unlimited for its role in securing the federal acquisition funds.
We’re happy to share the good news that today Groundswell purchased 20 acres of wetland and woods at Anderson Waterfowl Production Area in southern Columbia County.
We are grateful to the landowner for their willingness to conserve this last piece of their family’s farm. In recognition of the family’s legacy, we are calling this property the Midthun Addition to the Waterfowl Production Area (WPA).
Anderson is one of thirteen WPAs in Columbia County, spreading across 13,000 acres of land and water. They are managed by the Leopold Wetland Management District of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. WPAs are managed for breeding and migrating ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. They also provide important habitat for deer, turkey, pheasants, and other wildlife. All the WPAs in Columbia County are open for hunting, fishing, and trapping (subject to applicable Federal and State laws) as well as wildlife observation, hiking, cross-country skiing, nature study, and photography. Groundswell will donate the property to the Fish and Wildlife Service for long-term ownership and management.
Funding to purchase the property came from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Ducks Unlimited, Madison Audubon, Pheasants Forever, and Groundswell supporters. Thanks to Ducks Unlimited for its role in securing the federal acquisition funds.
The Paskas enjoyed their spot on the Wisconsin River for many years. At the closing, Pat told me that she and Ron always planned a conservation future for the property. “Shortly after we purchased the property, we were contacted by the DNR and asked if we were willing to sell. We assured our contact that we would be in touch when that day arrived because we liked the idea of it becoming permanently protected as part of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. Unfortunately, when the day arrived funds were not available and they were not in a position to accept it as a donation. Our realtor and friend, John Holbrook, approached Groundswell Conservancy and arranged for us to donate the property, and I understand that it will, at some point, be offered to the State. A happy ending!” And that in fact is Groundswell’s plan.
The Riverway is one of Wisconsin’s great conservation successes. It is a private/public partnership that protects the scenery, wildlife, and historical and archeological resources along 92 miles of the river from Prairie du Sac to Wyalusing State Park. The donation of this land by the Paskas adds another piece to the conservation jigsaw puzzle that is the Riverway.
Even when land is donated we incur transaction costs (title insurance, inspections for potential hazardous wastes, etc). When purchasing land, these costs are often covered by grants. The costs we incurred to accept this donation of land were paid out of our Norm Anderson Conservation Opportunities Fund. This fund was established in 2020 to help us capture conservation opportunities that are outside our budget. The fund is named in honor of Norm Anderson, our first president, who died in 2020. His leadership in the early 1980s provided our new land trust with credibility and opened the doors for success, like this one on the Wisconsin River.
We are happy to share the news that our on-going partnership with landowners and Dane County resulted today, November 20, 2020, in a new streambank and trail easement on Halfway Prairie Creek on the east side of the Village of Mazomanie.
This ten-acre easement has two purposes: streambank restoration and extension of a popular hike/bike trail. It adjoins the Wolf Run Trail that connects Mazomanie with Wisconsin Heights School.
Mazomanie is located near the bottom of the Black Earth Creek watershed and is especially vulnerable to flooding as our climate and land uses change. The community was very hard hit during the big flood two years ago next month. The easement allows the county to work with the landowner to restore more than 1,000 feet of Halfway Prairie Creek, reconnecting the creek to its floodplain and also improving fish habitat.
The Wolf Run Trail is part of an ambitious trail that will one day connect Madison and Middleton with Sauk City and Reedsburg, passing through Cross Plains, Black Earth, and Mazomanie. This easement is another link in the chain.
Wolf Run Trail volunteer, Jason Sromovsky, shot and produced this wonderful video of the Wolf Run Trail and the Black Earth Creek wetland corridor.
This is the second time that landowner Fred Wolf has protected land for the public good. As Fred put it, “I am just proud to be part of this work. It is in my family blood to do this. I saw an 80-year-old couple on the trail, with smiles on their faces. That is why I do this.”
Click here to watch a short video about the first Wolf Run Trail segment.
Mazomanie Village Administrator Peter Huebner described the importance of the easement to the Village. “This easement along Halfway Prairie Creek/Spring Valley Creek would be a great benefit for the Village of Mazomanie. The benefits are twofold: it would increase the creek’s effectiveness of holding back floodwaters, and the resulting trail would add to the enjoyment of those that already use our trails.”
Funding to purchase the easement came from the Dane County Conservation Fund and supporters of Groundswell.
On November 20, 2020, Groundswell and the Town of Dunn permanently protected 53 acres of farmland in the Town. In 23 years of partnership, we have protected 33 farms. Behind each of these farms is an individual or family who knows the value of land. Each of them have chosen to leave a legacy of land protection. Their legacies total more than 3,500 acres of prime farmland, woodlands, and wetlands. In November 2020, John Gefke left his legacy.
Thank you, John Gefke, for protecting your farm for future generations. We also thank the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for providing funding for this easement. Thank you to our supporters who make our work possible. Finally, thank you to the residents of the Town of Dunn. Your vision and financial support for this work is unmatched. The Rural Preservation Program is an outstanding success because of you.
Thanks to the conservation goals of Oscar and Norma Bjugstad, on March 27, 2020, we were able to place a conservation easement on 106 acres of high-quality farmland on the southeast side of Evansville Wildlife Area in Rock County. The easement permanently prevents development of the property, keeping it available for farming and open to the public for hunting at the adjacent wildlife area.
As Oscar and Norma put it, “We believe in preserving the farmland for future generations!” That sentiment runs in the family. Their son Brian already protected his adjacent farm with a permanent conservation easement.
A major funder of the conservation easement is the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Land Easement program. According to Kristin Westad, NRCS Easement Biologist, “The purpose of the ALE program is to help effective organizations like Groundswell Conservancy protect even more land. Groundswell brought USDA funds together with other contributions to protect soil, water and wildlife habitat. Meeting farm families like the Bjugstads is the highlight of my job.”
Other funding to purchase the easement came from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, the Rock River Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever, and supporters of Groundswell including the estate of Marie Fraser.
As the times and protocols call for, we purchased the easement by escrow, meaning that the Bjugstads and Jim Welsh were not physically in the room when the transaction occurred.
Jim’s message to the Groundswell community at the time was, “This is the last closing we expect to have for a few months, but that doesn’t mean our land protection efforts will stop. Staff will continue to lay the foundation for future conservation easements and acquisitions. In the meantime, I hope you can find your own good news by getting outside and enjoying the spring. The pasque flowers should be in bloom on the prairies shortly. I hope you stay well.”
“For many of us, water simply flows from a faucet, and we think little about it beyond this point of contact. We have lost a sense of respect for the wild river, for the complex workings of a wetland, for the intricate web of life that water supports.”
– Sandra Postel, Freshwater Conservationist and Author
On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Groundswell purchased 69 acres of wetlands south of McFarland in the Town of Dunn. Landowners Ken and Eileen Brost have understood and respected these wetlands for many years, and their commitment to conservation will leave a lasting legacy.
The property is adjacent to Lower Mud Lake State Fishery Area south of McFarland along Hwy. 51 and helps fill in the project boundary for Dane County’s Lower Mud Lake Natural Resource Area. Groundswell will manage the property consistent with the adjacent state land to increase public recreation opportunities and provide permanent habitat for ducks and other wildlife.
Funding to purchase the property came from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, Dane County Conservation Fund, Town of Dunn, and supporters of Groundswell.
As the times (COVID-19 pandemic) call for, we practiced social distancing at the closing. Only the bare minimum number of people participated.
Jim Welsh noted in the announcement, “My love of land and community remains strong. I know that we will we get through this troubling time together. I hope you stay well.”
On Friday, December 20, 2019, Groundswell purchased 5 acres of land near Cross Plains in the Black Earth Creek valley. This success is thanks to a conservation-minded family and strong community support for protecting the creek.
The property is adjacent to state-owned land on the east side of Cross Plains between Hwy. 14 and the railroad tracks. This acquisition helps fill-in the project boundaries for the DNR’s Black Earth Creek Fishery Area and Dane County’s Black Earth Creek Natural Resource Area. The land will be open to the public for outdoor recreation activities.
Best of all, this acquisition forever prevents the development of the property. A 2003 study by the University of Wisconsin estimated that 4.5% of the valley was already covered with impervious surfaces like pavement and rooftops. A generally accepted rule of thumb is that stream health begins to decline when impervious surface reaches 10% and becomes severely degraded when imperviousness exceeds 30 percent. I don’t know how much impervious surface is in the valley today, but is has surely increased since 2003.
Here is a map showing the nearly 1,000 acres of land Groundswell has permanently protected in the Black Earth Creek valley since 2003. Your support has made it possible to create public conservancy areas, trails, and public access along streams that feed into Black Earth Creek and place agricultural conservation easements that limit impervious surface. Each project gets us a little closer to completing the puzzle of conservation in the Black Earth Creek valley.
Funding to purchase the property came from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, Dane County Conservation Fund, Southern Wisconsin Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and supporters of Groundswell, including the estate of Marie Fraser.
As we learn more and more every day, every single piece of wetland we have left is worth protecting – the health of Madison’s chain of lakes depends on our wetlands. So I am happy to share with you that today we permanently protected 84 acres of wetlands along Six-Mile Creek on the northwest side of Waunakee. Six-Mile Creek flows north and west of Waunakee into Lake Mendota. We need wetlands, like the one we purchased today, to keep the water clean and reduce flooding.
The O’Malley family worked patiently with us for four years to protect their land. It has been in the family for three generations. Please check out the short video below to hear their story. When I first saw the property, I began to get a sense of their attachment to it. I feel lucky that they asked us to help them protect it.
Funding and other support to purchase the property came from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, Dane County Conservation Fund, North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Village of Waunakee, the Town of Westport, and supporters of Groundswell including the Estate of Marie Fraser. The Village of Waunakee will be the long-term owner of the property.
I hope you can join us for a celebration with the O’Malley’s later this month. It will be a nice chance to thank the family for what they did. We will send out an email with details in the next week.