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.