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On November 1, 2018, in partnership with Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, Groundswell purchased 31 acres to add to Ferry Bluff State Natural Area on the Wisconsin River south of Sauk City.

Ferry Bluff hosts one of only three winter concentrations of bald eagles in all of Wisconsin. It is a pivotal base for the eagles, a place where they can forage under ice-free conditions near the dam at Prairie du Sac when the rest of the Wisconsin River is frozen. And is the only communal roost on the lower portion of the river that has gained significant long-term protection. The addition of 31 acres of forest and field will keep development away from one of the current eagle roosts, as well as protect potential roost areas. Our joint campaign with the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council to purchase the property brought out many stories about how much people love Ferry Bluff – one of our board members even got engaged there.

Thank you to the individuals, businesses, and foundations listed below who contributed half of the funds to purchase the property.

The other half of the funds came from the State of Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. We hope to donate the property to the state as an addition to the state natural area. Thanks to everyone who made this conservation success possible.


$15,000 – $10,000
John C. Bock Foundation
Craig Culver
Ferry Bluff Eagle Council
Marie Fraser bequest
Roma Lenehan

$5,000 – $1,000
Alliant Energy Foundation
Brende Hofer & Denis Steadman
Kay Hutchison
Dave Jenkins and Mary Pertzborn
Bill & Donna Knickmeyer
The Wisconsin Land Fund of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation

Up to $999
Anonymous
Norman and Lucie Arendt
Kenneth & Tiffany Baumgardt
Matt Blessing and Susan Maloney
Leroy and Glennda Brandt
Kristin Clausen
CMS Business Services, Inc.
Debbie and Gregory Cooke
Lawrence Czosnek
Richard & Beverly Davidson
Gary & Lisa Davis
Ronald Depouw Jr.
Jan Dorner
Bill and Amy Dunlop
Edge Consulting, Inc.
Carroll & Marjorie Erlandson
Carol Fleishauer
Sara and Jonathan Giacalone
Mark Gnabasik
Government Policy Solutions
Michael Hedemark & Arlyne Johnson
Pam and Craig Heilman
James Hogan Jr.
Linda and Jeff Huttenburg
Barbara Irvin
Steven Koehler & Sandra Fuchs
Dr. Diana Kruse
Darlene & Amanda Lambert
Fred Lemm
Ken and Debby Levin
Joel and Pamela Lundgren
Joe Lusson and Aleen Tierney
Nancy McGill
Ronald & Sandy Opitz
Jim and Carole Peterson
Katherine Pientka
Chad and Lisa Pierick
Piggly Wiggly / Opal Foods #206
Richard and Mary Ann Reale
Peter Schlicht
Edwin Barclay Shultz
Schwartz Insurance
Shirley Shannon
Jeanne Staskowski
Richard Steeves
Tom Sullivan
Anita Temple
Gene & Sandy Unger
Village Family Dental Associates, S.C.
Gary and Nancy Walden
Weaver Sales of Sauk City
Robyn Weis
Fred and Karen Wollenburg
Levi & Janet Wood
Douglas & Donna Woodman
Lynda and Dick Wright
Beth Zelten
Larry and Patricia Ziemer