In a significant move towards conservation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is nearing the acquisition of a conservation easement on nearly 1,800 acres in Langlade County. This effort promises to bolster timber production while enhancing the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
On Wednesday, the Natural Resources Board granted approval for the DNR to proceed with purchasing an easement from Braun Woodlands II, LLC and the Frederic H.T. Braun Grandchildren Irrevocable Trust. The acquisition, valued at $1.6 million, will be financed through a combination of state and federal funds, alongside a donation from the Ice Age Trail Alliance.
The funding for the easement primarily relies on approximately $1.3 million from a federal grant and the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship Program. Although the program expired in June due to legislative inaction, the DNR ensured these funds were allocated to the project before the program ended.
Ron Gropp, the DNR’s forest legacy program coordinator, highlighted the importance of the purchase to safeguard northern forest lands from development threats. “I think they just came to the conclusion on their own terms that now is the right time to protect this property,” Gropp remarked to the board. “They see the threat going all around them, and they just really feel deeply about this property being protected.”
The conservation project has garnered support from local authorities, including the towns of Evergreen and Polar, the Langlade County Board of Supervisors, and the Menominee Indian Tribe, all of which have passed resolutions supporting the initiative.
The land, comprising two tracts, will remain under the ownership of the Braun family and on the tax rolls. The forest includes diverse ecosystems, such as northern mixed hardwood, wetlands, and meadows. Approximately 1,500 acres will be accessible to the public for activities like hiking, hunting, and fishing, while a portion will remain private.
Furthermore, the easement will secure over a mile of the existing Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Kevin Thusius, senior director of field operations at the Ice Age Trail Alliance, announced plans to extend the trail by two miles on the property. “They get this great opportunity to leave a legacy of timber management, and we get to protect the Ice Age National Scenic Trail,” Thusius stated to WPR.
The DNR’s Gropp noted the property’s longstanding participation in the state’s Managed Forest Law program, which incentivizes sustainable forest management through tax reductions. The Braun family has agreed to open 220 acres within this program in exchange for closing 320 acres elsewhere on the property.
Wood from the land has historically supported local industry, specifically supplying the Robbins Sports Surfaces plant in White Lake. This facility produces sports flooring for NBA teams and Olympic training centers, as reported by Athletic Business. “So really, really impressive that wood from this property goes directly to support that local business and the local economy,” Gropp commented.
The Wisconsin forest products sector employs over 56,000 individuals and contributes $41 billion to the economy annually.
The completion of the project awaits the approval of a federal forest legacy grant. Despite this, the DNR assures that sufficient Stewardship funding is available to cover the purchase, ensuring the project’s advancement.
