Axing Knowles-Nelson funding would hobble state conservation efforts

Remember the end of June, the whole Senator Lee issue of trying to sell off millions of acres of our land fight that went to the wire and he decided to die on that hill, if necessary? Remember how the conservation community felt like we won something?

We didn’t win anything. All we did is pepper a wolf with birdshot trying to break into the hen house. The wolf still lives; the chickens are still in danger.

More so right now in Wisconsin than out west. About the same time U.S. Senate leadership forced Senator Lee to end his nonsense, back here in Wisconsin our state elected leadership failed to fund the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund in our state budget.

The fund now seems set to expire in 2026. Wisconsinites might really lose something here, done to us by our own representatives, who apparently didn’t pay attention to what went down nationally – or just expected us not to pay attention.

Created in 1989 by two former Wisconsin governors, Warren Knowles (Rep.) and Gaylord Nelson (Dem.), a successful bipartisan program that shows the majority of Wisconsinites, whatever side of the political isle we prefer, support land and water conservation. The program, fund, or whatever you chose to call it, does so much for Wisconsin.

Ninety-nine percent of Wisconsin’s residents live within five miles of a Knowles-Nelson project. Over 650,000 acres have been protected or improved with Knowles-Nelson funds. Another 180,000 acres are protected in non-profit land trust (like with Land Conservancy, Wisconsin Waterfowl Association, or Ducks Unlimited). The $1.3 billion invested in Wisconsin since 1989 generates $2.3 billion annually in value. There have been 10,337 projects funded to date. You can go online and look at every project since the beginning and see just what the program granted the project.

For example, the $30,000 to the Village of Dorchester in 2001to install a canoe landing, fishing piers, campground improvements, restroom improvements, and the parking area. In 2024 the fund granted the City of Medford $248,555 to repair and rebuild the river wall along the Black River and develop a paved walking path. There was also $95,533 for the Rock Dam boat landing in Clark County – one of four fund grants for the park over the years. Edgar, Marathon, and Stratford all received grants for improvements to their parks along side waterways. The DNR used Knowles-Nelson funds for improvements to Rib Mountain State Park. These are just some of the examples of local Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funded projects.

With the existence of Knowles-Nelson, when imagination, determination, and effort come together to create a project - funds exist. Without Knowles-Nelson, no funds exist. For that reason, state and national conservation organizations decried the program not getting funded in the budget. Certain lawmakers dislike Knowles-Nelson, especially since it supports public lands and access to public waters. Constituents that own a cabin on a lake without a public boat landing certainly don’t want a public boat landing created – even if the state, county, or municipality own lake front property on the lake. Knowles-Nelson could fund that project, create more opportunities for anglers and boaters.

Representative Tony Kurtz and Senator Patrick Testin introduced a bill to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewarship program back in June. Apparently, legislators indicated a willingness to take up the legislation in September. Over two dozen Wisconsin legislatures signed on to support this legislation since June. One said that this is the single greatest item that people have contacted their office to support.

The proposed legislation makes changes to the original. It will eliminate using funds to purchase land. Transforming the program to land management and recreational infrastructure program, both of which are needed throughout the state. But what happens when the opportunity to purchase land to create public access to a lake that only private ramps exist? Or to purchase land to expand the parking area for boat ramps? Maybe the area needs a picnic area, rain shelter, or bathrooms by a small landing? Or to increase a public land holding in an area of the state with little public recreational land?

Since 2015 the program was funded at $33 million per year and will expire next year if not reauthorized. The new proposed legislation authorizes $28.25 million annually through 2030.

Conservation groups, both state based and national organizations, once again ask hunters, anglers, and trappers to support funding the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship fund. They intend to ask us to contact our representatives and tell them to authorize support for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program funding. Seems like this is the new normal.

THROUGH A