A bipartisan deal that provides funding for wildlife areas and conservation groups could diminish by the end of June.
Devil’s Lake State Park
BARABOO, Wis. (WKOW) — A bipartisan deal that provides funding for wildlife areas and conservation groups could diminish by the end of June.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program allows parks and conservation groups to acquire land and maintain areas for visitors.
At Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, the Wisconsin DNR says over 2 million people visit every year, making it the most visited park in the state.
Seth Taft from Friends of Wisconsin State Parks says nearly 70 projects and conservation efforts at Devil’s Lake are funded by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
State senators did not renew the funding in the last scheduled floor session of the year last week, casting doubt on whether Taft’s groups can continue receiving state funding.
“There’s well over $1.5 billion of deferred maintenance of backlog projects. So Knowles-Nelson has been a key component in trying to help with the aging infrastructure, aging trails, as well as wildlife habitats and other matters,” Taft said.
Things such as the retaining wall separating the beach and picnic area and maintaining the over century old North Shore Chateau are part of the things funded by the Knowles-Nelson grant.
Dueling Democratic and Republican bills over program funding led to a divide and eventually no vote at the Capitol.
It comes just a week after the DNR acquired an additional 100 acres of land to expand Devil’s Lake State Park.
Taft says conservationists will have to resort to private funding or donations to maintain and acquire more land for the parks system.
“There’s no doubt in our minds that these properties, whether they’re state parks, forests, trails, rec areas, they’re vital,” Taft said. “So it’s better now trying to get creative in helping fund these oftentimes multi-phased projects.”
With an expiration date of June 30, Taft is still calling on lawmakers to take action.
“Why wouldn’t you want to support these things that bring in drawn people, not just local residents, but non locals as well, to explore, recreate, enjoy.” Taft said.