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A bipartisan deal that provides funding for wildlife areas and conservation groups could diminish by the end of June.<\/p>\n
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Devil’s Lake State Park<\/p>\n
BARABOO, Wis. (WKOW) — A bipartisan deal that provides funding for wildlife areas and conservation groups could diminish by the end of June.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program allows parks and conservation groups to acquire land and maintain areas for visitors.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, the Wisconsin DNR says over 2 million people visit every year<\/a>, making it the most visited park in the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n Seth Taft from Friends of Wisconsin State Parks<\/a> says nearly 70 projects and conservation efforts at Devil’s Lake are funded by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n “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.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Dueling Democratic<\/a> and Republican<\/a> bills over program funding led to a divide and eventually no vote at the Capitol.\u00a0<\/p>\n