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In Wisconsin Special Explores Value of Wisconsin Land Trusts

June 5, 2008

For More Information:
Lynn Brockmeyer, WPT publicist, (608) 263-3364, lynn.brockmeyer@wpt.org
Christine Sloan Miller, series producer, (608) 263-7124, christine.sloan-miller@wpt.org
JoAnne Garrett, producer, (608) 263-8586, joanne.garrett@wpt.org


Land Trusts, An In Wisconsin Special airing on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) visits Chippewa, Douglas, Bayfield and Door counties to discover innovative ways landowners have worked with local land trusts. Wisconsin has more than 50 land trusts, nonprofits that work to protect special places in the state from development.

WPT will air the program at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12 and at noon Sunday, June 15. WMVS-TV in Milwaukee will air the program at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 15.

Rick and Janet Dale, longtime fruit farmers in the Bayfield area, had a problem common to many farmers; all their money was tied up in their farm. They needed to gain access to their wealth but did not want to sell to a developer. The Bayfield Regional Trust helped them place a conservation easement on their deed to protect the farm from being subdivided. In return, the Dales received a sum of money giving them a more financially secure future and the peace of mind that their farm is protected.

For Bill Rogers of Superior, the Bois Brule River in Douglas County has been a second home. The shoreline of the Brule River is protected from development by a series of conservation easements negotiated by a local land trust - The Nature Conservancy. By working together, property owners and the nature conservancy, were able to protect a large block of riverfront that preserves the view and provides the public an opportunity to explore one of the state's most pristine rivers.

Sally Lewis lives on a family farm in Chippewa County. After her parents died, she had to decide how to develop the land in a way that honored their desire to keep the farm intact and preserve the property's wild areas. Learn how she was able to maintain the farm and also provide for some development of the property by working with the West Wisconsin Land Trust.

In Door County, business people and residents created a nonprofit land trust with the goal of purchasing and preserving natural areas. One of the projects involves a 30-acre area in Ephraim called the Anderson Pond. Through community action and donations from residents, the Door County Land Trust was able to save a piece of environmental history.

Funding for In Wisconsin is provided, in part, by Alliant Energy, UW-Health/UW Paul P. Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center and Animal Dental Center of Milwaukee and Oshkosh.

WPT is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV/DT, Madison; WPNE-TV/DT, Green Bay; WHRM-TV/DT, Wausau; WLEF-TV/DT, Park Falls; WHLA-TV/DT, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV/DT, Menomonie-Eau Claire.

Land Trusts, An In Wisconsin Special description:
The program visits several Wisconsin counties to explore innovative ways landowners have worked with local land trusts to protect special places in the state from development.