Victory on stewardship funds 

Since 1989, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund has protected 475,000 acres in 71 of 72 Wisconsin counties—areas like the Mink River Estuary in Door County, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail across central Wisconsin, and the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage along Lake Superior.  

For more than 15 years, the Stewardship Fund has been an amazing success. The recently settled state budget re-authorizes this important land preservation program and increases funding levels 40 percent—from $60 million to $85 million a year.
 
“Whether you like to hike, bike, fish, hunt, camp or just enjoy open space, we can all celebrate stewardship of Wisconsin lands,” said Dan Kohler, director of Wisconsin Environment.

A field on the Ice Age Scenic Trail, one of the natural places protected thanks to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. (photo by derplau, used under Creative Commons)