​In the spring of 2017, Landmark Conservancy began working with landowner Bob Davidson, local partners, and supporting residents to purchase this property. Landmark is fortunate to have a strong partnership with Bayfield County; our staff took a leadership role with the acquisition and the County will work to ensure the property is thoughtfully managed for recreational and conservation values. Grants were secured from the Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and Wisconsin Coastal Management Program for this acquisition.

​The 104-acre property is located in the Bayfield orchard area, located near the top of North Pikes Creek and other protected lands. Originally planned as a conservation subdivision, many people didn’t support a development in that location. Instead, they desired to keep the property in its natural state and open to the public for non-motorized recreational opportunities. Fortunately, seller Bob Davidson agreed and worked hard to make it happen.
 
Recreation is an important economic driver for this region, and we are delighted to help improve visitors’ recreational experiences on the peninsula. If you are looking for beautiful forested hills and winter views of Lake Superior and Chequamegon Bay, visit the Fire Hill Forest Preserve property in the Bayfield area! The property can be accessed via Fire Tower Road off of Highway County J, but please know that a parking area does not yet exist. In the near future, Bayfield County will be working on some basic infrastructure improvements such as parking, signage, and initial trails. Anytime is a great time to visit the property, particularly in May/June during the migratory bird season, in the fall to appreciate the changing colors, or even in winter! 

​Landmark Conservancy has purchased nearly 600 acres adjacent to Copper Falls State Park. This acquisition will conserve ecologically unique lands and provide protections to one of the top ten state parks and its 200,000 annual visitors.
 
We look forward to working with area partners to develop public access for non-motorized recreation on this newly acquired land, including hiking, hunting, fishing, trapping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and wildlife viewing. Last year the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released an extensive analysis on recreational needs in the state; over 80% of survey respondents indicated they felt more recreational opportunities were needed in the Great Northwest Region, with more trails and fishing opportunities ranking high among identified needs.
 
“Landmark was fortunate to have broad support from the community for protection of this property, including Ashland County, Town of Morse, Trout Unlimited’s state council and local Wild Rivers chapter, Northland College, trails and hunting clubs, and Cozy Valley residents,” said Erika Lang, Conservation Manager. The land trust secured state and federal funds to purchase the property, including grants from Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and the highly competitive U.S. Forest Service’s Community Forest Program.
 
Conservation of the land provides important protection for wildlife as well as water quality, and further protects the natural resources of Copper Falls State Park. As Landmark develops new recreational experiences, they will work closely with the State Park to complement their visitor experiences and are eager to expand fishing opportunities. It is anticipated that these efforts may increase tourism and provide economic benefits for the region.

​Over the past year, Landmark Conservancy has explored how we can mitigate the effects of climate change in our region.  In doing so, we have confirmed that our role in boosting resilience to change is through permanent land protection. But what does that mean?  
 
For our purposes, we have considered resilience to appropriately mean “strengthening the ability of human and non-human systems to withstand and respond to changes in the Earth's climate”.  Landmark will be working with targeted landowners to consider land protections like conservation easements to protect the non-human systems within their land.  In addition, our work achieves greater when we work to connect the ecological flow from one resilient area to another.  This will provide opportunities for species movement and migration as climate and habitat changes take place in western and northwest Wisconsin. 
 
With this in mind, our conservation team has looked at our region through the lens of climate resiliency and flow models developed by The Nature Conservancy.  What areas, because of their geological and physical characteristics will continue to support ecological diversity under a rapidly changing climate?  Landmark will be focused on those places.
 
Where are these places?  Diversity in temperature, aspect, soils and geology drive the biodiversity engine.  Large and connected landscapes allow the movement and transition of species without needing intense management or restoration.  Permanent land protection will aid the ability and flexibility of species to adapt to changing and evolving habitat.  Resilience.   
 
We are excited to complete the mapping of our focus areas later this fall.  We are anxious to share our priorities with our supporters and partners, and to explore ways we can collaborate to most effectively boost our climate change resiliency as we move into the future.  These maps will allow us to analyze each parcel in our focus area.  We are excited to connect with these targeted landowners.
 
There are many positive ways to address climate change through conservation: restoration, adaptation, legislation, education.  Landmark Conservancy protects land.  In doing so, land protection with a focus on resilient and connected landscapes will help build a firm foundation for nature’s stage.
 
Posted by Jane Anklam, Conservation Manager