DNR to More Closely Examine Internal Review Process for Proposals Under State's Land Acquisition Program

Friday, April 14th, 2023 -- 12:01 PM

(Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) The head of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said the agency will more closely examine its internal review process for proposals under the state’s land acquisition program.

According to Danielle Kaeding with the Wisconsin Public Radio, the move comes after lawmakers objected to what was slated to become the state’s largest land conservation project.

Lawmakers on the Joint Committee on Finance objected to using $4 million under the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program for a conservation easement on the Pelican River Forest, according to Republican state Sen. Mary Felzkowski of Irma.

She’s the only person on the committee to publicly voice her concerns about the project’s potential effects on the local tax base and development. The forest is a land protection effort by The Conservation Fund.

In 2021, the national conservation group bought 70,000 acres of private forestland in northern Wisconsin with the intent of setting it aside for recreational use and logging. The group has been working with the DNR to secure easements for the property east of Rhinelander.

Last fall, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board signed off on a $15.5 million easement to preserve more than 56,000 acres of the forest. The bulk of the project is funded by a $10.8 million federal grant.

DNR Secretary Adam Payne said Wednesday he only recently became aware of town resolutions opposing the Pelican River Forest. He said there was a breakdown in agency communication that meant the Natural Resources Board was unaware of local opposition prior to approving the use of Stewardship funds.

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