DNR to Manage Keil Birch Creek Nature Preserve

[Hagaman, Joe]

Dear Friends,

By now, some of you have no doubt read the Eau Claire Leader Telegram article regarding the disposition of several of West Wisconsin Land Trust's land holdings.  This rapid conveyance of land is necessary in order to resolve grant obligations and settle debt owed to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  This unfortunate situation was due to past financial mismanagement, which we are slowly beginning to understand and clear up.

We offered the DNR the entire palette of properties under WWLT ownership, and Keil Birch Creek Nature Preserve was one of the sites they selected, acknowledging the high ecological quality of this property.  DNR staff seemed genuinely pleased with the solution to our dilemma, and pleased with the transparent and cooperative nature of the agreement.  The conveyance of this property will likely occur early in 2011.

Keil Birch Creek Nature Preserve is located within a large DNR priority area containing the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area.  It will presumably fall under the jurisdiction of the local Menomonie DNR staff.  The property comes with protective covenants, and will forever remain conservation land open to the public.  I anticipate no significant changes coming from the change in ownership, and those changes that do occur will likely be positive.

Personally, I think the DNR is the logical custodian of this property.  Birch Creek was a great project, and one the community and the land trust can be proud of.  I believe the Friends of Birch Creek can still remain active, but at some point, the relationship with DNR should be clarified and made official.  Until the property is conveyed, please consider me a member of the advisory committee.  I am also able to serve in order to facilitate DNR relations following the conveyance, and continue our discussions over future access and improvements, if that is acceptable.

I hope you and the Friends group will continue to remain advocates of local conservation and steadfast supporters of WWLT as we work through these challenging times.  I find assurance in knowing that I can continue to take my daughter to explore the mini waterfalls of Birch Creek.

Sincerely,

Rick Remington

www.wwlt.org