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Gov. Jim Doyle announced the $2 million acquisition Wednesday during an appearance at US Bank in La Crosse.
Private donations will supplement a $962,500 grant from the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.
Northern Engraving Corp. also will donate a portion of the property, which will be known as the New Amsterdam Grasslands.
“In this state, our natural resources are not just a part of our landscape,” said Doyle. “They are a part of who we are. We value our rich traditions of hunting and fishing, and the ease of access we have to nature.”
Tim Jacobson, executive director of the conservancy, said the property is the last open grasslands of significant size atop the Mississippi River Terrace, which once contained thousands of prairie acres.
The conservancy identified the grasslands as a critical habitat about 10 years ago, Jacobson said.
“A piece of land like this is so hard to come by,” he added. “When you go out there, you can feel like you’re on that great expanse of grasslands that once existed before European settlement.”
It’s home to more than 90 native bird species, many with dwindling populations.
For the first time, the land will be open to public recreation, such as hiking, hunting, birding and nature study.
All but 40 acres will be closed in May, June and July, during bird nesting season. Motorized vehicles, bikes, pets, horses, livestock and campers also will not be allowed at any time.
“Stewardship lands anchor a good portion of our state’s economy, from our $11 billion tourism industry to our $22 billion forest industry to our $4 billion hunting and fishing industries,” he said. “The future of our state is inextricably linked to our natural resources.”
Doyle said one of the state budget’s accomplishments was reauthorizing the stewardship fund at $86 million a year from 2011 to 2020.
The conservancy recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and has protected more than 6,400 acres in the region.
Samantha Marcus can be reached at (608) 791-8220 or smarcus@lacrossetribune.com.
