The WDNR Southwest Savanna Draft Master Plan released March 18, 2021, reports the DNR's recommendations and options for managing DNR lands in the part of southwest Wisconsin historically dominated by prairies and savannas. It includes all or parts of Lafayette, Grant, Iowa, Green, and Dane Counties. Much of the plan documents the importance of the prairies and savannas and emphasizes the need to preserve or restore those habitats which have declined dramatically for many decades.
Yellowstone Lake State Park is one of the properties included in the Southwest Savanna Draft Regional Master Plan. Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR
A key set of properties is Yellowstone State Park and the thousands of acres the DNR manages around that park. One reads along noting the desire to improve the park for its many visitors, the DNR's achievements in preserving and restoring prairies, savannas, and a jewel of a stream, and the need to continue such preservation and restoration. Then the plan mentions a 240 acre parcel of grasslands in a far corner of the DNR properties, part of the Cannon Creek/Yellowstone River Streambank Protection Area.
Option 1 transfers the property from DNR Fish Management to Wildlife Management with the grasslands to be protected and improved.
OPTION 2 CARVES OUT 40 ACRES TO BE TURNED INTO A UTV/ATV CAMPGROUND.
Say what?
Fragmenting 240 acres of grasslands in an area where such habitat should be cherished and nourished and is essential to the health of two streams is a most dubious idea on its face. That those 40 acres become intensively used, mostly impervious surface is worse.
Maybe worst yet is the plan offers no rationale, no justification whatsoever, why Option 2 is even presented. The need or desirability for such a campground is neither described nor discussed. Other questions loom immediately. Why on earth would one locate this campground at the furthest possible point from the park and all its amenities?
40 acres of quality habitat destroyed, another 160 imperiled and for no good reason—Option 2 does not warrant any consideration.
I cannot bring myself to follow my former boss's very good advice of “Always speak or write in sorrow, never in anger.” As someone who has been lucky enough to be an active member of Madison Audubon and The Prairie Enthusiast and as a contributor to other wonderful conservation organizations such as the Green-Rock Audubon Society, the Mississippi Valley Conservancy, and the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, I know how much time, work and money all of them pour into acquiring and restoring land to prairie and savanna. Each has spent tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to protect and improve parcels just about the size of the one DNR proposes to ruin. Just think of all Madison Audubon has done and is doing for the 36 acres we acquired at Ostego Marsh. At some level Option 2 insults all those efforts.
This link lists three options for the public to comment on any provisions of the draft plan. Please use one to OPPOSE OPTION 2 AND SUPPORT OPTION 1. The deadline for public comment is April 18.
With all these comments in caps, time for one more: MAYBE I'M WRONG AND MISSED SOMETHING. Before you comment please read the plan's options for the 240 acres—see pp. 80-90 in the plan.
Some other notes. The draft plan has some observations and recommendations which deserve strong support. My favorite summarizes some productive field research in the lands around the Pecatonica River Woods State Natural Area and recommends expansion of the project boundary to allow for the purchase of lands with rare native plants from willing sellers. The plan also documents the critical importance of three large areas within the DNR's Southwest Grasslands project to grassland birds.
Thank you for considering this request.
Topf Wells, Madison Audubon board of directors and advocacy committee chair
