Growing up in Arkansas, we had several informal state mottos. "Quid Pro Quo" for example—pretty self explanatory. Another, "Thank God for Mississippi" requires context. Whenever national rankings came out with measures of human well being in the realms of health, education, welfare, etc., Arkansas was always ranked 49th, saved from the bottom by Mississippi always being ranked 50th. I thought of that phrase upon hearing the report of last week's meeting of the DNR Board.

The six faithful readers of this blog will remember I had noted that the Board faced three wonderful, falling-off-a-chair easy conservation proposals: to update and improve the Prairie Chicken conservation plan, to buy 500+ acres of prime Prairie Chicken habitat, and to buy and restore 1800+ acres of wetlands in Jefferson County. Continuing a theme, thank God the Board approved all three. But the conservative majority of four made it difficult with the Prairie Chicken land and plan passing on a 4-3 vote with 3 conservatives voting in the minority.

Greater Prairie Chickens. *Photo by Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren*

As noted in the blog one of the selling points of the land acquisitions was how little state Stewardship dollars were needed for either transaction. In the case of the chicken land, The Nature Conservancy and the Dane County Conservation League donated generously. The DNR was also able to use $600,000 of federal Pittman Robertson funds.

Back to Mississippi. The vote to buy the chicken land almost failed in part because conservative Board Members questioned the use of Pittman Robertson (PR) funds. So I googled those funds and the proper use of them. One of the websites explaining those topics was the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks’ (DWFP). The presentation seemed lucid, clear and well researched. I also guessed there'd be no liberal or progressive folderol there.

PR is an old, well-established federal conservation fund with revenues based on excise taxes on guns and ammunition. It supports wildlife habitat and hunter and firearm education. In a more innocent age, the gun manufacturers asked for the fund to be created to support hunting (places for the public to hunt and education in how to hunt safely). Funds are allocated to states for those purposes. The fund bulges with money because of soaring gun and ammo sales in this not so innocent age.

The Mississippi DSFP site noted that land acquisition is a clearly permitted use of PR funds and that the first listed priority for Mississippi's use of PR is buying land. Thank God for Mississippi, at least when it comes to some conservation programs.

Perhaps some DNR Board Members should review this site; maybe they'd trust it more than they apparently trust their own staff.

Well, darn it Topf, why so glum? The land should be purchased now; what harm has been done? My concern is the conservative majority's suspicion directed to many land purchases. The motives are not clear but I'm concerned they mirror the hostility to land acquisition that some powerful Republican legislators hold. This might only get worse with the State Supreme Court's decision to allow Fred Prehm to remain on the Board, a topic, alas, for another blog.

In the meantime, ripe pie cherries need to be picked and I'm hoping to convince Sally to bake one of her superb cobblers for the 4th. Hang in there, stay cool, enjoy the 4th with friends and family, and take care.

Topf Wells, Madison Audubon advocacy committee chair

Cover photo by Arlene Koziol

PS As I wrote that last paragraph, I had to wonder with all the state and federal court decisions, the hearings, and other news of the last two weeks, how many of us feel like celebrating. Remembering the folks working for the common good at every level of government and throughout the community and those who are working throughout Wisconsin for conservation and to improve our decidedly imperfect Union, I've decided we can and should still celebrate. And, as a wise Madison Audubon staff person notes, "pie does help everything feel a little less crazy."