Bay Area conservation projects share more than $310,000 in coastal grants
A 132-acre forest once owned by Northland College, a riverfront parcel next to Big Rock County Park, and a new trail at Lost Creek Falls are among the Bayfield, Ashland, and Douglas county projects sharing more than $310,000 in Wisconsin Coastal Management grants. Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld presented the awards Oct. 28 on the banks of the Sioux River at Big Rock County Park, just outside Washburn. “Every year we award a million dollars in grants to help our coastal communities to enhance public access, education, community planning and support to preserve our wonderful waterways, both for ourselves and for generations to come,” Blumenfeld said. The largest grant, $180,774, will help buy the Maxwell Forest property from Northland College. The purchase will protect and expand public access to 132 acres of undeveloped forest, shoreland, and river bluffs in the White River watershed, which straddles Ashland and Bayfield counties. “This is an amazing opportunity,” said Erica Hannickel, an Ashland County grant writer. “I am so grateful for the Coastal Management program for being able to fund this project. It really was a partnership to be able to protect this land, 132 acres and to work with Landmark Conservancy
