Dr. William Cronon

As part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations, the Door County Land Trust is pleased to welcome renowned conservationist, historian and University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, Dr. William Cronon, to deliver a keynote address at the Birch Creek Performance Center in Egg Harbor on Friday, September 23 at 7 pm.

“We’re thrilled to be offering Door County a speaker of this caliber,” states Door County Land Trust executive director, Dan Burke. “The land conservation community is strong in Door County. As embark on our next 25 years of preserving the places we love, Dr. Cronon’s message will help inform our vision. We encourage all who can to join us. This is an event not to be missed.”

Dr. Cronon is the Frederick Jackson Turner Professor of History, Geography, and Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-­Madison. He served for more than a decade as a member of the Yale History Department. In 2003, he was named Vilas Research Professor at UW-Madison, the university’s most distinguished chaired professorship.

Cronon has served on the Governing Council of The Wilderness Society since 1995 and on the National Board of the Trust for Public Land since 2003. He is currently President of the American Historical Association. He is the author of numerous award-winning books and was featured prominently in Ken Burns’ recent series, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.

Cronon seeks to understand the history of human interactions with the natural world: how we depend on the ecosystems around us to sustain our material lives, how we modify the landscapes in which we live and work, and how our ideas of nature shape our relationships with the world around us.

Born September 11, 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut, Cronon received his B.A. (1976) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He holds an M.A. (1979), M.Phil. (1980), and Ph.D. (1990) from Yale, and a D.Phil. (1981) from Oxford University. Cronon has been a Rhodes Scholar, Danforth Fellow, Guggenheim Fellow, and MacArthur Fellow; has won prizes for his teaching at both Yale and Wisconsin.

This event is open to the public and is offered at no charge. A dessert and coffee reception will follow the lecture. Reservations are appreciated but not required. To make a reservation, please call 920.746.1359 or email info@doorcountylandtrust.org.

The Door County Land Trust is celebrating 25 years of preserving Door County’s finest open spaces and wild places. The Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization supported by over 2,000 contributing members. Its mission is to preserve, maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County. Since its inception in 1986, the Land Trust has protected nearly 6,000 acres throughout Door County. Nature preserves owned by the Door County Land Trust are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birding, skiing and other low-impact recreational and educational activities. More information on the Door County Land Trust and the Cronon Keynote Address is available at www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

Representatives of the Land Trust will be offering guided and self-guided hikes at four nature preserves located throughout the county and will be available to answer questions about the preserves and the work of the Land Trust.  The Land Trust nature preserves featured this weekend are:

• the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Preserve in Sturgeon Bay,
• the Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve near Carlsville,
• the Kangaroo Lake Nature Preserve outside of Baileys Harbor and
• the Three Springs Nature Preserve approximately two miles east of Sister Bay.

Bay Shore Blufflands Nature Preserve

One-hour guided hikes will be offered at 3 pm and 4 pm on Friday and 9:30 am and 10:30 am on Saturday. Those preferring a self-guided hike may arrive and depart at any time and maps will be available. The hikes will be held rain or shine and are offered at no charge and no reservations are necessary.

For directions to these four preserves and other Door County Land Trust nature preserves, please visit www.DoorCountyLandTrust.org or call 920.746.1359.  We recommend that you wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a bottle of water.

The Door County Land Trust is celebrating 25 years of preserving Door County’s finest open spaces and wild places. It is a local, non-profit organization supported by over 2,000 contributing members. Its mission is to preserve, maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County. Since its inception in 1986, the Land Trust has protected nearly 6,000 acres throughout Door County. Nature preserves owned by the Door County Land Trust are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birding, skiing and other low-impact recreational and educational activities.

The 8th Annual Door County Sea Kayak Symposium splashes down in Rowley’s Bay on July 8-10. Presented by Rutabaga, a Wisconsin-based shop and one of the country’s leading paddlesport retailers, the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium will be held at Rowley’s Bay Resort (formerly the Wagon Trail). The Symposium features on-the-water classes for all skill levels, on-land workshops, guided tours, special youth programs, and tracks especially designed for brand new paddlers.

Over 150 individuals of all ages and paddling abilities are expected to participate in three fun-packed days. Openings are still available for 1-day, 2-day or the full weekend pass – Register at www.EveryonePaddles.com.

Rutabaga chose to donate a portion of the event proceeds to the Door County Land Trust (DCLT) from the very beginning. Since the Symposium’s inception in 2004, they have donated more than $20,000 to the Door County Land Trust.

“We recognized the need to give back to the community that literally opened its doors to the paddling community,” says Rutabaga owner Darren Bush. “Paddlers have received a warm welcome from the citizens of Door County and there’s no better way to say thank you than to help preserve the beauty of Door County.”

Rutabaga is adding yet another fund raising component to the Symposium to benefit the Door County Land Trust – a live auction. \

“Last year, we asked some of the manufacturers to donate a few items for an impromptu live auction and Rutabaga matched the auction proceeds bringing the total to $4000. It was amazing,” says Bush, “to see people bidding $50 on a $5 water bottle, because they knew the money was going to the DCLT.  Immediately after last year’s auction, we were approached by most of the manufacturers there who said they wanted to step it up for 2011.”

This year, a 10′ kayak from Delta Kayaks, a family owned and operated kayak company out of Vancouver, B.C. is being donated.

“At the end of the auction, the sales manager Mark Hall told me he wanted to donate a kayak,” says Bush.  ”His generosity was a catalyst for other folks to step it up.”

Paddles, lifevests, clothing and other items will be donated by top industry manufacturers. In addition, a host of Door County artists have donated original pieces of artwork for the auction. Rutabaga will again match the funds raised during the auction.

Steve and Cynthia Scherrer, two internationally-known kayak instructors, fly in annually for the Symposium from their home in the Pacific Northwest.

“The Midwest is known for its warmth and hospitality,” they explain. “Rutabaga, a highly respected shop, is self-described evangelists for the sport and lifestyle we love. We’ve made great friends in Door County year after year and we look forward to etching it in our calendars. We’d encourage everyone to do the same… it’s a winner!”

“Paddling leaves no trace and is a great way to explore Door County,” says Terrie Cooper, the Land Program Director of DCLT. “But building skills and learning how to paddle safely on these big and sometime very challenging waters is important. Rutabaga’s commitment to high quality instruction mixed with lots of fun – leads to everyone experiencing quality time on the water. And their generosity towards the Land Trust has been impressive and we’re grateful for their continued support.”

The instruction, paddling skills workshops and guided trips are very appealing on their own. Add the camaraderie of fellow paddlers to an opportunity to share dinner (and yes, happy hour) under a big top tent each night, with the chance to ‘test drive’ the latest kayaks and gear from some of the nation’s premier manufacturers and the weekend gets even sweeter.

Come check things out! For more information on the Symposium or to register go to www.EveryonePaddles.com or contact Rutabaga at 800.472.3353.

The Door County Land Trust has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire and permanently protect what is commonly referred to as the “Grand View” property at the top of the hill in Ellison Bay. If completed, the purchase will save a popular scenic vista and prevent a large-scale development project from continuing at this site. The Land Trust has until June 30 to raise the remaining funds needed to protect this 16-acre parcel. If fundraising efforts are successful, the Land Trust expects to complete the purchase of the Grand View property by the end of July.

Fundraising for this purchase got a big boost recently when the Door County Land Trust learned that two large grants it had applied for have been awarded. The Land Trust is poised to receive a $600,750 Scenic Byway grant from the National Highway Department and a $395,755 grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund of Wisconsin. The Land Trust must now raise $111,519 in private donations to complete the land acquisition project.

“The Grand View property is one of the most recognizable and beloved views in the county and the state,” states Terrie Cooper, Land Program Director for the Door County Land Trust. “When it became apparent that what had ‘always been here’ might not be here for future generations, the Land Trust began efforts to permanently protect this one-of-a-kind property. We are confident that the community will step forward to help us raise the remaining funds needed to preserve what is truly one of Door County’s natural treasures.”

“The Grand View property is a million dollar-plus project for the Land Trust,” continues Cooper. “We invest significant organizational resources in procuring state and federal grants.  The grants, however, do not cover all of the costs. Therefore, we rely heavily on private donations to help pay for and protect properties like Grand View and many others we are currently working on throughout the county.”

The Grand View property is privately owned, but is visited and photographed by thousands of residents and tourists each year. For decades the landowner maintained this iconic view shed and allowed the public access to this scenic vista. When a 44-unit condominium and residential project was approved for the property and four of the proposed units constructed, continued public enjoyment of this view came into question.

If the Land Trust is successful in acquiring the Grand View property, development on the 16 acres it purchases will be permanently prohibited and the Grand View Scenic Overlook and Park will be established. The park will be open to the public for sightseeing, hiking, picnicking and other low-impact recreational uses. The upper 4 acres of the property will be mowed and maintained as a scenic overlook; the lower 12 acres which include marshy wetlands and two ponds located along the south side of Hillside Drive will undergo habitat restoration and become the site of a new hiking trail system. The current landowners will retain ownership of a small parcel of land adjacent to the 16-acre parcel the Land Trust hopes to acquire; any future development that may take place on the retained parcel will not impact the scenic overlook.

Once a master land management plan for the proposed Grand View Scenic Overlook and Park is written and in place, the Land Trust will transfer ownership and management of the property to the Town of Liberty Grove.

The proposed Grand View Scenic Overlook and Park is the first project along the newly-designated Door County Coastal Byway to be approved for federal Scenic Byway grant funding.  In April of 2010, a 66-mile stretch of highways 42 and 57 north of Sturgeon Bay was officially declared a Wisconsin Scenic Byway.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Scenic Byways are “highway corridors that offer travelers outstanding scenic views combined with recreational and/or cultural attributes.” According to the Wisconsin Scenic Byway’s Citizen Handbook, designation “supports tourism and economic development…strengthens civic pride, and makes communities more attractive places to live and work.”

Ellison Bay resident, Land Trust board member and local business owner, Dave Callsen, is enthusiastic about Grand View’s value to the Door County community. “My wife Vonnie and I drive into Ellison Bay every day and always slow down to marvel at the remarkable view. This very special place has been naively taken for granted until the past few years when the potential for development became real. We now have an opportunity to make sure this incomparable Door County vista will be here for everyone… ALWAYS!  I encourage all who can to help preserve it.”

Contributions to the Door County Land Trust may be sent to DCLT, P.O. Box 65, Sturgeon Bay, WI  54235 or made online at www.doorcountylandtrust.org.  Any funds raised in excess of those needed for the Grand View project will be used to protect other scenic and ecologically valuable lands throughout Door County.  Additional information on the Grand View property and proposed purchase is also available at this site.  To learn more about the Door County Coastal Byway visit www.doorcountycoastalbyway.com.

The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization celebrating its 25^th year of preserving Door County’s finest open spaces and wild places.  Since 1986, the Door County Land Trust has permanently protected over 5,500 acres throughout Door County.   Visit the Land Trust’s website to find out more about the Land Trust and for maps and directions to Land Trust nature preserves.

The Door County Land Trust announces a significant land purchase within the City of Sturgeon Bay that preserves 112 acres along the west shore of Sturgeon Bay near the entrance to the Sturgeon Bay ship canal.  The property lies along Strawberry Lane about 2 miles southeast of downtown Sturgeon Bay and Strawberry Creek bisects the parcel.  The property also borders the Land Trust’s Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve.

Strawberry Creek in Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve photo by Julie Schartner

Water is the predominate feature of this newly protected parcel.  It boasts:

• nearly 2,000 feet of Sturgeon Bay shore frontage,
• a 3-acre wildlife pond and
• almost all of Strawberry Creek.

Strawberry Creek originates on the Door County Land Trust’s Ship Canal Nature Preserve and empties into Sturgeon Bay just west of the canal itself.  It is home to the first stocking and egg collection site for Chinook salmon in Wisconsin and continues to be Wisconsin’s primary source of Chinook salmon eggs for Lake Michigan.

The Land Trust established the new Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve in December of last year with the purchase of 332 acres and 750 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline along the south side of the ship canal from the Sturgeon Bay Utilities.  Since this initial purchase, the Land Trust has been hard at work establishing a hiking trail system, cleaning up debris, removing invasive species, and erecting informational signs and kiosks. The recent addition of 112 acres brings the total number of protected acres at the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve to nearly 450,  expanding the new  preserve by nearly 30%.

“The Land Trust is very excited about acquiring this property because its protection will have so many positive and lasting impacts for our community,” states Land Trust executive director, Dan Burke. “Those who love to fish will be thrilled to know that Strawberry Creek is protected. Boaters will continue to enjoy the property’s long stretch of undeveloped, scenic shoreline.  And wildlife enthusiasts will celebrate the expanded protection of one of Door County’s most important nature preserves.”

The protection of this land is also important to the Asher family from whom the Land Trust purchased the property. “These 112 acres have been in our family for over 40 years and the land holds a lot of sentimental value for us,” explains Steve Asher.  “My parents acquired the property in 1968 and we kids grew up exploring the lands and waters here.  We couldn’t be happier that the Door County Land Trust is now the steward of this special place.”

Funds for this purchase were provided by a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund grant and a Coastal Wetlands grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Private donations are now being sought to cover remaining project costs including restoration activities and the removal of invasive species like phragmites that threaten the ecological integrity of the shoreline.

The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization supported by over 2,000 contributing members.  Its mission is to preserve, maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County.  Since its inception in 1986, the Land Trust has protected over 5,400 acres throughout Door County.  Many of the lands owned by the Door County Land Trust are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birding, skiing and other low-impact recreational and educational activities.

To find out more about the work of the Door County Land Trust, for preserve maps and directions, for information on our hunting program and to make an online contribution of support, please visit www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

Upon completion of the purchase of the land, Door County Land Trust will transfer ownership to the Town of Liberty Grove. The property will be open for hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, cross country skiing, nature study, wildlife observation, and photography.

Public written comments on the proposed acquisition can be mailed to:

Carrie Mickelson, Administrator, Division of Customer and Employee Service
C/O Chris Halbur, Government Outreach Team Supervisor
Wisconsin DNR
2984 Shawano Avenue
Green Bay, WI, 54313

…or sent by email to Christine.Halbur@Wisconsin.gov. If you have questions about this project, Chris Halbur can be reached by phone at 920.662.5121. Written comments will be accepted through December 27, 2010.

The Door County Land Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is to permanently protect lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County. Since 1986, they have protected over 5,000 acres.  With your help, they have the opportunity to protect thousands of additional acres of the most critical and inspiring natural landscapes in Door County.

The Door County Land Trust established the Kellner Fen Nature Preserve in 2003 and with this recent addition has permanently preserved nearly 150 acres.

“The Kellner Fen is a very special, almost hidden place,” states Dan Burke, executive director of the Door County Land Trust.  “The Land Trust is thrilled to acquire the 40-acre parcel at the very center of it all.  The uniqueness of this area was once known and appreciated by only a small group of neighboring land owners.  Now, because of its rare ecological features, the fen is recognized by the broader conservation community as a place worthy of protection.”

The Kellner Fen features a large expanse of open water and an extensive, fragile sedge mat that floats on top of the underlying water. It is protected on the east by a sand dune nearly a mile long and is surrounded on other sides by dense forests.  The fen provides habitat for rare and unusual wetland species of insects, plants, and birds and is a breeding ground for the federally-endangered Hines Emerald Dragonfly.  The fen is home to a number of orchids such as the arethusa and carnivorous plants such as sundews and pitcher plants.  Sandhill Cranes are common visitors and nest on the edges of the lagoon.

Aside from its outstanding ecological attributes, the Kellner Fen also has a rich cultural history.  Kellner Fen was once home to a small cranberry operation on the northeastern portion of the lake.  A manmade drainage ditch and dam allowed flooding of the fields for harvest.  The fen was also home to a frog farm in the first part of the 20^th century, a time when frog legs were a popular item on restaurant menus.

Photos by Jeff Davis

The Kellner Fen is one of Door County’s embayment lakes.  Embayment lakes and wetland complexes are found along the east side of the Door Peninsula and Washington Island and were once part of Lake Michigan.  Water currents and shifting sands closed them off from the larger lake and created separate microcosms.  Clark Lake, Kangaroo Lake, Mud Lake and Europe Lake are just some of Door County’s embayment lakes.  Kellner Fen differs from the other embayment lakes as it has no natural outlet to Lake Michigan and is completely isolated by natural sand deposits and subsequent dune formation.

“The remoteness and the ecological diversity found at this wetland area put it high on our wish list of places to protect,” explains Jodi Milske, stewardship coordinator for the Door County Land Trust.  “Remote as it is, the fen has not escaped invasion by non-native plant species like glossy buckthorn and phragmites.  One of things we’ll be working hard on in the coming months and years is the eradication of these invasive species.”

Funds for this most recent 40-acre purchase were provided by a Coastal Wetlands grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Private donations from Land Trust supporters also helped make the purchase possible.

The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization supported by over 2,000 contributing members.  Its mission is to preserve, maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County.  Since its inception in 1986, the Land Trust has protected over 5,300 acres throughout Door County.  Many of the lands owned by the Door County Land Trust are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birding, skiing and other low-impact recreational and educational activities. To find out more about the work of the Door County Land Trust, for preserve maps and directions, for information on their hunting program and to make a contribution of support, please visit www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

Photo by Julie Schartner

“Adding these 50 acres to the nature preserve is exciting for several reasons,” explains Dan Burke, executive director of the Door County Land Trust.  “This purchase helps to preserve the rural character of one of Door County’s most scenic roadways by protecting highly-developable land.  It also preserves a portion of the Niagara Escarpment that provides habitat for a number of rare plants and animals.  The timing of this acquisition is certainly appropriate given 2010 has been designated the Year of the Escarpment by the Wisconsin State Legislature. Anyone who loves Door County knows the escarpment is well worth celebrating and protecting.”

The Niagara Escarpment, a 650-mile long cuesta, or ridge that runs all the way from Rochester, New York across southern Canada and into Wisconsin provides Door County with its signature landscape — the well-loved, craggy, cedar-studded limestone bluffs.

The Door County Land Trust has long been interested in the escarpment for its ecological value as it contains caves, sink holes, talus slopes and moist cliffs.  Rain water filtering through its deep limestone fissures results in the biologically rich springs and vernal ponds that are commonly found at the base of the escarpment.

Terrie Cooper, land program director for the Land Trust, explains, “The escarpment is a world of its own.  Even on the hottest August afternoon, the escarpment is damp and cool thus creating a very specialized habitat for unique species. The Niagara Escarpment is one of the reasons Door County ranks first in the state for biological diversity.”  Cooper adds, “Land protection work around the escarpment is critical. The forested lands above the escarpment provide habitat for migrating birds and also help filter and purify rain water that eventually drains into our water table and the Green Bay watershed.”

Recognizing the value of the escarpment, the Land Trust has been hard at work protecting the lands above and below it at the Lautenbach Woods Nature Preserve.  In addition to the 50 acres just acquired, four other properties were added to the preserve in 2009 bringing the total size of the preserve to 140 acres.

Burke encourages people to visit the Launtenbach Woods Nature Preserve. “The Lautenbach Woods Preserve has a marvelous hiking trail system showcasing the escarpment.  We encourage folks to visit and experience for themselves why this is such a special place and why it deserves protection.”

Funds for this most recent 50-acre purchase were provided by Wisconsin’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the Fox River/Green Bay Natural Resource Trustee Council administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Private donations from Land Trust supporters also helped make the purchase possible.

The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization supported by over 2,000 contributing members.  Its mission is to preserve, maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County.  Since its inception in 1986, the Land Trust has protected over 5,300 acres throughout Door County.  Many of the lands owned by the Door County Land Trust are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birding, skiing and other low-impact recreational and educational activities.

To find out more about the work of the Door County Land Trust, for preserve maps and directions, for information on our hunting program and to make a contribution of support, please visit www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

Dan Burke on “Preserving Door County’s Scenic Beauty… One Acre at a Time.”

In December of 2009, the Door County Land Trust purchased 332 acres in the City of Sturgeon Bay along the shores of Lake Michigan on the south side of the Sturgeon Bay-Lake Michigan Shipping Canal. The preserve dedication was an opportunity to officially open the preserve and to thank the previous landowners, volunteers, foundations and granting agencies, and Door County Land Trust supporters whose vision, hard work and generosity made the creation of the nature preserve possible.

Public hiking trails, parking areas, informational kiosks and maps are all now located at the new Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal Nature Preserve. The preserve is home to nearly 1,000 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, forested wetlands, a series of ancient shorelines, and many rare plants and animals.

The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization supported by over 2,000 contributing members.  Its mission is to preserve, maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County. Since its inception in 1986, the Land Trust has protected over 5,300 acres throughout Door County. Many of the lands owned by the Door County Land Trust are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birding, skiing and other low-impact recreational and educational activities.

To find out more about the work of the Door County Land Trust, for preserve maps and directions, for information on our hunting program and to make a contribution of support, please visit www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

Harold C. Wilson Three Springs Nature Preserve

The Door County Land Trust purchased 421 acres just east of Sister Bay in the fall of 2008 permanently protecting the largest undeveloped tract remaining in northern Door and completing the county’s largest conservation project in over 40 years.  The preserve dedication will honor and thank the landowners, volunteers and Door County Land Trust supporters whose vision, hard work and generosity made the creation of the nature preserve possible.

Lemonade, ice tea, wine and light refreshments will be served.  Following the dedication ceremony, short hikes will be offered for those interested.

The Harold C. Wilson Three Spring Nature Preserve is home to the headwaters of pristine North Bay and to a host of rare and endangered plants and animals.  It was also the site of one of Wisconsin’s first nature centers, the Three Springs Nature Center established by Harold Wilson of Ephraim in the 1950s.

The public is invited to attend.  Please R.S.V.P. by calling the Door County Land Trust at 920.746.1359 or by emailing krice@dcwis.com.  The dedication will be held rain or shine.  Comfortable clothes and good walking shoes are recommended. The Door County Land Trust’s new Harold C. Wilson Three Springs Nature Preserve is located at the end of Three Springs Road off of County Highway ZZ two miles east of Sister Bay.

The Door County Land Trust is a local, non-profit organization supported by over 2,000 contributing members.  Its mission is to preserve, maintain and enhance lands that contribute significantly to the scenic beauty, open space and ecological integrity of Door County.  Since its inception in 1986, the Land Trust has protected over 5,200 acres throughout Door County.  Many of the lands owned by the Door County Land Trust are open to the public for hiking, hunting, birding, skiing and other low-impact recreational and educational activities.

To find out more about the work of the Door County Land Trust, for preserve maps and directions, for information on our hunting program and to make a contribution of support, please visit www.doorcountylandtrust.org.