Please take a bit of time and contact your state senator and state assembly person to ask that he or she support a proposed 10 year extension of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. 

This fund supports almost all the DNR’s purchase of land for protection and outdoor recreation, including trout stream easements, assists local conservation organizations and governments to buy land for those purposes, and contributes to the development of some of those state properties.  Locally, the Stewardship Fund has been a big help to Dane County in its purchases (the Neperud parcel for example) and Groundswell Conservancy.

Just about every conservation organization in the state, including TU State Council, supports re-authorization.  They argue that if the state does not have a long and reliable period of funding for such acquisitions, some of which are complex and expensive, we will not be able to protect the lands and waters necessary for future conservation.

Probably, almost every SWTU member has fished, hunted, hiked, biked, foraged, or otherwise enjoyed natural resources that are preserved and available because of the Stewardship Program.  If you are willing to contact your legislator an easy way to do so is to leave a message for him or her via the Legislative Hotline:  in Madison (608) 266-9960 or toll-free 1-800-362-9472.  Better yet, use the Hotline to find your legislators’ mailing address and send a brief letter or postcard.