Update on Houghton Falls 10/17/2008

The Conservancy has been working with the Town of Bayview and the Trust for Public Land to locate funding and reach agreements with landowners to purchase approximately 77 acres near Houghton Falls on Lake Superior.

Together, we hope to acquire both sides of the main waterfall as well as the Echo Dells upstream. The Town of Bayview created an ad hoc committee that has drafted a management plan to provide for the public’s quiet enjoyment of the property while protecting the natural beauty of this historic site.

Currently, we are waiting to hear how the project ranks nationally for federal funds and then will continue working with the Department of Natural Resources on an application for a grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

This site is historically very important to people who have lived here, as early as the Copper Age civilization 6,000 years ago. Although in private ownership, the area has always been a destination for people who rode the train to the Houghton Stop and then caught the excursion boat out to Long Island. Over the last one hundred years, due to the generosity of the private landowners, many people have enjoyed on the rock ledges, explored the waterfalls and dells, or enjoyed the pine-needle trail along the ravine. Our goal is for the Town of Bayview to hold title to the land open to the public for quiet enjoyment of this beautiful natural area.

Moving on

This is the last column I’ll write for the BRC’s newsletter. I am leaving this position and will be joining the University of Wisconsin Extension Service as a natural resource educator in the Lake Superior basin.

I began working for BRC as their first staff person officially in January 2000. I remember the first mailing we sent out in the fall of 1999—it had an amazing response and immediately formed a membership base of over three hundred households. We could tell that the work we proposed to do struck a chord with many people who lived here who wanted to see the beauty of this region protected. Since then, every time we had a project that needed money (Corny Beach, Big Ravine, Nourse Sugarbush, Mt. Ashwabay) our members have always met the challenge—thank you!

I’ve had the good fortune to work with many private landowners who worked with us to draft permanent preservation agreements (conservation easements) to protect their land into the future. These landowners not only donated their easements to BRC to uphold into the future, but they also shared with me and our land volunteers, the places that mean the most to them—whether it be a lake cabin, their home on the White River or their fruit farm operation. Anyone who has been on these visits recognizes the magic that happens when we work with landowners to carry out their dream of protecting the places that mean the most to them.

Finally, I’d like to recognize the commitment our board members have made throughout the life of BRC. Since the beginning of the conservancy (as an all-volunteer organization) we have had thirty-two people serve on the board of directors. They have served as treasurer, led meetings, wrote policy, visited lands, cared for trails, visited major donors, organized events and a million other tasks that helped BRC protect more land.

So as you see, although our mission is about protecting land, our organization is all about people. Those who work for it, volunteer for it and donate to keep it going. I’m glad to have been a part of BRC’s growth and thank you all for believing in the mission and stepping up to help us succeed.

BRC Special Appeal

Thank you to everyone who has contributed a second gift to Bayfield Regional Conservancy this year! Our special appeal goal is to raise $20,000 for expanding our capacity for conservation by increasing office space and staff.
We have received 40 extra gifts from members this fall for a total of $3,180- 15% of our goal. Please help us raise the remaining 85% by returning your special appeal card with your donation. You may also contribute on-line at www.brcland.org.
Thank you for all you do to protect natural lands, waters, forests, farms and places of scenic, spiritual and historic value in the Bayfield Region!

Another eBay seller supports BRC

Ebay seller livn-n-xstace is supporting conservation in the northwoods by donating 10% of the profits of each sale to the BRC. To see other tote bags for sale, click here.

White River Fish Boil August 29 in Mason

The Friends of the White River are again sponsoring the White River Celebration and Fish Boil on Friday, August 29 at the Mason Village Park on the White River. The festivities will begin at about 4:30 p.m. with landowner information available from a number of WDNR officials, the Bayfield Regional Conservancy, the West Wisconsin Land Trust, the Bad River Watershed Association and other county, state and federal agencies.

There will be a number of speakers at 5:30 p.m. and then at 6:00 p.m. a delicious fish boils with all the trimmings prepared by John Casperson.

During the proceedings, the Friends will be having a small raffle and selling our new Friends of the White River t-shirts and hats. The artwork for the garments was donated by Greg Alexander of Ashland.

The fish boil is free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome, so bring your family and friends.

Project Update: Houghton Falls Natural Area

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land have been working on assembling a significant conservation project on Lake Superior just north of the City of Washburn off Hwy 13 as you drive north to Bayfield. Many of you have been to Houghton Falls and have enjoyed the waterfall, rock outcrops, sandy cove and incredible view of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands.

A recent grant announcement coupled with the fact that two of the three properties that contain the falls and the upstream Echo Dells were listed for sale, caused us to quickly put together a proposal to the Town of Bayview (Bayfield County, Wisconsin) to submit a federal grant and to buy and hold the land. We wanted to take this incredible opportunity to try and preserve this area that so many of you have inquired about, and has been a goal of the Town of Bayview for eight years.

More information

Photo Gallery

This project will be competing nationally for funds, and we face stiff competition. Nevertheless, the Town of Bayview continues to move ahead and will be drafting a management plan for the 76-acre property in the hopes that all the funding will be acquired and all the landowners will work closely with the Trust for Public Land to reach agreements.

If you live or own property in the Town, please participate in the management planning process.

Project position opening--Conservation Planner

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is seeking a conservation planner to carry out strategic conservation planning to direct our land protection work in the future.

The 8-month project starts September 1, 2008 - April 30, 2009. Compensation is $7,000.

The project involves collecting, analyzing and synthesizing information from existing plans, agencies and natural resource professionals and developing a strategic plan for the Lake Superior watershed in Bayfield County.

The consultant will write the plan and an executive summary for publication and sharing with our partners in conservation.

The consultant will also set up a computer GIS workstation at the BRC office for use with this planning process and future conservation projects.

Click here for more information on the position.

Click here for a summary of the project.

This strategic conservation planning process is underwritten by grants from the Land Trust Alliance and the River Protection Program of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. We appreciate their support!

Wine-tasting at Blue Vista Farm

June 28 was a warm summer evening with that golden slanting light illuminating the beautiful gardens of Blue Vista Farm for our first-ever wine-tasting benefit event.

Ellen Kwiatkowski and Eric Carlson, owners of Blue Vista Farm hosted the event. The wine was donated by Saratoga Distributors.


Blue Vista Farm is one of the farms preserved forever by the Town of Bayfield's Farmland Preservation Program administered by the BRC. It is such a lovely site for a get-together. Tables were scattered about and filled with smoked fish, caviar, cheeses, fruit and other delectables prepared and donated by area businesses and BRC members.

It was almost like a dream, the setting with tables scattered on the lawn covered with vintage table cloths and people holding sparkling glasses of wine.

Thank you to everyone who made this event possible. The silent auction and the winetasting donations raised over $2000 for our conservation work.

Artist L. Palionis donates 10% ebay proceeds to BRC

Today I got a notice that a beautiful hand-painted wooden table/stool top will be auctioned on ebay with 10% of the proceeds to benefit BRC.

Surreal Acrylic painting on a pine stool top/ thick plaque signed by the artist. Fresh, glowing colors. Painted areas finished with several layers of extra-tough exterior acrylic finish. Wood has a hand-rubbed tung oil finish. Beautiful on a wall, but plenty rugged enough to serve as a piece of furniture.

We have had a few people do this for us, and I am always grateful that they have searched the web for a worthy cause, and somehow found the Bayfield Regional Conservancy. Thank you to L. Palionis for supporting our conservation work in northwestern Wisconsin.

(If you are interested in donating part or all of your ebay proceeds to BRC click here.)

BioBlitz Results

Beaverpond racket-tail dragonflies and Dot-tailed Whiteface dragonflies were a couple of the species of living things identified at the Big Ravine BioBlitz 08.

Friday night began with frog and bat surveys along with early morning star-gazing. A 5:00 a.m. birdwalk kicked off a day of nature exploration for children and other nature enthusiasts. Field trips on mushrooms and wildflowers added to the list of species identifed in the Big Ravine. The 24-hour BioBlitz ended with a wonderful slide program of "Special Places in Bayfield County" by Tom Gerstenberger.


Thank you to coordinator Doug Lowthian for organizing the event. Thanks also to the field trip and activity leaders and hosts: Phil & Sheree Peterson, David Bratley, Brian Hyringa, Lynda Nedden-Durst, David Hanson, Mary_______ (mycologist) and Ruth Oppedahl. The total (tentative) species count was between 125-130--and we barely scratched the surface of the plant and animals that live in Bayfield's Big Ravine.

We appreciate the grant underwriting by the Natural Resources Foundation and the Four Cedars Foundation.

Bayfield BioBlitz 08

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is helping to sponsor the first BioBlitz in Bayfield. A BioBlitz is a 24-hour initiative to catalog all living things in an area, in this case Bayfield's Big Ravine.

The event is free and open to the public and provides a variety of walks, activities and programs about the plants and animals that live here.

Of special note is Saturday night's keynote presentation "Special Places of Bayfield County" by Tom Gerstenberger at 7:00 p.m. at the Bayfield Library (37 N Broad Street).

Schedule of Activities

June 20, 2008
Friday 8:30 pm Bonfire and Stargazing Peterson's Farm, Martin Road
Friday Sunset Bat Identification: Brian Huringa Martin Road Trailhead
Friday 9:30 pm Frog Sound Identification: David Bratley Martin Road Trailhead

June 21, 2008
Saturday 5:00 am Bird walk: Bring your own fieldguide, binocs, local knowledge and enthusiasm. Meet at Baseball Field Parking Lot behind school
Saturday 10:00 am - 1:00pm Childrens Nature Activities Meet at Baseball Field Parking Lot behind school
Saturday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Nature Walk: Making Sense of the Place
Doug Lowthian Meet at Baseball Field Parking Lot behind school
Saturday 10:30 am Dragonflies and Damselflies: Dave Bratley Martin Road Trailhead
Saturday 3:30 pm-5:00 pm Wildflower Walk Ruth Oppedahl Meet at Baseball Field Parking Lot behind school
Saturday 12:00 noon-5:00 pm Fungi and Mushroom photography and identification: Mary Gruhl Meet at Baseball Field Parking Lot behind school
Saturday 7:00 pm Special Places of Bayfield County with Tom Gerstenberger Bayfield Carnegie Library

Thanks to the Natural Resources Foundation and the Four Cedars Foundation for underwriting the event.

For more information contact the BRC at 779-5263 or Doug Lowthian at 779-3029.

Rebuilding the Iron Bridge Trail

Under the capable leadership of Grandon Harris, a team of BRC volunteers and C&W Trucking rebuilt a major part of the Iron Bridge Trail. The trail had gullied and eroded due to water runoff from a culvert above on Rice Street. The City of Bayfield redirected the culvert and provided funds to repair the trail.


Thanks to volunteers Martin Burkel, Dick Carver, Bob Ewald, David Harju, Grandon Harris, Gene Lemmenes, Dennis McCann, Mark Musolf, Art Ode, Bill Peterson, Sheree Peterson and Phil Peterson the railroad ties were dug and installed as cross bars to construct terrace steps going up the trail.



The bobcat crossed the waterway on a culvert topped with heavy landscape fabric and gravel. This technique minimized disturbance to the water, and in a short while, you wouldn't even know that a big piece of machinery had crossed the creek.













The trail is much safer now and the gullies are repaired.. If you follow the trail from the parking lot on Washington Avenue in Bayfield, you traverse this new trail section until you are under the Iron Bridge.














Then a series of elevated boardwalks takes you up to a level pine-needle covered trail.













Walk along the creek and small pools...

















and then walk up the creek (just past the "End of Trail" sign) to a sweet little waterfall.

Support BRC by buying or selling on eBay

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is now a registered eBay charity. That means we can hold on-line benefit auctions to raise money, and also sellers can direct part or all of their sale proceeds to BRC.

To learn how to do this, go to our website and click on the eBay for BRC button.


Or, click here to see what we have for sale on-line.

What--another miracle pancake?!!!

It's almost unbelievable, but Mother Nature has appeared again in a pancake at the Bayfield Regional Conservancy's 4th annual Maple Syrup Pancake Breakfast. Yes, you can read the whole amazing story here.

After past years' pancakes met various misfortunes and fates, the 2008 pancake is safely protected in the freezer of a BRC member awaiting its permanent home.

If you are interested in supporting conservation in the Bayfield region, check it out and put in a bid to win the pancake. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Conservancy.

Martin Hanson Story on Wis. Public TV Tonight!

Tonight (4/10) at 7:00 p.m. Wisconsin Public Television will air a documentary on Martin Hanson. Martin worked with the Bayfield Regional Conservancy to place a permanent land preservation agreement on his land in the Penokee Mountains west of Mellon. I hope you have a a chance to enjoy the show!

We have a story about Martin Hanson, and the conservation of his homestead "Camelot North" in our current newsletter (click on Newsletter button and then select Spring 2008).

4th Annual Pancake Breakfast

BAYFIELD REGIONAL CONSERVANCY
Benefit Event

MAPLE SYRUP
PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Saturday, April 5
8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Mt. Ashwabay Ski Chalet
3 miles South of Bayfield on Ski Hill Road

Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes
Bayfield Maple Syrup, Smoked Ham,local Blueberries. Homemade Apple Sauce, Apple Cider, Coffee

Suggested donation: $10.00/adult
$5.00/child (10 or under)
$25.00/family

Thank you to all of our great, local sponsors:

6th Street Market, Apple Grove Inn, Apple Hill Orchard, Bayfield Apple Company, Ehlers Store, Highland Valley Farm, Mosquito Farm, O’Bryon’s Village Inn,
Morning View Farm, Mount Ashwabay Educational Foundation, Nourse Sugarbush, Siskowit Galloways and all our Wonderful Volunteers!

Spring 2008 Newsletter

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy's Spring Newsletter is in the mail. You can also read it on-line (click Newsletter button). This edition includes a story about Martin Hanson who recently protected his land with a preservation agreement, gifts in honor and memory, a thank you to those who helped acquire Mt Ashwabay, a story on business member Apple Grove Inn, Beauty of Birch and an essay on BRC by Howard Paap.

Membership Survey

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is starting our strategic planning and soliciting your thoughts. Please visit our survey and share your ideas for the future of the Bayfield region.

It's kind of a fun survey and doesn't take too long to complete.

What's a little cold--the party's on!

Bayfield Regional Conservancy and Mount Ashwabay Educational Foundation would like to thank you for helping acquire the last 160 acres on Mount Ashwabay!

You are invited to join us at the Mount Ashwabay T-Bar
(Warming house bar next to the Chalet)


February 10, 2008
Noon – 4:00 pm (cake cutting and recognition at 3:00 p.m.)
FREE Cross-Country Skiing Day Passes and Refreshments for all
individuals donating to the Mount Ashwabay Special Appeal this fall. (Lunch can be purchased at the Chalet) Check in at the t-Bar to receive your free day pass.

Mount Ashwabay is located approximately 10 minutes north of Washburn off of State Hwy 13. Turn left on to Ski Hill Road and follow it all the way to the top. (Summer Home of Big Top Chautauqua)