Bayfield News

Dept of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection Deputy Secretary Randy Romanski to visit BRC

2009-08-19T12:19:00.002-05:00

Dept of Agriculture, Trade, & Consumer Protection Deputy Secretary Randy Romanski will be coming to visit the Bayfield Regional Conservancy on Friday August 21st. The main focus of his visit will be farmland preservation, especially with the Working Lands Initiative just getting passed in the recent budget. He will be arriving at BRC's office in downtown Bayfield at 8:00 am for a quick overview of our priorities projects (10-15 min) and then we will visit two of the farms that have been protected by the Town of Bayfield's Farmland Preservation Program: Blue Vista Farm and Highland Valley Farm, spending roughly 20 minutes at each farm.

The Working Lands Initiative included a Purchase of Agriculture Conservation Easements (PACE) program funded at $12M. The details of the program have yet to be hashed out and will be done over the coming next few months. The PACE program will be a great way to fuel local farmland preservation programs, such as the Town of Bayfield's program, and may perhaps catalyze the creation of other local efforts.

Please attend! We can be reached at 715-779-5263 for more details.

2 new job annoucements! Land Protection Specialist & Conservation Planner

2009-08-05T12:59:00.004-05:00

#1
Land Protection Specialist

Job Title: Land Protection Specialist

Supervisor: Executive Director

Type: Part time (10 -15 hrs/wk), Temporary (10 mos)

Pay Rate: $16.00/hr

Location: Bayfield, WI, 54814

Closing date: August 30th, 2009

Location: Bayfield Regional Conservancy, Bayfield, WI.

Background: The Bayfield Regional Conservancy, a small, local land trust working in Bayfield, Ashland, Sawyer and Douglas Counties is seeking to hire a Land Protection Specialist.

The Land Protection Specialist would be responsible for implementing landowner outreach and conservation option workshops throughout BRC’s service area. The Land Protection Specialist will collaborate with other professionals to develop outreach materials and will implement conservation projects as time and funding permit.

Qualifications:

· Undergraduate degree in a natural resources related field and/or 3-5 years experience in land trust, grassroots organizing, or related work

· 3 years relevant experience with a land trust or similar conservation organization or agency. Demonstrated experience with purchase of easements/development rights and conservation sales preferred

· Excellent communication skills and ability to interact with a diverse group of land owners, attorneys, realtors, and government officials

· Understanding and working knowledge of land conservation programs (County, Federal, and Land Trust)

· Ability to locate, identify, and evaluate parcels of land for protection

· Ability to work independently and to set priorities.

· The ability to deal effectively and personably with a variety of people, including members, donors, directors, volunteers, landowners, and the public.

· The ability to work as a member of a team.

· Excellent communications skills, both verbal and written.

· Understanding of and commitment to BRC’s mission and goals.

· Working knowledge of ArcGIS 9.3 preferred.

Duties:

· Develop and manage an outreach program to educate potential conservation easement donors about the benefits of easement gifts.

· Conduct workshops and public presentations on BRC’s work and land protection and conservation options.

· Work with Executive Director and Land Projects Committee to identify, develop, and complete new projects.

· Prioritize land parcels for protection.

· Support stewardship and land monitoring functions.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed in an office as well as in the field. Travel is required to meetings, speaking engagements, workshops.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 30, 2009. Please send a cover letter, resume, three references, and answers to the following questions (no more than 200 words per question), to:

Bayfield Regional Conservancy

Attn: Executive Director Position

P.O. Box 410

Bayfield, WI 54814

1. What is your experience working with landowners on conservation and/or complex real estate transactions?

2. What do you consider your most important knowledge and skills that qualify you to assume the job responsibilities of this position, and how did you acquire them?

3. Please give an example of a project you have taken charge of from start to finish.

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer.

www.brcland.org

Project Position

Strategic Conservation Planning

September 15, 2009- May 30, 2010

Compensation: $6,600

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy, a small, local land trust, is seeking to hire a project consultant to implement strategic conservation planning in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

Job Overview:

The consultant will collect information from documents, agencies, natural resource professionals and integrate the information into a conservation plan focusing on the Lake Superior basin in Douglas County. The plan will prioritize BRC’s land protection program in significant areas identified by the plan.

The consultant will prepare an outreach summary piece for sharing with natural resource agencies and units of government involved in local planning processes. The summary publication will build awareness of the priority sites and help raise interest and attract resources to implement land protection initiatives.

The consultant will establish a GIS workstation at the BRC office to support the planning work, and to be used when the plan is implemented.

Qualifications:

· Experience in conservation planning

· Strong organization skills to coordinate and implement the planning process

· Ability to read, analyze and synthesize existing plans and summarize into a conservation plan for BRC

· Experience coordinating publications: writing, layout, printing and distribution of written reports and summaries

· Familiarity with computers including: database and word processing software

· Experience with ArcGIS 9.3 and setting up a GIS computer workstation

· Good communication skills in speaking and writing

· Ability to work independently

· Good at setting and meeting deadlines

To Apply:

Submit a resume and cover letter by August 30, 2009. The cover letter should address the qualifications listed above and experience related to the job description. Please include the

phone numbers for three references. Interviews will be scheduled in August. Start date to be as soon as possible thereafter.

For More Information:

Contact the Bayfield Regional Conservancy at 715-779-LAND or see www.brcland.org

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is a non-profit land trust dedicated to protecting

natural lands, waters, forests, farms and places of scenic, spiritual and

historic value in the Bayfiel

White River Trip!

2009-07-02T11:26:00.003-05:00

Sign up for the Bayfield Regional Conservancy's

White River Canoe Trip with Bill Heart on July 26th!

Want to experience the abundant wildlife, peace and beauty of the White River while learning about our efforts to protect this special place?

BRC is offering the opportunity for a half day of canoeing the White with Bill Heart, Council Chair of WI Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Chair of Friends of the White River. After a hearty scrumptious breakfast at the famous Delta Diner, we will put in at the Town of Delta, and wind our way eastward towards the town of Kelley with a stop for lunch at a property BRC is buying this summer. This beautiful piece of land is highly developable and BRC, Friends of the White River and Trout Unlimited are joining forces to buy the property to protect for wildlife habitat and recreation.

Cost of Trip: $150/person and includes transportation, breakfast and lunch.

Hurry, the trip is limited to first 12 people to sign up!

Please forward this message to others who may be interested!

For more information contact Hannah Hudson, email hannah@brcland.org or telephone 715-779-5263

For more information on the White River project click here.

White River Property Canoe Trip!

2009-05-29T11:08:00.004-05:00

The job of preserving special places is not always a picnic, but on
its best days it can be just that. On May 28 members of the Bayfield
Regional Conservancy board and friends of the White River launched a
flotilla of canoes for a half-day paddle to inspect the parcel of
land BRC is acquiring there. The property, currently known as the Walker property but formerly known
as the old Hanson Farm, straddles the river in the Town of Delta and will be
held by BRC until it can be sold to the Wisconsin DNR.

The day, which began with a group breakfast at the always tasty Delta
Diner, was as fine as May can offer, with uncluttered blue skies,
warm air and even occasional breezes for cooling and mosquito control.
Host Bill Heart, accompanied by Roger Dreher and his home-built
birchbark canoe, led director Ellen Kwiatkowski and board members
Karin Kozie (with family), Shari Eggleson (with friend) Grandon Harris
(with camera) and Dennis McCann from the Pikes Bridge put-in to the
Sutherland Bridge take-out, a route graced with spring wildflowers and
abundant bird activity.

After a few hours of paddling the group beached on the onetime farm
and enjoyed lunch under the shade of a tall pine while Heart explained
the property's former lives and expressed thanks for its coming
protections. There was more bird-watching and a bit of whimsical
imagining - perhaps a BRC music festival on the spacious grassland
along the river. Troutstock, anyone? Tickfest? No decision was reached
before it was time to get back on the water and head for the
Sutherland Bridge. On that note, the identities of those who tipped
their boat and suffered a White River dunking are really nobody else's
business.

-Dennis McCann

Photos by Grandon Harris

Announcing the 1st Annual Bayfield Regional Conservancy Photo Contest!

2009-05-04T14:55:00.002-05:00

Bayfield Regional Conservancy 2009 Photo Contest!

*12 photos will be picked for a 2010 BRC Wall Calendar available in early December 2009*

Photos must be from the following locations:

White River Watershed
Upper Namekagon Watershed
Fish Creek Watershed
Iron River Watershed
Upper Chippewa Watershed
South Shore Streams
Marengo River Watershed

Photos need not be just of the rivers themselves but also other quality habitats in those watershed areas!

These are some of the very special places the BRC is working to protect and were identified through our Strategic Conservation Plan for Bayfield County. Please note that we will doing the same for Ashland, Douglas and Sawyer Counties during 2010-2011!

We will use the winning photos in promotional materials and our website. The winner’s photos will be credited to the photographer on all media they are used for.

All images must be in JPEG format, at least 1000 pixels on the long side, and at 300 dpi. Please submit to Hannah@brcland.org by Monday, May 18^th, 2009 at 4 pm. Winners will be announced on June 1^st!

Working Lands Initiative

2009-05-04T09:33:00.003-05:00

The Joint Finance Committee – the senators and representatives who are putting together the 2009-2011 State Budget – will likely take up the Working Lands Initiative this week!

If you care about the future of Wisconsin’s farm and forest lands, you need to ACT NOW.

Please check out www.wisconsinfarmland.org for more information.

We need your help!

We are now on Twitter!

2009-04-29T14:22:00.002-05:00

Follow us on twitter - we are under BRCLAnd! As summer gets busier and busier around here I will try to keep everyone up to date on the BRC's events and news.

Thanks!

Hannah

Good Search for BRC!

2009-04-20T13:11:00.002-05:00

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy is now listed with GoodSearch.com!

Here's the web site — http://www.goodsearch.com. You can also read about GoodSearch in the NY Times, Oprah Magazine, CNN, ABC News and the Wall Street Journal.
Just go to the site above and either install the toolbar on your browser or search from their page. Every time someone searches for ANYTHING on the internet, with us as the recipient, we get $!

Email me if you have any questions - hannah@brcland.org.
Thanks!

We need great reviews!

2009-04-13T15:09:00.002-05:00

One more thing I forgot to add - we would love some reviews about the Conservancy's GREAT work. Check it out here at Great Non Profits.Org:

http://www.greatnonprofits.org/reviews/bayfield-regional-conservancy/

Thanks again!

Maple Syrup Pancake Breakfast

2009-04-13T13:50:00.002-05:00

The breakfast went really well! We served almost 200 people on Saturday April 4th at the MtAshwabay Ski Chalet. Thank you to everyone who helped out and attended!

This pancake went over really well :)

By the way - if you are on Facebook - become a fan! Here is our link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bayfield-WI/Bayfield-Regional-Conservancy/67384051158?ref=ts.

Have a great week everyone.

Hannah, Ellen, & Lynda

Sad News for Conservation

2009-02-03T13:16:00.003-06:00

Martin Hanson, a strong supporter of conservation in Wisconsin, passed away in late October. Martin was a long time member of Bayfield Regional Conservancy and permanently protected his homestead, known as Camelot North, with a land preservation agreement for wildlife. To learn more about Martin and his life, you can visit www.brcland.org and view the Spring 2008 Newsletter.

Update on Houghton Falls 10/17/2008

2008-10-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

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

2008-10-16T15:04:00.002-05:00

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

2008-09-25T11:35:00.004-05:00

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

2008-09-03T11:24:00.004-05:00

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

2008-08-20T13:12:00.005-05:00

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

2008-08-07T11:41:00.004-05:00

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

2008-07-23T11:24:00.003-05:00

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

2008-07-02T14:30:00.007-05:00

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

2008-07-01T11:40:00.005-05:00

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

2008-06-23T09:50:00.009-05:00

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

2008-06-20T10:47:00.004-05:00

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

2008-06-05T10:18:00.035-05:00

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

2008-05-15T13:20:00.000-05:00

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?!!!

2008-04-14T15:28:00.005-05:00

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!

2008-04-10T13:06:00.008-05:00

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

2008-04-02T09:38:00.005-05:00

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

2008-03-14T13:43:00.005-05:00

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

2008-03-07T14:28:00.003-06:00

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!

2008-02-08T14:05:00.000-06:00

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)

2007 Overview

2007-12-31T12:07:00.000-06:00

This year has been the most active ever for land conservation in the Bayfield region. Details will be in our newsletter, but here are the highlights:

Capped off the Mt Ashwabay acquisitions which now holds over 1000 acres of deep forest habitat, 42 k of nordic ski trails and preserves the Mt Ashwabay Recreation Center--a family ski hill.

Protected a quarter mile of shoreline on Bass Lake on one of only two private holdings on the lake, which has a US Forest Service canoe launch.

Permanently preserved 85 acres and numerous ponds that are a wildlife magnet west of Mellon in Ashland County.

With a land preservation agreement with a private landowner, over 500 ft of Lake Superior shoreland, 2,400 feet of intermittent streams, and 600 feet of fields visible from Hwy 13 north of the City of Washburn are forever protected.

This work is only possible due to our generous members who make annual contributions to support our conservation programs to protect these places that make this region beautiful. You can join us by making a donation here.

Mt Ashwabay--we did it!

2007-12-20T15:28:00.000-06:00

Last week, Bayfield County purchased the last 160 acres of land on the Mt Ashwabay ridge!

BRC President, Ellen Kwiatkowski announced that the $240,000 Stewardship grant from the Department of Natural Resources was matched by contributions by many people and a much-needed boost at the last minute of a donation by Murphy Oil Refineries of Superior.

You can now ski 42 kilometers of nordic trails crossing from Star Route Rd over to Mt. Ashwabay. To print a map, go here and click on Maps.
The media coverage was phenomenal. You can read some of the stories online:
Superior Telegram
Ashland Daily Press
KUWS Wisconsin Public Radio
News Center 6 TV -- featuring Dave McCormick's song, "Letters to Leopold"

Pam Troxell 1959-2007

2007-11-13T10:05:00.000-06:00

Pam passed on last Friday, November 9, 2007. You can read her obituary here.
The Wisconsin State Journal also published a tribute by columnist Susan Lampert Smith.
A memorial garden of native plants and a howling wolf sculpture will be created in honor of her life and life's work. You can donate to the garden by mailing a contribution to the Pam Troxell Memorial Fund at Associated Bank, 221 4th Ave W, Ashland, WI 54806. 715-682-9371.

You hang on for wherever this ride is taking you--benefit Fish Boil for Pam Troxell

2007-10-29T12:31:00.000-05:00

A benefit fish boil will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at the Four Corners Saloon (30015 E County Hwy E near Mason) to help cover the costs of cancer treatments and travel for Pam Troxell. Pam is a lifelong conservationist and has worked with the Timber Wolf Alliance and other programs at the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute at Northland College.

I have worked with her with the Friends of the White River. Last June, the group was trying to find out how to get involved with a booth at Mason Days, and Pam took the practical approach of stopping in at the local bar to get support for the Friends having a booth at the event. In August, she and her husband took an extended wilderness canoe trip in the arctic with Bill Heart and others. The cancer that took one eye has now spread throughout her body. And I thought of her when I read Sam Cook's column today in the Duluth news Tribune.

Fall Colors in northern Wisconsin

2007-10-03T12:34:00.001-05:00

Forrest Howk Studies Ice Records to Madeline Island

2007-10-02T14:58:00.000-05:00

A fun thing to do in February is to drive the ice road across Lake Superior from Bayfield to Madeline Island. I usually drive with my window down in case I have to bail out of a sinking car. I know the ice depth is tested daily, but the experience elevates my heart rate and saves money.

Forrest Howk, a local Bayfield student, researched historical records back to the early 1800's and found the ice-over days are getting fewer and fewer. You can read the article in the Duluth News Tribune.

Conservation Options in Estate Planning Oct 25

2007-10-01T13:05:00.000-05:00

In conjunction with Gathering Waters Conservancy and Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust, we are hosting a luncheon seminar on Conservation Options in Estate Planning. The intended audience is attorneys, financial planners, bankers and accountants who provide tax advice to conservation-oriented clients.

For more information see the Events tab at our website.

Annual Meeting and Cider Making

2007-09-24T15:35:00.001-05:00

You are invited to the Annual Meeting of the
Bayfield Regional Conservancy Saturday, September 29, 2007
at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Bayfield, WI
109 S 6th Street (Hwy 13)

9:00 a.m. Annual Meeting and slide show of conservation project updates and board elections.

1:00-4:00 p.m. Apple cider pressing, hikes at the Big Ravine. An afternoon of autumn fun! Bring apples to press, or pick from the old orchard and bring clean containers to take some cider home. Volunteers will lead hikes on the Big Ravine Trails. Join us at the Peterson Farm: take Washington Ave out of Bayfield, through the cemetery to Betzold Rd at the top of the hill. Turn right onto Betzold, go ½ mile and turn right on Martin Rd and follow to the end.
For more information call the BRC
at 715-779-5263.

Fall Newsletter 2007

2007-09-04T13:27:00.000-05:00

The summer is slowly coming to an end as fall approaches with cool nights and changing leaves. Check out our fall newsletter to find out what BRC has been up to and information on our upcoming annual meeting and apple cider pressing event. You can view it on line here.

Last 160 acres on Mt Ashwabay

2007-07-27T12:37:00.000-05:00

Your help is needed to acquire and protect the last 160 acres on Mt Ashwabay (shown in orange on this map).

Thanks to a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund grant, the last piece of Mt Ashwabay can be protected with your help! Your donation will be matched 1:1 up to $100,000 to purchase this land for wildlife habitat, forestry and Nordic ski trails.

The option top purchase expires at the end of September. 80% of the funds have been raised! The BRC is working with Bayfield County and the Ashwabay Outdoor Educational Foundation to raise the remainder of the match required by the grant.

You may donate on line at our website and read more details here (click on Projects box in lower left corner).

Knotweed Results

2007-07-16T11:14:00.000-05:00

Gene Brevold was one of seventeen people who helped cut and remove Knotweed (Elephant Ears)in Bayfield last Thursday. The plant is highly invasive and grows into a huge jungle in just a few months.

The treatment involved cutting the hollow stems and treating with a concentrated glycophosphate herbicide. For details on how to control this non-native plant, see the Homeowner's Guide to Knotweed.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the work and the sponsors: Apostle Islands Realty, National Park Service, Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area and Travel Green Wisconsin.

Knotweed Woes

2007-07-09T11:11:00.000-05:00

Help control this invasive plant in Bayfield on July 11

9:00 a.m. Morning seminar indoors on Japanese Knotweed and its effect on our landscape and economy

Free lunch for participants thanks to Travel Green Wisconsin Program and area businesses.

1-3:30 p.m. Outdoor field work to remove Japanese Knotweed on the Brownstone Trail and other public lands. Bring loppers and work gloves.

Call to register. Space is limited and registration is required. There is no cost for this event. Please contact Ruth Oppedahl 779-5263 or email ruth@brcland.org to register or for more information.

Big Ravine Trail Improvements

2007-07-02T11:40:00.000-05:00

Kenny Dobson is donating 70 yards of clean, sand fill on the Big Ravine Trail section off Martin Road. Those who hike the trail may recognize the huge pond that forms in the spring in the middle of the trail near the intersection fondly remembered as the "Fridge Trail". Luckily the fridge is no longer guarding the water monitoring well, thanks to clean-up work by Tim Hartnett, and now you will be able to walk down the trail instead of skirting way around through the woods.

C&W Trucking will cap the filled area with Brule Blue gravel which packs up nicely. They will also create a swale that will drain the area better. Many thanks to Kenny and to Phil Peterson who grabbed the opportunity of free fill material!

Lasagna dinner for kayakers

2007-06-21T11:03:00.001-05:00

L-R:Arnie Carver, Shari Eggleson, Paige, Becky Carmel helped serve lasagna at the 5th annual lasagna dinner for the kayakers at the Inland Sea Society's kayak symposium in Washburn last week.

BRC members donated homemade lasagna's (ranging from vegan to venison) and desserts for a wonderful benefit dinner that raised about $1700.

Special thanks to the Village Inn, the Egg Toss Cafe, Ehler's General Store & Deli and Wild By Nature for donations of food. Thanks to Shari Egglseon, Mark Eggleson, Carol Lyons, Gene Lemmenes, Nickolas Oppedahl, Becky Carmel, Paige, Bill Bussey, Ann Riggs, Carl Savitsky, Arnie Carver and Lynda Nedden-Durst for all their hard work.

Highland Valley Farm featured on Public TV

2007-06-11T12:47:00.000-05:00

Highland Valley Farm is featured this week on In Wisconsin, hosted by Patty Loew on Wisconsin Public Television. The special documentary called “Land Trusts” airs at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14. It will encore at noon, Sunday, June 17, and 11:30 p.m. Monday, June 18. On Sunday, June 17 at 3:30 p.m. it airs on WDSE-TV in Duluth.

The show highlights stories about properties around the state that have been protected forever by private landowners working with land trusts. The documentary interviews Bayfield growers, Rick and Janet Dale (and one of their sons Chris) about Highland Valley Farm and the Town of Bayfield’s Farmland Preservation Program. The Bayfield Regional Conservancy administered the program for the Town and worked with the Dales to coordinate the preservation of their farm.

Landowners from other corners of the state, including Door County, Chippewa and Douglas Counties relate their experiences working with a land trust to preserve their land.

For more information click here.

Big Ravine Trails Work Party June 2

2007-06-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

All interested volunteers should congregate at the Bayfield soccer field around 9:30 am. The soccer field is up the hill and past the fire hall on Washington Ave, at the end of Dump Road. Work will include putting up signs and general clean up. If you can,please bring rakes, shovels, and saws for trimming anything that is hanging too low over the trails. Please call the Bayfield Regional Conservancy at 779-5263 if you are interested in joining the work party.

Free Bark Chips

2007-05-25T11:41:00.001-05:00

You haul. Located down the Brownstone Trail off the intersection of Manypenny x 3rd Street in Bayfield. Drive through lumberyard storage area and fill your trailer or bags. Please watch out for lumberyard workers.

We will use some of these for mulch on July 11 for the Knotweed Knockout (removing the Japanese Knotweed "Elephant Ears Bamboo", but can't possibly use all that were given to us. Please help yourself!

Spring migration

2007-05-14T14:34:00.000-05:00

We are starting to see and hear the neo-tropical birds which have made the journey from Mexico, Central America and other southerly places to northern Wisconsin. This week I have heard:
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated green Warbler
Ovenbird
White-throated sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Northern Oriole
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The first-ever Chequamegon Bay Birding & Nature Festival is this coming weekend (May 18-20). There are hundreds of field trips and talks. The birding should be excellent!

Big Ravine Trail Maps Installed

2007-05-14T14:11:00.000-05:00

Gene Lemmenes and Grandon Harris dug post holes and installed three trail maps at intersections on the Big Ravine Trail system today. Thanks guys!

Grandon is also re-planting the nice kiosks that Rich Ryan built last year. The kiosks can be found at the trail heads at the Bayfield School, the soccer field and the end of Martin Road.

You can download a map here, click on Trails & Maps and Big Ravine Trail Map.

The Country Commute

2007-05-10T13:30:00.000-05:00

I have lived in Cornucopia for almost eleven years now. Friends and family still ask me if I get sick of driving all over for work or to different events for our kids. If any of them could just take a week to travel with me, they would understand that what I encounter on my drives is nothing like the traffic endured by living in a city.
Last Tuesday on my way into the office, I had the opportunity to stop and meet a great gray owl through the lens of my camera. What an amazing creature. Great Grays are so huge when you see them from 20 feet away with their yellow eyes piercing into your own.
Yesterday on our way to soccer registration and Kindermusik, my sons and I saw a bobcat eating on a road killed deer. Unfortunately, we only caught a quick glimpse as it dashed away from the kill and into the woods.
Maybe some folks don't mind looking at bumper to bumper traffic on their way to work. As for me, I will take the wildlife.

Iron Bridge Trail

2007-05-09T15:18:00.000-05:00

Grandon Harris has brought to our attention that the Iron Bridge Trail in the City of Bayfield is in need of some care. BRC met with the City Park's Commission last fall to request some money for materials with the hopes that a volunteer work party could provide the labor.

It's quite a beautiful trail with boardwalks and benches built by Bobby Nelson's WCC Crew in 1984.

The trail leads up the bottom of the Big Ravine to a beautiful 4 ft waterfall. (This is directly below the Bayfield School.)

There's lots of work to be done, including rebuilding the trail where water runoff has created deep gullies.

As you walk back down the trail to the parking lot on Washington Ave in Bayfield, you can see Lake Superior.

Anyone interested in volunteering to help make repairs and spruce up this beauty spot?

Walking Group Explores Brownstone Trail

2007-05-03T11:43:00.000-05:00

Linda Webster has organized a walking group through Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College this summer. Here is the description:

Spring mornings call! Slip on those walking shoes and trek the length of the BrownstoneTrail with friends and neighbors (2+ miles). Walk at your own pace and take in the scenic vistas and returning migratory birds. In case of inclement weather, meet at the Egg Toss Restaurant to discuss "A Northwoods Companion - Spring and Summer" (John Bates author). Class will meet 8:30-10:30 am on June 4, 20, July 11, 18. No class July 4.

To register click here.

Sand Bars at Pike's Creek

2007-05-01T10:24:00.000-05:00

View of Pike's Creek from Highway 13 looking north to Port Superior and Pike's Bay Marina.

Marie Strum, an assistant chief for the Army Corps of Engineers based in Detroit estimates the lake will still be 14" down by mid-September.

Unfortunately, this season, there will be some northern pike seeking to migrate up rivers to spawn who will find estuaries too low to be of any use, according to Steve Schram, director of the hatchery at Bayfield.

Return of the Cranes

2007-04-26T11:05:00.000-05:00

South Shore birders- the pair of Sandhill Cranes have returned to the Bark Bay Slough! I enjoyed seeing the pair with their two fledglings grazing in the field near the slough last fall as I would drive my boys to catch the bus. Yesterday morning, four wild turkeys were also hanging out along the road leading to the slough. The tom stood guard with his feathers puffed out as the three hens pecked their way through the grass.

Ebay Pancake Benefits BRC

2007-04-25T13:36:00.000-05:00

The high bidder for our Mother Nature Miracle Pancake was Nancy Sandstrom of the Pinehurst Inn. Nancy won the pancake with her $86 bid!

The pancake appeared on the last griddle of flapjacks made by Ros Nelson at our annual Maple Syrup Pancake Breakfast March 31. The pancake seemed to have the likeness of Mother Nature, and not one to miss an opportunity to raise money for our conservation work, Ros posted the pancake on Ebay. Over 600 people viewed the auction and 42 people were watching the bids over the week of April 1.

Rick Olivo from the Daily Press wrote a hilarious story, "Miracle pancake or flapjack flap? eBay will settle this" that was picked up by the AP wire. The story took a life of its own and appeared in newspapers in St. Paul, Chicago, Madison, Eau Claire, Green Bay and Wausau.

The Sandstroms tell me that they are preserving the pancake (not serving it) for the future. Maybe it will make an appearance next year, for the good of the cause!

Frogs

2007-04-24T14:34:00.000-05:00

The last of the snow is pretty much gone. Finally we are hearing the quacking of the Wood Frogs and the peeping of the Spring Peepers.

A great link to identifying Wisconsin frogs is found on the Department of Natural Resources website.

Skiing at Mt. Ashwabay

2007-01-26T09:56:00.000-06:00

Beta and Jim Bodin at Mt. Ashwabay in an earlier era!

As you may know, the BRC was involved in helping acquire funds for the purchase of the Mt Ashwabay Ski hill and the adjacent lands that are used for the nordic ski trails. By the time we are done (with the help of Gov. Doyle, Sen. Jauch and Rep. Sherman) over 1040 acres will have been acquired for public recreation and wildlife habitat on the Ashwabay ridge.

Though we don't have much snow... the Ashwabay Outdoor Educational Foundation has been making snow on the ski hill to build up the base for the downhill ski runs. They also have added 15k of skating trails to the cross-country system. Here is a recent article on the ski hill.

Finally...snow!

2006-12-29T13:28:00.000-06:00

We have been getting light snow all day. The brown grass is finally covered with a nice blanket of snow.

Congratulations Sustainable Bayfield!

2006-12-20T23:09:00.000-06:00

Great news, another Chequamegon Bay city has adopted the principles of sustainabilty. Last week on 12/13/2006, the City of Bayfield passed a resolution adopting the Natural Step principals of sustainability.

This includes reducing what we take from the earth's crust, reduce the pollutants we emit, protecting the natural systems that provide drinking water and food, and meeting the basic needs for humans all around the world.

Way to go all the Bayfield citizens who worked on the resolution and wrote Earth Care: Choose, Consume Recycle - Living a Sensible Life in Bayfield. You can download it here.

See the Sustainable Bayfield blog.

Lake Levels are the lowest in 80 years

2006-12-19T14:58:00.000-06:00

Sioux River Beach 12/19/2006

Winter 2007 Newsletter

2006-12-13T13:29:00.000-06:00

Our newsletter will be mailed out on December 14.

If you would like to receive a copy in the mail, please contact the Bayfield Regional Conservancy office at brc@brcland.org and we will add you to the mailing list.

You can become a member by donating to the BRC. Your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law. Your gift supports the protection and preservation of natural areas in the Bayfield region. Every penny stays here!

Pie Cherries

2006-12-11T13:45:00.000-06:00

Every July, for only a week or so, cherry pickers would come from hours away to pick pounds of pie cherries from Betzold's Orchard. When you took your buckets to the fruit stand, Viola Betzold would weigh them up and send you down to the pitting machine.

Viola and her husband Gene, grew all kinds of crops for over 50 years: strawberries, rhubarb, apples, pears and cherries. With their children all pursuing other careers, Viola started to think about the future of the land she had lived and worked on for most of her life. Before Gene died in 1999, the couple had begun looking into the possibility of preserving the property as a farm. In December of 2005, The Town of Bayfield Farmland Preservation Program (which BRC administered) purchased the development rights on Betzold's Orchards to keep the land open for farming in the future. I really enjoyed working with Vi through the process and got to know her strong feelings for preserving the land that had such fine soils for growing fruit.

This November Viola passed on. Although her death seems too soon (she should've been able to enjoy retirement) I know that she felt great about making sure the farm was preserved.

Lake Ice

2006-12-08T14:57:00.000-06:00

This has been the first week of real winter weather. Bayfield has about 6 inches of snow, and Lake Superior is starting to get ice along the shores.

The fishing boats are still going out every day.

Hello from Lake Superior

2006-12-07T22:36:00.000-06:00

Today I am starting a blog to reflect on nature, our latest conservation projects and phenology along Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin.

Our small land trust has members from over 24 states, Sweden and Germany that are interested in what's going on in Bayfield when they are not here. I hope that this blog will provide a window into the natural world, and our attempts to preserve special natural areas that make this place so beautiful.