Preserving shorelines
When it comes to safeguarding valuable and sensitive lands, shorelines generally top the list. And shorelines are a high priority for the Northwoods Land Trust, dedicated to permanently conserving natural parcels of land in Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Florence, Iron, Price and Langlade counties. Last July, the land trust reached a milestone with its 100th conservation easement. Jan Kurtz made the donation, which protects 22 acres and more than 1,200 feet of natural shoreline on Julia Lake in Forest County’s Town of Hiles.
A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a land trust that protects private land from future development. The donor keeps ownership and use of the land and has the right to decide what activities on it will be allowed. Significantly, most such easements allow for the management of forest land for timber production, supporting the long-term health of areas, like the Northwoods, that depend on forest products to sustain their economies. The land also remains on the property tax roll.
An easement doesn’t affect the owner’s ability to sell the land or pass it on to heirs. The terms are set jointly by the landowner and the land trust. Easements can be for general purposes or for specific goals, like protecting water sources or sensitive habitats. For Jan Kurtz, the intent was to make sure that the land stays the way her family has known it for some 75 years.
According to the Northwoods Land Trust, Wisconsin’s northern counties have such high-quality lakes and rivers because large amounts of public and private land have been conserved in various ways, including conservation easements. “Conserved shorelands offer the highest level of protection to the long-term health and quality of our waters, and for the wildlife that depend on them,” notes Bob Martini, land trust board president. “Tourism and recreation bring in millions of dollars of annual revenue to our communities, and those visitors come here to experience our clean lakes and healthy forests.”
The Northwoods Land Trust was formed in 2001, and shoreland protection remains a top priority. It has helped protect more than 85 miles of waterfront. Nearly 40 land trusts operate across Wisconsin, and there are some 1,700 nationwide. The Kurtz family easement borders the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, making it a critical a connection for keeping forests and wildlife habitat intact. Jan Kurtz observed, “I just could not see this land being subdivided and having houses all along Lake Julia’s shoreline. I’ve had a long-time passion to preserve the esker and wetlands of this parcel.
“My parents previously considered arrangements to conserve it before I became the owner in 2009. It’s my right and honor to protect the earth I’ve been privileged to inhabit. I am a caretaker of this land. I don’t believe in dominion over land; I believe in stewardship of the land.”
The Northwoods Land Trust is always seeking landowners interested in preserving large properties that remain in a natural state, and ideally with water frontage. You can learn more about the trust and the various conservation tools available by visiting https://northwoodslandtrust.org/.