Press About CWRLT, Land Trusts, and Preservation

CWRLT has written a series of five articles on conservation and land protection that will be published in the Sawyer County Record.  The articles address the ecological benefits of land preservation, conservation options available to landowners, conservation easements, the tax benefits of conservation and the history of the land trust movement, including the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust. 

CWRLT Press Releases

Here are some of the recent Press Releases distributed by CWRLT:

2007

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Copyright © 2004 Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust     Last modified: May 26, 2007      

May 19, 2007  Press Release - CWRLT Board of Directors Meeting

COUDERAY   WATERS   REGIONAL   LAND   TRUST   NEWS

            Appreciation of the efforts of the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust

(CWRLT) to preserve the natural heritage of the Hayward Lakes region, as

expressed in a letter received from Wisconsin's Governor, was a highlight of the

recent meeting of its Directors and interested members, held May 19 at the new

Hayward Public Library in Hayward.

               Vice President Bob Oesterreicher had received Governor Jim Doyle's 

letter which also expressed interest in working with the Trust in the future on issues

to protect Wisconsin's environment. Being familiar with the non-partisan history, and

many years of helpful funding of key conservation efforts, of the Knowles-Nelson

Stewardship Fund, the CWRLT Board passed a resolution to support the pending

re-authorization of the Stewardship Fund including a provision for a substantial

increase in annual funding for the next 10 year term of the Fund.

                Staff report of Bruce Paulsen confirmed the Trust's full compliance with

various tax reporting obligations which are among the ongoing requirements of a

501 (c) (3) tax exempt organization such as CWRLT. The Trust was to be

represented that same day at a meeting of the Sawyer County Lakes Forum. Final

details for the Hoteko easement on that Chippewa Flowage property are being

completed. Dale Anderson, Ray Moeller and Mike Heim are evaluating plans relative

to the possible Hayward Library Pond Project.  An outline of activities necessary to

support the conservation efforts of the Moose Lake Improvement Association has

been prepared by Bruce Paulsen and Ben Neimann.

                 Tom Heinrich reported on the first phase of his early Spring canoe trip,

from near-source of the namesake "Couderay Waters", and mainly involving

Grindstone Lake and Lac Courte Oreilles. The trip, both scenic and observant of 

environmental protection needs, will be reported on further after completion.

                 Activities of Jim Burgess and Chris Jeffords regarding potential easement

preservation of natural resources on Lac Courte Oreilles and Chief Lake, Chippewa

Flowage respectively, were reviewed. Jim Garvey reported on efforts by Trust

members, acting in their individual capacities as property owners in cooperation

with the Grindstone Lake Association (GLA), to aid in conservation protection of

environmentally vulnerable portions of the former Skille Cranberry Marsh on

Grindstone Lake. Town and County hearings, held to consider issues of filling in

wetlands and re-zoning to permit more concentrated housing on Grindstone

shoreline, were attended and provided with written information and objections to

filling and re-zoning. Additional hearings are anticipated in September, 2007.

                 At the conclusion of the meeting the Board and interested members

adjourned to make an inspection tour of a Cedar Swamp with exotic plant life,

eagles nest and rain-forest-like micro-climate. Under study for possible easement 

preservation, it is one more example of an environmentally rare, valuable and

vulnerable natural resource worthy of legal protection and preservation.

                 The next gathering of CWRLT will be its Annual Meeting of Members,

to which all members and the general public are invited to attend on Saturday,

June 16, at 10:00 AM at the new Hayward Public Library, Hayward. This meeting

will include election of 4 Directors, each for a 3 year term. The Annual Meeting of

the Board of Directors will immediately follow at about 11:00 AM and will include 

election of  4 Officers, each for a 1 year term.

                  For more information about the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust

or to become a member, contact the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust by

mail at P.O. Box 13097, Hayward, Wis. 54843 or phone 634-3618 or by e-mail at

Rgiefer@solutionbeacon.com or at CWRLT's Website at www.cwrlt.org.

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April 21, 2007 Press Release - CWRLT Board of Directors Meeting

COUDERAY  WATERS  REGIONAL  LAND  TRUST  NEWS

               New opportunities for conservation and preservation of this area's natural resources

presented themselves at the recent meeting of the Directors and interested members of the

Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust (CWRLT) held April 21, 2007 at the new Hayward Public

Library in Hayward.

                  Ray Moeller reported on potential easement possibilities for wetlands in the immediate

City of Hayward area. Chris Jeffords discussed 10 separate areas on the Chippewa Flowage

currently under study by Doug Kurtzweil and himself which offer appropriate opportunity for

conservation easements. Ben Neimann, a UW-Madison Professor Emeritus of Regional Planning,

together with Sue Neimann and Ron Churchill, all Moose Lake area land owners, presented maps

and proposals relative to exploring conservation protection of numerous islands located in Moose

Lake. The Board indicated CWRLT's interest and intention to cooperate with the Moose Lake

Improvement Association's review of the possibilities of such an extensive conservation effort.

                   Progress of ongoing projects which CWRLT has been actively pursuing was reviewed

by Bruce Paulsen, including continuing discussions with owners for protection of their unique

ecological wetland located in western Sawyer County. Jim Burgess indicated continued owner

interest in preservation easements in the Lac Courte Oreilles area. Bob Oesterreicher reported

that legal documentation had been completed for creation of conservation easements on land

owned by Dimitri and Phyllis Hoteko, of suburban Chicago, longtime landowners on the Chippewa

Flowage. Plans for formal dedication of these easements will be later announced. Oesterreicher

also updated progress being made on another easement on land located near Christner Lake

which is nearing completion.

                    The Board and President Randy Giefer welcomed the announcement of the completed

exclusive purchase by the LCO Band of the Ojibwa of Moonshine Island, the last major

undeveloped island in the Chippewa Flowage. This 17 acre island, with its 3,000 feet of Chippewa

Flowage frontage, is also of significant historical and cultural value to the Ojibwa Tribe. CWRLT

had cooperated with the Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Association (CFAPOA) in

fund raising, in conjunction with major funding to be provided by the State's Knowles-Nelson

Stewardship Fund, to accomplish the same purchase and preservation. However, this purchase

by the Ojibwa frees these land trust and State stewardship funds for other natural resource

protection in and around the Chippewa Flowage and perhaps elsewhere. CWRLT's Legal Counsel

Bob Oesterreicher indicated that the land trust planned to contact donors to the Moonshine Lake

project in that regard.

                      A Nominating Committee, consisting of Bruce Paulsen, Sis Hale and Iras Humphreys,

was appointed to explore nominations of 4 Directors, for the usual 3 year terms. The current 

Directors whose terms are expiring are Jim Burgess, Andy Baltins, Doug Kurtzweil and Ray Moeller.

All are eligible for nomination and re-election. The Committee is also charged with the duty to

nominate 4 Officers for the customary 1 year terms. Elections will be held at the upcoming Annual

Meetings.

                       Louise Heim reported for the Membership Committee which has been mailing

reminders for membership renewals in the form of newly designed and attractive brochures. New

members who wish to support natural resource preservation in this lakes region of the County are

always welcome. Iras Humphreys and Louise Heim are to be aided by Bruce Paulsen in future

membership efforts.

                       The next meeting of the Couderay Waters Directors and all other interested members

is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 9:30 AM at the new Hayward Public Library, Hayward.

                        For more information about the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust or to become

a member, contact the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust by mail at P.O. Box 13097, Hayward,

Wis. 54843 or phone 634-3618 or by e-mail at Rgiefer@solutionbeacon.com or at CWRLT's 

Website at www.cwrlt.org.          

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March 17, 2007 Press release - CWRLT Board of Directors Meeting

COUDERAY  WATERS  REGIONAL  LAND  TRUST  NEWS

               Congratulations were the order of the day at the recent meeting of the Directors

and interested members of the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust (CWRLT) held

March 17, 2007 at the Senior Center, Hayward.

               Staff member Bruce Paulsen reported receiving written confirmation from the

Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) that CWRLT had been approved as a

nonprofit conservation organization now eligible to apply for and receive grants to be

used for specific conservation efforts for further protection of Wisconsin's valuable natural

resources.  Grants, together with membership dues and generous community donations

(all tax deductible), will enable CWRLT to broaden and intensify its aid to area land

owners, on and off lakes, who desire to protect the environmental quality and beauty of

their own property.

                Publication of CWRLT's first ever Newsletter in January, 2007, made possible

by the generous support of the Chippewa Valley Bank, was also celebrated. The eight

page, illustrated printing informed on a variety of conservation topics including the recent

dedication by CWRLT of the James Thiel Preserve on Chief Lake, positive progress of

CWRLT over the past year and identification of Legacy Places in Sawyer County in

need of ecological protection and preservation in accord with the 3 year study completed

by Wisconsin's DNR. The Newsletter was able to update progress on the several

easement and title acquisition projects underway by CWRLT, and explained the recent

improvement in tax law enacted by the 2006 U.S. Congress granting more significant tax

benefits to farmers and others when donating easements or land title to land trusts. 

                 The Newsletter also highlighted the talents and substantial efforts contributed to

ongoing conservation projects by Mike Heim, a science teacher at LCO Ojibwe High

School. Holder of a Master's Degree in Horticulture from the University of Minnesota

among other credentials, Mike serves CWRLT as a Director. The Newsletter was

distributed to CWRLT members and others, and is expected to be published 2 or 3 times

each year.

                 President Randy Giefer accepted reports of increased activity and inquiries by

area land owners seeking environmental assistance in preservation of their "up North"

property. Staff and members of the Land Owner Relations Committee were assigned to

follow-up on on these opportunities to protect and conserve area natural resources.

Closure of several easement and land title transactions are expected to be disclosed at

the next Board meeting.

                 Treasurer Bruce Paulsen reported on increases in the Stewardship fund due to

recent generous contributions. This fund is maintained as a reserve to finance any future

legal and technical defense of easement or land title responsibilities to conserve and

protect natural resources which have been given to and assumed by CWRLT.

                 The next meeting of the Couderay Waters Directors and all other interested

members is scheduled for Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 9:30 AM at the Senior Center,

5th and California Sts., Hayward.

                 For more information about the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust or to

became a member, contact the Couderay Waters Regional Land Trust by mail at

P. O. Box 13097, Hayward, Wis. 54843 or phone 634-3618 or by e-mail at

Rgiefer@solutionbeacon.com or at CWRLT's Website at www.cwrlt.org.

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