Gathering Waters helps Wisconsin residents protect land for future generations
Trying to protect land? There’s a conservation easement for that.
Scenery and science seem like valid reasons for preserving land, but many of us may be inclined to think conservation is purely a government matter. Enter Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts, and you’ll see this belief flipped right on its head.
Chris Danou, government relations director for Gathering Waters, explains how his organization works with groups of citizens—who form organizations called land trusts—to protect property for an eternity.
“Our mission is to protect the places that make Wisconsin special,” says Danou. “We advise land trusts on how they can go about getting together to protect land, which is usually done through a conservation easement. We help them along in that process.”
At Gathering Waters, the organization advocates on behalf of land trusts across the state and provides them with technical advice. In Danou’s case, he sets up meetings with legislators and other government figures for property owners to discuss certain issues.
“Wisconsin has always had a very strong conservation tradition. We care a lot about our land,” says Danou.
Take Door County, for example. Within the beautiful “thumb” of Wisconsin, and its exceedingly unique geography and geology, residents of the county took action to protect their land.
Image gallery: Gathering Waters land conservation
Wisconsin's Gathering Waters helps people in the Badger State protect land for an eternity
Land trusts can spring up simply because a parcel of property is valued by the community. They may start with a small land trust of five or 10 acres, and grow as their mission expands.
“There are easements in this country that cover thousands of acres. People and other organizations want to preserve land for tourism purposes, or to conserve resources, or simply to keep in the family,” says Danou.
But protecting land doesn’t mean leaving it completely untouched. The appealing aspect of easements is their flexibility, and the ability for land trusts to control restrictions they see fit—ensuring that the land is truly their property to take care of.
Enbridge is committed to enhancing quality of life and environmental protection in the communities where we do business. We’ve supported Gathering Waters for several years, dating back to 2013, and our recent $2,000 donation continues a longstanding partnership via our sponsorship of the organization’s Land Conservation Leadership Awards Celebration in September. The awards recognize conservation work performed throughout the state.
Danou believes Gathering Waters, which will celebrate its 23rd birthday this year, is providing assistance to land trusts that will reap perpetual benefits and maintain sentimental value for generations to come.
“Early in my career, I worked on a preserve in Door County that was purchased as a beautiful piece of state shoreline,” he recalls. “It’s meaningful to me to return with my kids so many years later and say: ‘Hey, your dad helped protect this, and it will be protected forever.’ ”
(Top photo courtesy of Michael Knapstein)
