SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, Wis. (WHBL) -- The Department of Natural Resources will not be selling a parcel of land near the Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area.
That 40 acre parcel had been up for review as part of a directive to the DNR by state legislators to sell 10,000 acres of land by June of 2017. DNR Facilities and Lands Bureau deputy director Doug Haaq says that the parcel still retained excellent value for the DNR and local hunters. "We learned that there had been a fairly large investment in restoring the property to grassland nesting habitat for grassland birds and waterfowl."
The parcel was part of the national North American Wetlands Conservation Act and received funding for restoration. It also holds part of the county's snowmobile trail system and is frequently used for pheasant and waterfowl hunting. Haag says all of those factors lead to the board retaining the property. "Because of the past investment and the quality of the property as nesting habitat, the recommendation by our Wildlife Program staff was to retain the parcel."
In all, 81 parcels, totaling 5,633 acres received final approved for sale. Haag says his department will be bringing more parcels forward later this year. "We have one more phase to go, and we hope to present that package to the Natural Resources Board in September." So far the DNR has sold 11 parcels totally just under 400 acres and raised $637,000. Funding raised is going to offset current debts in the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program.