Gathering Waters Conservancy is proud to present the 2010 Harold “Bud” Jordahl Award to eight individuals who helped implement one of the most creative and successful cooperative conservation efforts in the state. Working together for a decade, this partnership of The Nature Conservancy, Baraboo Range Preservation Association, The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grants Program, DNR Lands Division and Dane and Sauk Counties leveraged $20 million from state, federal and private funders to permanently protect nearly 12,000 acres in the Baraboo Hills and along Highway 12.
The Baraboo Hills are geologically unique in the world, and home to the largest contiguous stand of upland hardwood forest in the Midwest. These partners maximized their opportunity to protect this remarkable resource by coordinating their efforts for a decade.
Acknowledging everyone who deserves our appreciation for this ecosystem-scale conservation success would make for a very long program! Today’s honorees are the “boots on the ground” acquisition team who worked with landowners, across kitchen tables, sometimes hand-delivering checks to closings.
