Please take 15 minutes to call and email your representative about the Great American Outdoors Act to fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

On July 22, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on the Great American Outdoors Act, which would fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Contact your representative and ask them to vote for the Great American Outdoors Act.

It’s our top priority to connect and support our land trust members as we continue to bring benefits to your organization through advocacy, services, and amplifying the impact of your work.

To navigate the changing and challenging terrain together due to COVID-19, Gathering Waters has convened weekly forums via Zoom for land trust staff and board members since mid-March.

We stand in solidarity with those who are calling for justice and accountability in Wisconsin and across the United States after the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, along with the targeted harassment of Christian Cooper.

Gathering Waters is thrilled to report that 2019 was a big year for Wisconsin’s land trusts. Twenty-four land trusts protected more than 5,000 acres around Wisconsin.

Read an article by Madison Community Foundation highlighting the work of Gathering Waters and Wisconsin’s land trusts in the Spring 2020 issue of Madison Gives.

Geneva Lake Conservancy recently completed a large conservation easement in their service area, named the Holzinger Memorial Preserve. Read more about it in this post written by our friends at Geneva Lake Conservancy. 

Right now, Wisconsin’s state parks and natural areas are open and free to visit if we abide by the “Safer at Home” order Governor Evers signed in March. We can keep our vital green spaces open by practicing some simple guidelines.

Gathering Waters applauds Representatives Loudenbeck and Kitchens for proposing legislation to renew the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program through the end of the decade.

Planning events early gets staff engaged, enables effective marketing, increases event attendance, AND helps raise funds through sponsorships and other major gifts. 

Thanks for making the second year of Land Trust Days a success! Whether you planned, promoted, hosted, or attended events, we thank you!