Last week, the Natural Resources Board signed off on the purchase from The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit land trust, of 100 acres for Devil’s Lake State Park and the Ice Age Trail.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program. The Wisconsin DNR, in collaboration with over 60 partners (including land trusts), cares for nearly 700 sites that protect outstanding examples of Wisconsin’s native landscape.

A land donation from a local philanthropist is expanding a wildlife area in Two Rivers. The donated land as well as the existing 65 acres of the arboretum are held under conservation easement managed by Glacial Lakes Conservancy.

In 2025, the Ice Age Trail Alliance had a record number of volunteer hours. More than 114,000 hours were devoted to trail-related activities by volunteers.

Mississippi Valley Conservancy has expanded the Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area by acquiring Bald Bluff, an 86-acre property.

Driftless Area Land Conservancy has officially closed on the iconic Wintergreen property in Spring Green. This 245-acre landmark, featuring a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired event center, is now protected for conservation and community use.

The Ice Age Trail Alliance has acquired 100 acres of the Village of Cross Plains’ Hickory Hill Conservancy. Up to a mile of the Ice Age Trail is expected to be built in the Town of Berry in 2028.

The land trust acquired Willow Creek, a 143-acre natural preserve, in 2018. It’s working to protect and restore the former farmland to a healthier, biodiverse state through strategies like water quality testing, wildlife tracking, and invasive plant species management.

Earlier this year, the Iron River Community Forest was formed through a partnership between Bayfield County and Landmark Conservancy to purchase and permanently protect 860 acres of the Iron River watershed.

Known as the French Road Property, this donation brings the city closer to its vision for the “bluffland greenway,” which is centered around preserving land in the area.

The Prairie Enthusiasts is working hard to steward a rare sand barrens habitat in Waukesha County known as Mukwonago River Oak Barrens, which contains a diverse array of flora and fauna.

Conservation groups have worked together through the years to restore and protect land along the Iron River. However, much of the land along the river is in private ownership, giving landowners an important role to play in conserving its natural resources.