When landowner Scott Erickson approached Seno K/RLT Conservancy (Seno) to protect 242 acres of family land, Executive Director Stacy Santiago recognized this as a transformative opportunity for her land trust.
Stacy knew Seno needed to rebuild its capacity. It had been over a decade since the organization had completed a conservation easement. Since that time, institutional knowledge had waned with turnover among staff and board members.
“I learned about the Land Conservation Law Program during a conference session presented by the Law Program’s Director, Chris Gutschenritter,” Stacy recalled. “When he explained the services available, I immediately thought, ‘This is exactly what we need.’ We wanted to ensure we were using current best practices and up-to-date legal advice to protect this cherished property forever.”
Stacy and Seno’s volunteer Board President, Mark Lesko, contacted Chris to discuss the project.
They examined current conservation statutes, discussed the steps involved in baseline documentation, and addressed real estate title issues. As they worked through each phase of the process, Chris explained the nuances of the choices they were making and the ramifications for the future. Seno’s staff gained knowledge and confidence.
“The purpose of the Law Program is to partner with land trusts as they build their internal capacity,” Chris said. “It is important that land trusts understand the ‘why’ behind the clauses, restrictions, and reserved rights.”
While working with the Law Program, Seno’s leadership had developed the skills to draft solid conservation documents independently.
After the Erickson project was complete, Seno was presented with a second land-protection opportunity: a 60-acre property they referred to as the Riley property.
When Stacy and Mark sat down to discuss the project, they realized they were ready to move forward on their own.
“Working with the Law Program, we built procedures and sharpened our skills,” said Stacy. “We were confident that we could handle the next project, so we took the lead.”
Mark explained the progression. “During the Erickson project, the expert, conservation-specific guidance we received was invaluable — Chris and Gathering Waters’ new staff attorney, Karen Bassler, explained the intricacies of conservation law in ways that strengthened our work. Now, we are more confident in our ability to draft conservation easements that will stand up under legal challenges and protect the land forever.”
Since partnering with the Law Program, Seno has gone on to protect hundreds of acres across multiple projects.
“Working with the Law Program has also informed how we manage the stewardship of conservation easements and interact with owners of our existing protected properties,” Stacy explained. “Our experience working with Chris and Karen has made the operation of our land trust more efficient.”
Land Conservation Law Program services are available to all Wisconsin land trusts across the state, regardless of an organization’s size or experience level.
Learn More
If you would like more information about this type of specialized support, contact Chris Gutschenritter at chris@gatheringwaters.org or Karen Bassler at karen@gatheringwaters.org to discuss how Gathering Waters’ Land Conservation Law Program can support your land trust.