History of
Gathering
Waters
It’s been over 30 years since our founders — Bud Jordahl, Rob Chambers, Jean Meanwell, Bill O’Connor, and Geoff Maclay — came together to form Gathering Waters, a statewide organization to help land trusts, landowners, and communities protect the places that make Wisconsin special.
Their vision has proved timeless. Read more about our history below.
Hover over each date below for more information on what was happening with Gathering Waters and in the land trust community at that time.
1994
Visionary conservation leaders form Gathering Waters.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, established in 1989, drove the expansion of the land trust community, along with the Uniform Conservation Easement Act in 1981. In 1994, a dozen Wisconsin land trusts protected 8,500 acres. Sensing an opportunity, a group of visionary leaders—including Bud Jordahl, Rob Chambers, Jean Meanwell, Bill O’Connor, and Geoff Maclay—formed Gathering Waters to support Wisconsin’s land trust community.
1995
Tax-exempt status and grant money propel the organization.
Gathering Waters received tax-exempt status. Our fledgling organization supported the founding of five land trusts and the protection of 2,500 acres.
In November, Brian Hotz became the organization’s first Executive Director.
Land conservation supporters successfully advocated for $75,000 in capacity-building grant funding from the Wisconsin DNR to provide technical assistance to land trusts. This grant supported an annual conference, training seminars, and educational materials.
1996
Over 100 people attend the first statewide conference.
Gathering Waters held its first statewide conference. Over 100 people from 30 conservation organizations attended. Eight new land trusts were established, bringing the total to 16 across the state.
Gathering Waters awarded land trusts over $22,000 in technical assistance grants and received 750 requests for support.
Land trusts and other local partners had access to lake protection and lake planning grants through the Wisconsin DNR.
1997
Two new national laws increase interest in land trusts.
The passage of two new laws increased the public’s interest in land trusts in Wisconsin and across the U.S. The first, the federal Taxpayer Relief Act, provided a new tax incentive for land conservation. The second, the Volunteer Protection Bill, limited the liability of volunteers for nonprofit organizations.
Governor Tommy Thompson created a Blue-Ribbon Task Force to assess the future of the Stewardship Program and state funding for land conservation.
1998
A $1 million federal grant boosts conservation efforts.
Gathering Waters hired Vicki Elkin as its second Executive Director.
In March, the State of Wisconsin received a $1 million federal grant, of which $200,000 was allocated to the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust to purchase critical parcels of land and conservation easements within their watershed.
Gathering Waters co-hosted the national Rally conference in Madison, which helped raise the profile and boost enthusiasm for land trusts in Wisconsin.
1999
Forty land trusts protect more than 70,000 acres.
Gathering Waters employed two full-time staff who along with the board of directors and volunteers supported Wisconsin land trusts. Forty organizations collectively protected over 70,000 acres.
An annual capacity grant for Gathering Waters to provide technical assistance to land trusts was increased to $150,000, passed with bipartisan support by the state legislature.
Gathering Waters hosted a statewide land trust conference and four regional forums.
2000
A 3-year strategic plan guides the organization forward.
Gathering Waters grew to four staff members and adopted a three-year strategic plan to increase the effectiveness of land trusts, ensure geographic coverage and protect key properties, and promote policies that support land conservation.
Gathering Waters also helped coordinate a coalition of organizations focused on the Upper Mississippi River watershed. It included four Wisconsin land trusts plus partner organizations from Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois.
2001
Gathering Waters joins a coalition of partners to achieve our top priority in the state budget — boosting Wisconsin’s Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program.
Our top priority in the state budget was boosting Wisconsin’s Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program. A coalition of partners advocated for increasing from $46 million to $60 million per year with $7 million available annually for land conservation organizations.
Six new land trusts were formed, bringing the total to 45 in Wisconsin. Land trusts were instrumental in protecting additional land through collaborative work with local communities and other partner organizations.
2002
Gathering Waters employs a six-member staff.
Our six-member staff helped land trusts identify priorities and strengthen their organizations. Gathering Waters brought Marc Smiley, a nationally recognized consultant, to Wisconsin to help land trusts tackle issues like board and program development and staffing.
We followed up Smiley’s training with strategic planning and organizational needs assessments for land trusts, led by the Institute for Conservation Leadership.
2003
Gathering Waters and coalition partners fend off an attack on state funding for land protection.
The state legislature attempted to cut funding for land protection by almost 90 percent. In response, Gathering Waters and coalition partners launched a successful campaign to fend off this attack.
We also organized the Lake Michigan Shorelands Alliance, a regional partnership of 10 land trusts in the Lake Michigan basin.
Gathering Waters also provided continuing education to attorneys and financial planners on conservation easements and tax advantages of preserving private land.
2004
Gathering Waters celebrates its 10th anniversary.
With a staff of eight, Gathering Waters had the capacity to host more events and launch new initiatives.
While celebrating our 10th anniversary, we hosted the Midwest Land Trust Conference in Madison with the national Land Trust Alliance.
In September, Gathering Waters presented the inaugural Land Conservation Leadership Awards to celebrate conservation leaders. We also launched a Partners in Preservation Program.
2005
Gov. Doyle declared 2005 the year of Land and Water Protection in Wisconsin to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
2005 is named the year of Land and Water Protection in Wisconsin to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
Land trusts owned 43,000 acres and managed 41,000 acres via conservation easements. They also helped protect 47,000 acres that were then transferred to local communities or government agencies.
Executive Director Vicki Elkin served on the Land Trust Alliance’s steering committee.
Gathering Waters co-hosted the Land Trust Alliance’s national Rally in Madison.
2006
Mike Strigel takes over as Executive Director.
Vicki Elkin passed the leadership of a mature organization to Mike Strigel. Vicki moved into the role of Stewardship Campaign Director and supported advocacy efforts over the next several years.
In 2006, President George W. Bush signed a new federal law that expanded tax incentives for conservation easement donations.
Locally, Gathering Waters worked with Wisconsin Public Television on a series about land trusts on the In Wisconsin program.
2007
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is reauthorized at a historic level of $86 million per year.
Gathering Waters and The Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin launched a significant campaign to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program in the state budget. Funding was renewed for a decade at a historic $86 million per year, an increase of about 40 percent.
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission selected Geneva Lake Conservancy to participate in its pilot application program.
Mike Carlson (future Executive Director) joined Gathering Waters as an intern.
2008
Knowles-Nelson grants fund the protection of 500,000 acres.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program reached a significant milestone: funding the protection of 500,000 acres.
Future Executive Director Mike Carlson became a full-time member of the Gathering Waters team after his internship, focusing on public policy advocacy and providing technical assistance to land trusts.
2009
Gathering Waters celebrates its 15th anniversary.
Gathering Waters celebrates its 15th anniversary with a staff of eight supporting over 50 Wisconsin land trusts protecting 60,000+ acres.
Gathering Waters and partners successfully advocate for the Working Lands Initiative, which included the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) program and other policies that supported farmland protection.
Gathering Waters and the Land Trust Alliance collaborated to hold the 2009 Midwest Land Trust Conference in Madison.
2010
The PACE program protects 5,000 acres of farmland.
In the first year of the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement (PACE) program, 16 projects protected over 5,000 acres of farmland.
We represented Wisconsin land trusts at President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative Summit in Minneapolis.
Gathering Waters founder Bud Jordahl passed away. Bud helped create several prominent natural areas in the state, worked with Senator Gaylord Nelson on the first Earth Day, and established the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.
2011
The new Land Trust Excellence & Advancement Program (LEAP) launches to help Wisconsin land trusts through coordinated training and education.
Gathering Waters launched the Land Trust Excellence & Advancement Program (LEAP) in partnership with the Land Trust Alliance to help Wisconsin land trusts through coordinated training and education.
Gathering Waters adopted a three-year strategic plan, which included offering land trust training programs, maximizing land trust access to public grant funds, representing land trust interests in state government, and establishing strong and sustainably run land trusts in every corner of Wisconsin.
2012
Knowles-Nelson funds support the largest conservation project to date, the 67,000 acre Brule-St. Croix Legacy Forest.
Gathering Waters assisted in securing Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funding for the 67,000 Brule-St. Croix Legacy Forest in northwestern Wisconsin, the largest state conservation project to date.
Through the Land Trust Excellence & Advancement Program (LEAP), Gathering Waters coordinated training and workshops, a Wisconsin-Michigan peer mentoring program, and customized capacity-building services. Six land trusts were now accredited.
2013
Budget cuts impact the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and other funding sources, eliminating more than 40 percent of the funding available for land protection.
Support for conservation projects shifted in the state legislature. Funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program was cut by $63.5 million for the next seven years. Combined with other cuts, over 40 percent of funding for land protection was eliminated.
As a result, Wisconsin fell behind neighboring states in owned public land, cited lack of public access as a major threat to our state’s outdoor heritage, and saw a loss of timber and an increase in forest fragmentation.
2014
The organization changes its name to Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts.
Gathering Waters Conservancy formally changed its name to Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts to better describe our supporting and connecting land trusts around the state.
Gathering Waters invested in outreach efforts to showcase the land trust community, which included a series of explainer videos to help people understand what a land trust is, what land trusts do, and why protecting land is important.
2015
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program narrowly avoids elimination in the state budget, with funding at $33 million per year.
Gathering Waters and a coalition of conservation organizations protected the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program from being eliminated in the state budget. Governor Scott Walker proposed halting the program indefinitely, but the legislature agreed to $33 million in annual funding.
The Stewardship Program was saved, but this low funding amount was devastating. Gathering Waters also took a direct hit. Governor Walker used his veto power to eliminate state funding for our $140,000 annual capacity grant.
2016
Mike Carlson assumes the role of Executive Director.
After working his way from intern to Government Relations Director, Mike Carlson assumed the role of Executive Director.
Mike also joined the Land Trust Alliance’s National Leadership Council and the Governance Board of the Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition.
Fourteen land trusts protected 37 properties in 15 counties. More than 2,400 acres were purchased with Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funds.
2017
Over 30 Wisconsin land trusts were nationally accredited.
With the loss of state funding for capacity building, Gathering Waters strategically repositioned its services to focus on the most urgent priorities.
We supported a merger between two land trusts. The newly formed organization, Landmark Conservancy, serves 20 counties in northwest Wisconsin. The merger signaled a trend toward consolidation. Since then, several more organizations have merged.
Over 30 Wisconsin land trusts were accredited.
2018
Gathering Waters launches Wisconsin Land Trust Days, a series of events hosted by land trusts.
Gathering Waters launched Wisconsin Land Trust Days, a series of events hosted by land trusts over two months. During the first year, 1,750 people attended 36 events hosted by 20 land trusts.
Gathering Waters hosted six regional advocacy forums on the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
Public opinion polling co-sponsored by Gathering Waters confirmed that 93 percent of Wisconsin voters believe land and water protection should be a priority.
2019
The grassroots advocacy coalition Team Knowles Nelson forms.
Gathering Waters brought together a coalition of over 50 organizations as part of Team Knowles Nelson to advocate for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Grassroots advocacy efforts helped people reach out to their elected officials. Wisconsin’s lawmakers received over 6,000 letters and over 1,000 phone calls. As a result, the program was reauthorized for two years with a budget of $66 million.
The second annual Wisconsin Land Trust Days connected nearly 2,000 people with land trusts.
2020
Wisconsin Land Trust Days is featured on Discover Wisconsin.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gathering Waters adopted a hybrid working model and virtual programming for land trusts. We co-hosted “Ask an Expert” calls, facilitated Zoom forums, and collaborated on a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion series.
We also invested in research to highlight the monetary benefits of protected land.
Gathering Waters worked with the Discover Wisconsin television program to create a special Land Trust Days episode, and coordinated a watch party.
2021
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is reauthorized for four years at $32 million a year.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program was reauthorized for four years at $32 million a year.
Gathering Waters built a GIS database showing the collective impact of conservation efforts across the state.
Gathering Waters joined a “community of practice” group to address diversity, equity, inclusion & justice issues.
We finalized the Wisconsin Model Conservation Easement template, offering standardization for land protection documents.
2022
Gathering Waters launches the innovative Land Conservation Law Program.
Gathering Waters launched the Land Conservation Law Program to provide legal services to land trusts and expand educational opportunities for legal professionals.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program made headlines when the Joint Finance Committee rejected a grant application from Ozaukee Washington Land Trust to protect the Cedar Gorge Clay Bluffs near Milwaukee. Governor Tony Evers saved the property with American Rescue Plan Act funds.
2023
Gov. Evers sues the legislature for blocking conservation funding.
Gathering Waters partnered with the Wisconsin Policy Forum on a study about conservation funding. Data showed Wisconsin ranked 22nd in the U.S. for public land protection and was dead last for reinvesting in parks.
Gathering Waters and The Nature Conservancy, polled Wisconsinites. Nearly 9 in 10 voters support public hearings for land protection funding.
The Joint Finance Committee blocked funding for the Pelican River Forest. Governor Tony Evers filed a lawsuit and Gathering Waters intervened in the case.
2024
Knowles-Nelson goes to court, and wins!
Governor Tony Evers protected the Pelican River Forest, the largest conservation project in state history. In April, the WI Supreme Court heard the case about the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. In July, in a 6-1 decision, the Court ruled that the Joint Finance Committee blocking projects was unconstitutional.
As a result, by the fall of 2024, land trusts had used all Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program funds allocated to land protection.
