Palmer Lake - Border Lakes region 

Beginning around 2003, the soon to be leaders of NWA were involved with PIF and were active in land conservation near the Wisconsin – UP border. Notable successes here were transfers of forest land to WDNR for the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest and to the Wisconsin Board of Commissioners of Public Land. In these transactions, occurring over several years, over 2200 acres of sustainably managed forest lands, with significant riparian features, were opened to the public. The overall incentive for this conservation effort was to assist member landowners in achieving their goals for land protection, especially if they were uncertain of the land’s fate under their heirs. We applaud these owners to achieve their goals for their land while they were physically and mentally able. We believe that these serve as examples to inspire family land owners and their offspring the incentive to practice conservation, be it sustainable management or perpetual protection. In this case public agency acquisition of these once family-owned lands benefit us all!

Project Highlights:

·             Assure public access for traditional forest uses

·             Protects Palmer, Tenderfoot and Cisco watersheds

·             Tenderfoot Creek trout stream

·             Several lakes 

·             Scenic corridor on Cnty. Road B in northern Vilas County

·             Diversity of timber species on multiple properties

·             State’s largest balsam fir and third largest white spruce

·             Habitat connectivity from NHAL state forest to Ottawa National Forest

·             Numerous important flora & fauna