From The Governor Tony Evers

As the ground begins to thaw and the sun stays out for a few extra hours, I am excited to share with you several exciting announcements that couldn’t come at a better time.

Conserving and protecting our natural resources continues to be a top priority for me and my administration. In my 2024 State of the State address, I was proud to announce we finalized one of the largest conservation projects in Wisconsin history: the Pelican River Forest conservation easement.

A result of a partnership with the Biden administration and The Conservation Fund, this easement will protect over 67,000 acres of the forest, including 58 miles of rivers and streams and 22,334 acres of wetlands.

It will protect cold-water trout streams; ensure the land remains forested and sustainably managed; store approximately 19 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent; permanently secure public access and open 56 miles of roads designated for motorized vehicle use; connect important snowmobile/ATV/UTV trail routes to Oneida County’s 1,100-mile trail network; and protect the headwaters of the Wolf River, which supplies clean drinking water to over 40,000 people who live downstream.

Additionally, after five years of calling for legislative action, in 2023, we saw the first real and meaningful state investment to specifically address PFAS in our state’s history when we secured $125 million in the 2023-25 biennial budget to address and prevent PFAS contamination statewide.

In Wisconsin, where our economies rely upon water resources for livestock, crops, hunting and outdoor recreation, PFAS are a threat to our way of life and our economy. Unfortunately, this funding is still sitting in Madison because the Legislature refuses to release it. I am continuing my calls for Republicans to release this funding so we can get it out to the families, child care facilities, schools, businesses and communities across our state who need it.

Finally, wild rice has been harvested here for thousands of years, but it’s threatened by the effects of changing climate and water quality. So, I was proud to highlight in my State of the State address our administration’s work with the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Menominee and the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Nations to secure nearly $2 million for a new effort to preserve and restore wild rice in Wisconsin.

With spring and warm weather on the horizon, Kathy and I are looking forward to getting out to enjoy our state’s beauty, and I hope this issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine inspires you to do so, too. Happy reading, Wisconsin!