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Non-profit group crafts plan for national wildlife refuge

Photo

Tony DiNicola

Proposed boundary of wildlife refuge

A plan to include vast stretches of Walworth County open spaces into a National Wildlife Refuge is a long way from reality, but a new study lays out a blueprint for what it might look like.

The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit working to promote land conservation, recently completed a viability study, which is the first step in getting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to begin planning for a refuge.

“The natural value is certainly there,” said Beth White, director of the Chicago office for Trust for Public Land. “There is incredible opportunity for eco-tourism in the area.”

Called the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, the area would include parts of Walworth, Racine and Kenosha counties, and stretch into McHenry County, Ill.

The National Wildlife Refuge System protects a network of lands and waters managed for conservation of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service owns and manages the lands.

“It's for the benefit of nature and the humans who live there,” White said. “What I have seen working with folks in these communities is that they really enjoy these areas, and the quality of life is enhanced because of the protected areas.”

Trust for Public Land's proposal is the first step in getting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials interested in creating the national wildlife refuge. After that, federal officials would put together their own feasibility study, and Congress would have to approve purchasing at least one acre of land. The process would take at least two years.

Proponents of the refuge envision both acquiring land and partnering with local landowners to conserve and restore habitat corridors between and among National Wildlife Refuge lands and surrounding conservation areas.

Scott Loomans, a wildlife regulation policy specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said under a wildlife refuge the federal government purchases land from willing sellers. There would be no infringement upon rights, privileges and responsibilities of adjacent private landowners.

“Refuges are to preserve wildlife, habitat and create great watching opportunities,” Loomans said.

Wisconsin has nine other national wildlife refuges, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge would be the first within 150 miles of the Milwaukee-Chicago metropolitan area, White said.

“We believe this would be a very important refuge, especially in such a big metropolitan area,” White added. “And also one that really serves a very big urban population. Lots of people would be able to visit this refuge.”