Madison, Wis. – This week, Representative Ann Roe (D-Janesville) met with constituents advocating for the continuation of funding for the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program in the upcoming 2025-2027 State Budget. This program is the state of Wisconsin’s main source of funding for conservation efforts and updates to outdoor recreation spaces. The 2025-2027 Executive Budget includes a reauthorization of the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program with $1 billion invested over 10 years.
Ed Madere and Dean Paynter of the Rock County Ice Age Trail Alliance emphasized the continuation for Knowles Nelson funding due to the Ice Age Trail’s dependency on the program. In Assembly District 44 there are 11 miles of Ice Age Trail, with plans to add 16 more. Madere and Paynter warned that without this funding maintaining the Ice Age Trail would be incredibly difficult.
The group provided figures from the Wisconsin Office of Outdoor Recreation showing Wisconsin generated $11.2 billion in gross domestic product in 2023 from outdoor recreation. They also stated that 90% of Wisconsin households live within one mile of a Knowles Nelson Stewardship funded project.
After the meeting Rep. Roe said “the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program embodies what I believe in – doing the most good for the most people with the resources we have. Look at the numbers! And as a bonus, nature rewards us for this investment of money and volunteer time with:
- Air and water filtration
- Carbon sequestration
- Recreation opportunities
- Flood protection
All of this to the tune of $2.5 billion value.”
“Volunteers from the Rock County Ice Age Trail Alliance and Green-Rock Audubon Society put in countless hours and partner with multiple organizations like cyclists, nature lovers, and clean water advocates to make our state and community areas better.” Rep. Roe continued.
Knowles Nelson has helped fund 23 projects within the 44th Assembly District with a total investment of $2,461,543. In Rock County, the program has funded 82 projects, and a total investment of $10,878,664.
Some projects in the 44th district include:
- In 2016, $518,003 in funding from Knowles Nelson was granted to protect 356 acres of farmland, hunting grounds, and wildlife habitat near the Footville Wildlife Area.
- In 2018, $389,200 was awarded to improve outdoor recreation spaces surrounding Monterey Park after the removal of the Monterey Dam.
- Throughout the program’s existence, $546,901 in funding has been awarded to the City of Janesville to repair river walls, upgrade utilities, add green spaces, revitalize Riverside Park, and funds for the creation of Arise Town Square.
Find more projects the Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program has funded throughout the state at: https://knowlesnelson.org/impact/conservation-projects/
