Dane County to Purchase, Protect Lands in Door Creek Wetlands Natural Resource Area

January 24, 2008
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606
County Executive

(Madison)…Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk signed a pair of resolutions today authorizing the purchase of 27 acres in the Door Creek Wetlands Natural Resource Area to improve Lake Kegonsa and provide outdoor recreational opportunities. The resolutions were passed by the county board and purchase properties adjacent to existing county and state lands and located in the Towns of Dunn and Pleasant Springs. “Protecting these lands preserves their natural beauty and acts as a buffer of stormwater runoff,” Falk said. “Families for generations to come will be able to enjoy clearer, cleaner waters and as we restore the wetlands and stream, northern pike will be able to reproduce there,” Falk said. Dane County is focused on restoring the natural meander of Door Creek to provide better filtration of sediments before the waters enter Lake Kegonsa. Dane County began purchasing lands in the Door Creek Wetlands Natural Resource Area in 2000. 638 acres are already protected in the Door Creek area. Lands involved in the county’s current purchase are being sold by Donald Bruns and Gene Henry at the appraised value of $2,800 an acre. Dane County’s Conservation Fund will be used for the purchases and the county will also apply for funding from the Department of Natural Resources Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Dane County will work with the DNR on cooperative management of the area. Additionally, the Dane County Parks Commission may designate the Door Creek Wetlands Natural Resource Area as a wildlife area, which would open the County lands to public hunting. # # #