Wisconsin's Green Fire: Voices for Conservation

Wisconsin’s Stewardship Program Caught in a Festering Political Pout Wisconsin lawmakers have bickered about funding the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program since 1989, when Rep. Spencer Black, a Democrat, crafted it and Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican, signed it into...

While our neighbors in Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois are all actively pursuing active conservation land acquisition, Wisconsin is not... That's despite 90% of Wisconsinites expressing support for public funding for land conservation.

www.patrickdurkinoutdoors.com/post/wiscons...

There's still time to make calls on SB 1024, a bill we consider a good compromise on wake boats and lakes. Consider calling the legislators who introduced and sponsored SB 1024.
- Sen. Cabral-Guevara: 608-266-0718
- Sen. Jacque: 608-266-3512
- Rep. Gustafson: 608-237-9155
- Rep. Goeben: 608-237-9105

Has this warmer weather stirred up your spring fever? Now is a great time to learn about native plants by enrolling in the Wisconsin Native Plant Certification Program through our friends at Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chapter.

foxvalleyarea.wildones.org

Apply for scholarships by March 1st!

UPDATE: A hearing on wake boat bills SB 1024 and SB 1025 has been scheduled for Thursday, Feb 19th at 11:30am in Room 411 South. This is an opportunity to show up and share your views! As a reminder, WGF supports SB 1024 and opposes SB 1025.

docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/committ...

Read the bill here: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related...

Three bills about wake boats and lakes are in the WI legislature right now. At WGF, we support SB 1024.

SB 1024 creates statewide minimums for wake-enhanced boating:
- at least 500 feet from shore
- at least 20 feet deep
- protects local control

Call your legislators:
maps.legis.wisconsin.gov

A new bill related to wake boats just dropped in the Wisconsin legislature today. The bill is Assembly Bill 1033 (AB 1033), specifically related to wakesurfing.

At WGF, we oppose AB 1033. We invite the WGF community to urgently contact your legislators to share your views on this bill.

Green Fire Cafe 2026 • Wisconsin’s Green Fire Part coffee klatsch, part news, all welcoming, our Green Fire Cafe events bring free monthly opportunities for the WGF community to connect.

Coming up today at 3pm CT! Join us for Green Fire Cafe, our free monthly virtual event. Open to everyone, this is a time for us to connect, ask questions, and share stories. Our theme this month is co-creation.

Learn more at wigreenfire.org/green-fire-c...

#freeevents #conservation #Wisconsin

Today, we at WGF issued a statement about our shared outrage at the killings and violence by ICE, and the interconnections of environmental justice, social justice, and people's democratic rights.

Read our message here: files.constantcontact.com/80e15edf601/...

A crisis emerges across the US as ‘forever chemicals’ quietly contaminate drinking water wells The roughly 40 million Americans who get drinking water from wells are at particular risk when harmful forever chemicals contaminate the supply.

A heartbreaking but important story about PFAS in private well water in Stella, Wisconsin and other parts of the USA:

apnews.com/article/pfas...

YouTube video by wuwmradio The National Environmental Policy Act, and the future of environmentalism in federal policy

If you're interested in a 12-minute crash course on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and what federal rollbacks may mean for Wisconsin, listen to this interview: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGZv...

Federal Government Proposes Wetland Protection Rollback (WOTUS Rule) • Wisconsin’s Green Fire The rules, as currently proposed, would remove federal regulation from approximately 75 percent (75%) of Wisconsin wetlands.

The federal government has proposed rules that would change the definition of "Waters of the United States." This matters for wetlands protection, with the WDNR estimating widespread losses of federal protections for wetlands in Wisconsin (roughly 75%). Read more:

wigreenfire.org/federal-gove...

Note: This image comes from the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

Feb 10th 2026 Annual Wisconsin State of the Tribes Address by Red Cliff Chairwoman Nicole Boyd

Mark your calendars for the Feb 10th Annual Wisconsin State of the Tribes Address! Red Cliff Chairwoman Nicole Boyd will be delivering the address. Folks can attend in Madison or livestream at pbswisconsin.org/state-of-the...

Rollback of federal environmental protection law will be felt in Wisconsin The Trump administration wants to make it easier for infrastructure and energy projects to get off the ground. It sees dismantling a foundational environmental law called NEPA (National Environmental ...

Speaking for WGF, Ron Eckstein said, "And so, our organization believes that the NEPA process should be able to do what it was intended to do. And that is protect the environment... The public lands belong to everybody... And we should have a say on how they’re managed.”
www.wuwm.com/rollback-of-...

Providing Input on Wisconsin's Beaver Management Plan • Wisconsin’s Green Fire The existing Beaver Management Plan is being updated so it can be implemented over the next 10 years. Give your input by Jan 31!

Experts at WGF have been helping guide the development of Wisconsin's new beaver management plan. You have an opportunity to offer your input too!

Give your input to the WDNR by Jan. 31: www.research.net/r/WIBeaverMa...

Learn more about WGF's key points: wigreenfire.org/providing-in...

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! We posted these wise words from Dr. King last year too, but it feels like they become truer all the time. All our work and all our lives are connected. May we honor that legacy.

#MLKDay #quotestoliveby #intersectionality #conservation

Our virtual event series, Green Fire Cafe, starts back up February 4th!

Details at >> wigreenfire.org/green-fire-c...

For at least an hour every month, we can connect, learn, and take action. We can refuel for the work ahead. Hope to see you there!

Data centers threaten Wisconsin's rural charm, residents say Sprawling centers that power AI and other internet applications are in plans for DeForest and elsewhere, but residents fear forever harm to their communities.

"Wisconsin agricultural land has been developed over the years as the state loses more family farms, and the data center boom will only contribute to that ongoing trend, according to Darin Von Ruden, president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union..."

captimes.com/news/governm...

Did you know The Xerces Society has free habitat kits available for Wisconsin farmers and community partners? Learn more and help support our pollinators with more native plantings around our state! xerces.org/pollinator-c...

Coming up next week! RSVP at www.goldensandsrcd.org/event-detail...

In this Tap Talk, you’ll learn what Wisconsin's Green Fire (WGF) is and how it engages people, from your neighbor to industry leaders and elected officials, in bringing science to evaluating and solving conservation challenges.

Happy January to our Nitrate Watch volunteers! Please take a moment to complete a brief survey on your 2025 Nitrate Watch activities at 2025 Year-End Volunteer Survey. www.surveymonkey.com/r/iwla2025

Beaver carrying a stick through snow in Douglas County, WI. Photo via Snapshot Wisconsin

Did you know the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is collecting public input for the state's new version of the Beaver Management Plan? This is literally a way to tell decision-makers what matters to you. You can share your input here: www.research.net/r/WIBeaverMa...

Cover page image from Hyperscale Data Centers in Wisconsin Big Tech Unchecked A toolkit for community action

This toolkit is a free resource for anyone interested in data centers and local communities, especially municipalities and community organizers. Thanks to a careful reader, we just corrected a punctuation error on page 24. The direct link to the updated version is wigreenfire.org/2019/wp-cont...

Happy New Year from WGF with background photo of aurora borealis over silhouetted trees

Reflecting on the year, our Executive Director, Meleesa Johnson said, "The power of deep caring and decided determination was our fuel. Let's use this to propel us into 2026 and even greater victories."

Farewell to all the challenges and rewards of 2025! Happy New Year to all!

A passion for forestry, water, and community goes a long way! Check out this community spotlight about our Board President, Tom Jerow, featured in the Wisconsin DNR Forestry News.

forestrynews.blogs.govdelivery.com/2025/12/15/c...

Big Tech Unchecked - A Toolkit for Community Action around Data Centers • Wisconsin’s Green Fire Available now, this toolkit is a free resource for anyone interested in data centers and their impacts on local communities in Wisconsin...

Data centers around Wisconsin are raising concerns about impacts on energy, water, land, and utility costs. What can communities do about it?

Our new toolkit provides some answers: wigreenfire.org/big-tech-unc...

Conservation Trivia 2025 was a blast! Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us and tested your knowledge about Wisconsin's public lands and waters! We love getting to mix work and fun like this alongside so many friends and partners.

WGF Recommendations for the North Central Forest Draft Regional Master Plan • Wisconsin’s Green Fire In Dec. 2025, WGF submitted detailed recommendations to the Wisconsin DNR on the Draft Regional Master Plan for the North Central Forest.

In early December, we submitted a detailed set of recommendations to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) on the North Central Forest Draft Regional Master Plan. In our review, we focused on public land and water management for biodiversity.

wigreenfire.org/recommendati...

Wisconsin’s Green Fire Thanks George Meyer • Wisconsin’s Green Fire Wisconsin’s Green Fire especially thanks and honors George for his early nurturing of our organization. All of us at Wisconsin’s Green Fire are grateful that George Meyer

As we grieve the passing of conservation champion, George Meyer yesterday, we're reflecting on his lifelong commitment to protecting natural resources in Wisconsin. Read our remembrance and gratitude of George here, and please share your own memories with us. wigreenfire.org/wisconsins-g...