Conserving Land in Wisconsin
MALC is one of 40+ land trusts operating in Wisconsin and is a member of Gathering Waters, Wisconsin’s alliance for land trusts. Land trusts are private, non-profit organizations that work with landowners to protect and enhance land. We accomplish this using two main strategies:
Fee Simple Acquisition
Fee simple acquisition, where the landowner donates or sells the land to the land trust for conservation purposes.
Conservation Easements
Conservation easements, where the landowner retains ownership but conveys a conservation easement to the land trust, empowering the land trust to forever protect the land for conservation, even when land ownership changes occur. Every conservation easement is unique to the location, the landowner’s preferences, and the land trust’s conservation goals.
Find more information about conserving land in Wisconsin at Gathering Waters.
In the highly urban area of Greater Milwaukee, forests, prairies, wetlands, and other green spaces are at a premium and are diminishing rapidly. Conserving these special places is for everyone, whether you are a private property owner, real estate developer, business executive, or public official. If you have questions about conserving natural areas in Greater Milwaukee, contact MALC.
(Please note that conservations options are available for agricultural or working forest lands. Visit Gathering Waters to find the right land trust for your inquiry.)
Download InfographicProject Examples
Fitzsimmons Woods
Fee Simple Acquisition
Conservation Development with fee simple deed to MALC
MLG acquired land in Franklin for the development of the Hidden Oaks luxury condominium subdivision. The first homes were available in 2012, and all construction was completed by 2022. Currently, Hidden Oaks is an established luxury neighborhood boasting wooded lots, and the rare available home sells at a premium.
In the early stages of the development, the principals of MLG had the foresight to permanently set aside the 24.5-acre woods on the property as a natural area, thus providing prospective homeowners with the assurance of a peaceful neighborhood with generous nearby green space. MALC agreed to apply to the Wisconsin DNR for a Knowles-Nelson stewardship grant to cover 50 percent of the purchase price of the woods, with MLG donating the other 50 percent of the land value. Through this arrangement, MALC acquired fee simple ownership of Fitzsimmons Woods in a bargain sale.
The stewardship grant agreement and condominium deed restrictions require MALC to permanently protect Fitzsimmons Woods from any threats to its natural state and to keep the woods open to the public for all to enjoy.
Mayer Land
Conservation Easement
Conservation easement donated to MALC by the Mayer Family
The Mayer Family donated a 22.5-acre conservation easement to MALC on their property located in the City of Franklin. A prime environmental feature of this property is its connectivity to the county-owned Franklin Savanna State Natural Area (FSSNA) which hosts a rare habitat of prairie and oak savanna. The Mayer Land features savanna, White Oak and Hickory woodland, and wetlands, with Ryan Creek, tributary to the Root River, flowing through a portion of the site. With MALC holding a conservation easement, the Mayer Family is assured that their 22.5-acre natural area is permanently protected from development.
Restricted Public Access: This easement was a private donation without the use of public funding. The right of public access is not part of the rights with this easement. Public access is allowed only via coordination through MALC.
