State to Buy Natural Areas
By Lee Bergquist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Jan. 15–DOOR COUNTY — Gov. Jim Doyle announced plans Monday to use $4.1 million to purchase land in Door County near Sturgeon Bay and on Washington and Detroit islands at the tip of the county.
The funds will include $2 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and $2 million from the state Stewardship Fund. The rest will come from private sources.
In one set of transactions, 195 acres — and 6,500 feet of shoreline — will be added to four state natural areas on Washington and Detroit islands, including Detroit Harbor between the two islands. Funding will include $1.1 million from the state and $1 million in federal dollars.
In the other transaction near Sturgeon Bay, 440 acres will be added to the Clay Banks State Natural Area on the south side of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal and to land north and east of Sturgeon Bay, along the bay.
Funding will include $1 million in state funding and $1 million in federal funding.
Door County is one of Wisconsin’s most biologically diverse counties and has the highest number of rare species of any county in the state. It also serves as an important stopover for many migratory birds.
Doyle issued a statement on the funding after federal authorities approved their portion of the projects. However, deals to buy the land from private sources and Sturgeon Bay Utilities are not final, a Department of Natural Resources official said.
Money from the Stewardship Fund comes from state general-purpose revenue. The federal dollars come from a program funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Act with excise tax revenue from the sale of fishing equipment and motorboat and small-engine fuel.
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