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Your Monthly Climate Digest

Celebrating 125 years of Wisconsin state parks

Let's keep them thriving

Ryan peering out from CCC shelter atop Brady's Bluff

Hi John,

This year Wisconsin is celebrating 125 years of our state park system. Wisconsin’s public lands and parks are some of the places I treasure most in this world. I’ve explored so many corners of this state – and each one offers its own kind of magic – but two places hold an especially strong place in my heart: Perrot State Park in Trempealeau and the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest (NHAL) that spreads across three northern counties. 

I return to them many times each year. Whether I’m hiking the bluffs where the Trempealeau River meets the Mississippi or paddling along the backwaters or camping under pine canopies in the wild Northwoods, these places remind me who I am, what I value, and why I do this work.

But our parks are more than just beautiful destinations. For so many, they are the first doorway into a lifelong connection with nature – the beginning of a relationship that can grow into stewardship. That’s also why we must continue investing in the places that bring us joy, peace, and purpose – to ignite and foster love affairs with nature and the outdoors.

But our parks are more than just beautiful destinations. For so many, they are the first doorway into a lifelong connection with nature – the beginning of a relationship that can grow into stewardship. That’s also why we must continue investing in the places that bring us joy, peace, and purpose – to ignite and foster love affairs with nature and the outdoors.

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is Wisconsin’s most effective tool for protecting the public lands and waters we love. It helps preserve cherished places, expand access to the outdoors and ensure that future generations can build their own deep connections to Wisconsin’s natural heritage.

If you care about the future of Wisconsin’s public lands, I invite you to join me and become an advocate through Team Knowles Nelson – a growing community of thousands of people who believe in protecting what makes Wisconsin special. We’re a proud sponsor of this important work along with dozens of other organizations dedicated to our great spaces here in Wisconsin.

🏕️ Be an advocate for land and water conservation >>

When you sign up, you'll:

• Stay informed with the latest news about the Stewardship Program
• Receive action alerts with the right messages, at the right time, to the right decision-makers
• Get access to tools – including an app – that make it easy to speak up for Wisconsin’s land and water

Let’s honor 125 years of our state parks, not just with celebration, but with action. Together, we can ensure that Wisconsin’s next 125 years of public lands are even stronger, wilder, and more accessible for all.

Thank you for being part of this work. And have a blast this summer, maybe I’ll see you out there!

Scroll down for more:

• Your latest conservation update: the PSC just approved two power plants 
• Thank you for a successful Conservation Lobby Day! 
• Fighting back against attacks at the federal level
• Mary Dougherty’s story: preventing water contamination in Lake Superior
• Order your Wisconsin Conservation Voters swag!
• WCV in the news

Thank you for being a conservation voter,

Ryan Billingham

Communications Director

Mary Dougherty’s story: preventing water contamination in Lake Superior

When a massive industrial hog farm was proposed near the shores of Lake Superior in 2014, Bayfield resident Mary Dougherty didn’t stay quiet – she organized. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) like the one proposed threaten Wisconsin’s drinking water, especially through nitrate contamination of groundwater – a serious public health risk. In our new YouTube video, Mary tells the story of how she and her community took on this dangerous threat to safe drinking water and won. Watch the full video and help us keep the pressure on lawmakers to protect Wisconsin’s drinking water.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay updated on this and many other important stories from across the state. Make sure to click the bell icon when subscribing to stay updated on our latest videos.

Your latest conservation update

The Public Service Commission just approved $2 billion in gas projects

Last Thursday, the Public Service Commission (PSC) approved We Energies’ proposals for new gas infrastructure in southeastern Wisconsin. The plans include the construction of a new gas plant at the Oak Creek Power Plant campus and installation of seven gas Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) near the Paris Solar Farm in Kenosha County.

These projects will be incredibly damaging to the health of our environment and the communities living near these sites. We are part of Power Wisconsin Forward, a statewide coalition of clean energy and environmental organizations, working together to hold the PSC and utility companies accountable. This was a huge step backward, but know that we won’t stop fighting for sustainable energy solutions in our state. 

You can see our joint statement here >>>

Thank you for a successful Conservation Lobby Day!

This year, conservation voters showed up with strength to advocate for a state budget that reflects our values. Your support brought 225 conservation-minded Wisconsinites from across the state to Madison to meet with state legislators for Conservation Lobby Day.

Along with all of the attendees, nearly 100 of you sent email messages to your legislators to show your support! You made a serious impact. Relive the highlights by watching our short video from the day. 

We’ll keep you in the loop as the state budget process continues and let you know how you can help get our priorities across the finish line. 

If you missed Lobby Day, you can still send a message to your legislators today >>>

Fighting back against attacks at the federal level

We are incredibly excited that long time Wisconsin Conservation Voters staff member  Casey Hicks is moving into his new role as federal government affairs manager. This new role increases our capacity to respond quickly and engage conservation voters here in Wisconsin to push back against this extremist agenda in Washington.

This month, more than 70 locally elected officials signed a joint letter urging Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to speak out against a recent executive order from the Trump Administration aimed at stopping and rolling back progress made by local and state governments to combat climate change. Learn more here.

Order your Wisconsin Conservation Voters swag!

Make sure you’re looking your best this summer with our new Wisconsin Conservation Voters merchandise! The proceeds from your purchase support our work and help us fight for the issues you care about most: clean energy, clean water, and a healthy democracy. 

Don’t wait! Order your swag online today >>>

Wisconsin Conservation Voters is in the news!

Check out some of our recent news clips here: 

• Milwaukee’s TMJ4: A bill in the state capitol would let local governments spend more to attract data centers. “We want to make sure that any new data centers that are coming to Wisconsin are being powered with clean, renewable energy,” said Government Affairs Director Jennifer Giegerich.
• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Indigenous voter turnout has risen sharply in Wisconsin and Wisconsin Native Vote has a big part in that. 
• Milwaukee’s TMJ4: Environmental groups are pushing for Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funding to protect natural places in Wisconsin. A local reporter covered our advocacy during our Conservation Lobby Day. 
  

Wisconsin Conservation Voters
133 S. Butler Street Suite 320
Madison, WI 53703
United States

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