(Kettle Moraine Land Trust press release) Elkhorn, Wisconsin, February 3, 2021 —The nonprofit Kettle Moraine Land Trust (KMLT) has accepted a grant of conservation easement on nearly 176 acres of natural area and farmland adjacent to the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The property includes a 132-acre working farm and more than 35 acres of natural area. The remainder of the property is in a minimal-protection management zone where the owner is free to build residences for family members and out buildings to support farm operations.
Owners James and Lois (nee Anderson) Benes chose to protect the site in perpetuity, citing the value of working farms and recognizing the exceptional conservation values inherent in the natural areas, which include oak woodlands, remnant wet prairie, riparian wetlands, and the confluence of Bluff Creek and Whitewater Creek, two high-quality cold-water streams. The Anderson and Benes families have owned and farmed the site since the early 1930s.
Jim Benes, reflecting on the quality of the site, noted, “A few years ago we decided to preserve it for future generations and we were convinced by Maggie Zoellner (then Executive Director of KMLT) that putting the farm with the Kettle Moraine Land Trust was the way to go. At that time, little did we know of the quality of the site; we gradually learned about the species that occupied the natural area and we came to appreciate even more the quality of the area and knew that it was important to protect it. We are pleased with the effort put forth by KMLT personnel, current and past, and all that helped us accomplish this easement. We are looking forward to our association with the KMLT and to continue to improve the area.”
KMLT’s current executive director Greg Rajsky agreed, stating, “the conservation values of this property are exceptional, with a rich variety of habitats. We are grateful to the Benes family for their generosity and foresight in seeking permanent protection of the property.”
In collaboration, the Benes family and KMLT have prepared a natural areas management plan for the site, which will guide activities intended to preserve and restore plant communities and natural habitat for native organisms while supporting productive soils, clean water, and scenic viewsheds for the whole community.
The Kettle Moraine Land Trust, originally established in 2000 as the Lauderdale Lakes Conservancy, preserves the natural heritage of the southern Kettle Moraine region through land conservancy, resource management, and environmental stewardship. The Trust owns four nature preserves, holds conservation easements on a number of additional properties, and assists Walworth County Parks and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with the management of publicly held natural areas.
The Trust also hosts several community events each year. Volunteers and members of the Kettle Moraine Land Trust help improve wildlife habitat and native ecosystems by working with local landowners and in partnership with organizations and municipalities. For more information visit www.kmlandtrust.org
