Grant may help land trust buy more Kinni riverfront

Talk about it

The DNR announced last week that the River-Falls-based Kinnickinnic River Land Trust applied for a 50 percent matching grant from the DNR’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program that would enable it to buy 112 acres along the river in the town of Kinnickinnic, St. Croix County.

DNR Financial Assistance specialist Karen Blodgett said since the deal is technically in negotiations, none of the parties can reveal where the land is or who the sellers are.

If KRLT gets the grant and buys the land, it would be perpetually protected from development. Blodgett says the deal would preserve the native plants, scenic beauty and wildlife habitat.

She also said, “It allows the land to be open to the public.”

People could use it for “low-impact” recreation like hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, skiing and snowshoeing. The acreage includes the DNR-designated western prairie habitat restoration area as well as part of the Kinnickinnic River fisheries management area.

Blodgett said the parties are obtaining appraisals and waiting to hear if they received the grant. If all goes well, they’ll seek the governor’s approval in late April and finalize the deal sometime in May.

The DNR welcomes comments up until April 1 about the possible acquisition. Direct input to Vance Rayburn, DNR customer and employee services administrator – care of Karen Blodgett at 715-836-6574, Karen.blodgett@wisconsin.gov, or 1300 W. Clairemont Avenue, P.O. 4001, Eau Claire, 54702.

Tags: kinnickinnic, krlt, dnr, riverfront