$1 Million Grant For Door County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2007

$1 Million Grant For Door County
Local Business, Wildlife & Resources to Benefit

(STURGEON BAY) Door County’s recreational economy as well as its abundant wildlife will benefit from a $1 million dollar grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced by Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. today.

The award from the National Coastal Wetlands Grant Program will be used to purchase 139 acres of land in the Mink River estuary.

The purchase will create over 13 contiguous miles of protected shoreline on the Mink River, considered one of the highest quality freshwater estuaries on the western Great Lakes. It is a key spawning ground for fish species including Northern pike, a stopover for migratory waterfowl, and is favored by anglers, hunters, canoeists, kayakers and hikers.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is working with The Nature Conservancy to purchase the land. The $1 million grant will be matched by more than $1.5 million from partners.

“This is an important step in conserving irreplaceable resources for present and future generations,” says Congressman Kagen.

“This is about people as much as it is about wildlife. We are protecting Wisconsin’s quality of life today. Today’s grant ensures that fishermen, hunters, hikers, everyone who enjoys outdoor recreation and all of us who benefit from clean water will continue to enjoy life as we know it,” Kagen said.

“This wasn’t a solitary effort and nor will it have a solitary benefit. It is a partnership. We need more partnerships in Door County,” said Mike Grimm, conservation ecologist with The Nature Conservancy’s Sturgeon Bay office.

Rep. Kagen was joined by Karen Raymore, Director of the Door County Visitors Bureau; Ron Kazmierczak of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Louise Clemency, Field Supervisor for Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Mike Grimm, conservation ecologist with The Nature Conservancy’s Sturgeon Bay office; Carl Scholz, state Conservation Congress, Rick Wylie, owner Bay Shore Outdoors, Sister Bay;Jerry Viste, Door County Environmental Council; others.