Baraboo Range Protection Plan

THE BARABOO RANGE

The Baraboo Range in Sauk and Columbia Counties is nationally recognized for its outstanding geology and diverse ecological resources. This unique landscape is an excellent example of an exhumed mountain range. Differences in elevation, exposure and soils of the Baraboo Hills create a variety of ecological habitats including high, dry rock strata where white pine predominates; rocky cliffs covered with lichens and mosses; cool steep valleys and ravines of hemlock; dry and wet prairie, and marshes. At least 28 different natural communities have been identified, harboring 23 federal or state listed threatened or endangered species. About half of the more than 2,200 vascular plants in Wisconsin have been found in this tiny fraction of the State.

LANDSCAPE SCALE CONSERVATION

The Baraboo Range is the largest block of mostly deciduous forest remaining in the upper Midwest. This quality makes the Baraboo Hills a very important habitat for the preservation of neotropical migratory bird populations, which are threatened primarily due to fragmentation of their forest habitat.

To most effectively conserve forest interior bird species populations, the preservation or restoration of large forest tracks are critical. Given the long time frame inherent in restoring this type of habitat (100+ years), the best strategy is preservation of existing areas. The Baraboo Range Protection Program is intended to implement this landscape scale conservation effort.

USH 12 MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

In order to protect forest land in the Baraboo Range from development pressure created by the widening of USH 12 between Middleton and Sauk City, the USH 12 MOA was executed. The MOA sets forth the conditions under which changes to the USH 12 transportation corridor may proceed. These conditions describe a "vision" for the desired future of the Baraboo Range that includes the protection of forest habitat and the scenic quality of the Baraboo Range, healthy ecosystems and a stable agricultural economy.

The MOA documents the commitments made to a comprehensive program necessary to satisfy mutual concerns about the need for transportation improvements in the USH 12 corridor as well as the need to protect and preserve the Baraboo Range, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, farmland and other natural resources in the area.

Purchase of Development Rights - (PDR)

The Baraboo Range Protection Program will preserve priority lands within the Baraboo Range National Natural Landmark geographic area. The BRPP will purchase development rights (PDR) from owners of forested land or buffer lands adjacent to the forested areas to prevent new development in those areas.

Fee title purchase is also a possibility under those limited special circumstances in which the resource protection goals can only be met by outright ownership of the land.

Under all circumstances, BRPP purchases will be made only from willing sellers.

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

TheUSH 12 MOA commits $5,000,000 in transportation funds to acquisition of land rights or land from willing sellers for the protection of the forest and natural resources in the Baraboo Range. These funds are available to reimburse Eligible Participants for the costs involved in the acquisition of these rights or lands, and for the administration of the Baraboo Range Protection Program by Sauk County.

Eligible Participants include:

• Sauk County,
• Sauk County government entities within the BRPP boundary,
• Non Profit Conservation Organizations (NCO's),
• State of Wisconsin agencies,
• United States Federal agencies

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?

• You retain title, and the continued use of your land.
• You receive fair market, cash compensation NOW.
• You can use the fresh capital to improve your farm operation, improve the forest resource on your property, send your children to college, or use for your own retirement.
• You will no longer be pressured to sell your land for development.
• Your land will be permanently protected from development

PROTECTING YOUR LAND

Individuals desiring permanent protection of land in the Baraboo Range Protection Program can apply to any of the eligible participants listed above. Individuals applying to Sauk County for participation in the Baraboo Range Protection Program will undertake a series of specific steps:

1. Fill out and submit an application. The Landowner Application can be obtained from the Sauk County Planning and Zoning Department. Interview with the Sauk County Land Preservation Specialist.
2. Preliminary site assessment.
3. Negotiate terms of easement and purchase
4. Property appraisals ("Before" and "After" appraisal required for the Purchase of Development Rights)
5. Appraisal review
6. Offer to purchase
7. Acceptance of offer by landowner
8. Approval of purchase by BRC and County Board
9. Complete transaction - record deed of easement

Eligible participants, as mentioned above, may apply for reimbursement for funds spent acquiring land or development rights in the Baraboo Range. To be eligible for reimbursement the acquisition will have to be approved by the Baraboo Range Commission and the Sauk County Board.

BARABOO RANGE COMMISSION

The Baraboo Range Commission is a special committee of the Sauk County Board responsible for general supervision of the BRPP. Current membership includes:

• Roman Statz, Town of Delton Supervisor
• Marcus Wenzel, Chair, Town of Honey Creek
• Dean Steinhorst, Mayor, City of Baraboo
• Judy Ashford, District 20 Supervisor, Sauk County Board
• Terry Turnquist, Chair, Town of Greenfield
• Ron Persche, Pres. Baraboo Range Preservation Association
• Forrest Hartmann, Attorney, Quale, Hartmann, Reynolds, Pulsfus and Groeneweg SC
• Gary Kowalke, local contractor and Baraboo Range landowner
• William Beard

BRC Staff: Dave Tremble, Land Preservation Specialist/Planner, Sauk County Dept. of Planning and Zoning, (608) 355-3485; dtremble@co.sauk.wi.us