Trust wants state conservation money for Bayfield waterfront

The Trust for Public Land has applied for a 50 percent matching grant from a Wisconsin conservation fund to help buy 76 acres of land in the Town of Bayview in Bayfield County.

If the money from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is approved, the town would use federal conservation money to match the grant. The town would own and manage the land, which could not be developed.

The property — between Bayfield and Washburn — includes 2,100 feet of frontage along Lake Superior known as Houghton Point. It also includes Houghton Falls and Echo Dells.

Under the conservation plan, the property will be left in its natural state and will be open to the public for low impact recreational activities including fishing, hiking, cross-county skiing, trapping, hunting, snowshoeing, nature study, wildlife appreciation, photography and swimming.

The Department of Natural Resources has made a preliminary determination that the proposal won’t have a major environmental impact but is accepting public comments through April 22 addressed to patricia.zatopa@wisconsin.gov.

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