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Because our state Rep. Mike Huebsch is a powerful leader in the Wisconsin Assembly, he literally holds the future shape of the Wisconsin landscape in his hands. The reason is that, under his leadership, the Wisconsin Assembly has passed a budget that would sharply reduce the ability of the Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund to help preserve highly valued lands for future generations. The impact in our region would be profound.

About 10 years ago, local volunteers formed the Mississippi Valley Conservancy, which has grown to nearly 800 members and, by working with donors and willing sellers, has permanently protected more than 4,000 acres of scenic and environmentally sensitive land in the region. The total is likely to reach nearly 6,000 acres by the end of this year.

The conservancy has partnered with municipalities including the city of La Crosse, city of Onalaska and the town of Holland to help preserve lands identified as important to their citizens. None of this would have been possible without the stewardship fund, which is clearly one of the most popular and important bipartisan state programs of the last century.

The need for the fund has never been greater. Land prices are escalating and there are thousands more acres up and down the river and in other priority areas at risk of development that will permanently alter the scenic and wildlife values that area people have repeatedly told us in surveys are vital attributes of our region. Our window of opportunity to protect these lands is rapidly closing.

Under the Assembly budget, funding for stewardship would drop to just $25 million a year starting next year, even though the program is currently authorized at $60 million a year through 2010. Funding for matching grants to land trusts and municipalities would be cut dramatically from more than $16 million to $8 million a year, undercutting the ability of MVC to leverage local and private funds.

Huebsch will be among the legislators on a conference committee to reconcile the differences in the Assembly and Senate versions of the budget. The Senate would extend the stewardship program through 2020 and increase stewardship funding to $105 million a year.

Huebsch has the power to make a progressive difference for Wisconsin’s future by supporting the expansion of the stewardship fund and honoring the wishes of the vast majority of the state’s citizens.

If you are among those who appreciate the work of the fund, which has preserved more than 475,000 acres of Wisconsin lands, most of them open for hunting, hiking, birding and other outdoor activities, this is your opportunity to make a difference.

Let Mike Huebsch know your views. Call Mike at (608) 266-0631, (888) 534-0094 or e-mail him at Rep.Huebsch@legis.state.wi.us.