WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. -- Wisconsin residents have shown a renewed interest in outdoor activities during the pandemic, but conservation groups and some local governments say to keep public lands viable, a key program needs to be renewed.

Next month, Gov. Tony Evers unveils his proposed budget, and nature advocates hope it includes re-authorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, due to expire this summer.

The state fund was established in 1989 to buy natural landscapes and administer grants for trail construction and other outdoor improvements.

Matt Dallman, deputy state director for The Nature Conservancy, said it benefits residents all over Wisconsin.

"Natural resources and our natural environments in the state are important, whether they're in an urban setting or in a rural setting, important to our economy" Dallman asserted. "It's places where people get out, hike and ski."

Last year, the Department of Natural Resources reported a surge in visitations to outdoor sites, putting strain on operations and infrastructure. Advocates say that's why another 10 years of funding is needed.

During the pandemic, a bi-partisan poll commissioned by The Nature Conservancy found 76% of state residents supporting a renewal. It's unclear whether Republican leaders would back the move, if Evers recommends it. Some have raised concerns about debt obligations tied to the program.

Zach Vruwink, former mayor of Wisconsin Rapids, and other local leaders said the investments will pay off. He noted Wisconsin Rapids used more than $2 million in grants from the program for shoreline stabilization and recreational trail work along the Wisconsin River.

"The projects were completed, last year in 2020," Vruwink explained. "And now we're seeing great interest by the public to convene in those spaces, particularly during COVID."

He added visitors support "Main Street" businesses in smaller towns, which have a hard time attracting larger retailers.

Supporters of the stewardship program said it also can protect water quality, mitigate flood risks, and protect a variety of species.

The program is operating on a one-year extension, but the current funding is much lower than the previous recurring amount of $86 million.

The Sierra Club is taking the Trump administration to court, joining a slew of legal challenges over the mass firings of federal workers.

Sierra Club Managing Attorney Gloria Smith said the purge conducted by Trump's Department of Government Efficiency will have immediate impacts on Colorado's public lands and parks.

Trails won't be maintained and campgrounds will not be cleaned up.

"You know, after a long winter and the snow and storms, there's a lot of work that goes into making a park presentable and safe for the high season," said Smith, "when millions and millions of people visit."

Federal judges in California and Maryland have ruled that the firings were illegal, and ordered the Trump administration to immediately rehire up to tens of thousands of probationary workers across multiple agencies.

The Maryland court ruled in favor of a lawsuit brought by Colorado's Phil Weiser and 20 other state attorneys general.

The Trump administration has called the rulings an unconstitutional effort to seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch, and promised to appeal.

Smith said she supports the recent court decisions, but notes it remains to be seen whether or not the Trump administration will follow court orders.

She said park visitor safety, wildlife protection, and wildfire prevention are all still at risk. And she said workers dedicated to protecting lands owned by all Americans deserve better.

"Obviously this is of the highest importance," said Smith. "People have lost their jobs. This is going to affect communities, people's families. They can't pay their rent or their mortgages."

Sierra Club members are especially concerned about firings at the National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - which includes the National Weather Service.

Smith said real-time weather service data is vital.

"For example, on a rafting trip, if there's a huge storm then there are flash flood risks," said Smith. "So the National Weather Service is absolutely critical."

By Danielle Zulkosky for WISH-TV.
Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration

Indiana Dunes National Park has lost five employees in the wake of federal cuts hitting national parks, which has raised concerns about park safety and maintenance.

Save the Dunes is an official partner of the Indiana Dunes National Park. The nonprofit is focused on the preservation and restoration of the Indiana Dunes.

Betsy Maher, executive director of Save the Dunes, says the loss of staff could lead to longer lines and poorly managed facilities.

“(It could lead to) unkempt bathrooms, possibly closed down camping sites, overflowing trashcans,” Maher said, highlighting the potential impact on park visitors.

At least one person who mowed the park was laid off, meaning grass could be unmanaged for visitors at times.

But it’s not just bathrooms, grass, and trash cans. The reduction in staff also poses safety risks, with fewer park rangers available for rescues and medical attention.

Maher also emphasizes the importance of maintenance workers and firefighters.

“This area is very prone to fires,” Maher said. “It takes active management to keep those fires at bay.”

Other employees who were let go worked in areas such as restoration management. The park has borders the zig zag through northern Indiana sometimes coming up against industry or residential areas.

Maher says these employees were “critical” for preserving the park’s biodiversity in these areas. Lack of preservation along the borders can have “catastrophic” consequences.

“You have very actively managed lands on the national park side and completely unmanaged lands right across the border,” Maher said. “So it’s very easy for those invasive species, especially those plant species, to get dropped and to take hold in the national park.”

Indiana Dunes National Park is renowned for its biodiversity. Maher said it is the fifth most biologically diverse National Park in the United States.

Despite the challenges posed by staff reductions, Save the Dunes will continue to advocate for the protection of the Indiana Dunes National Park’s unique environment and visitor experience.


Danielle Zulkosky wrote this article for WISH-TV.


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With West Virginia's tourism industry seeing dramatic growth in recent years, conservation groups are sounding the alarm about layoffs of federal land-management workers.

Reports indicate 3,400 U.S. Forest Service employees and 1,000 National Park Service workers have been fired nationwide, representing a 10% force reduction for the Forest Service and 5% at the Park Service.

Olivia Miller, program director for the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, said the cutbacks will affect the state's economy.

"Public lands have an enormous economic impact in our state, bringing in around $9 billion annually and supporting about 91,000 jobs," Miller pointed out. "Many communities are built around outdoor recreation and tourism."

The Park Service reported West Virginia saw more than 2 million visitors to its national parks in 2023, with park visitors spending more than $120 million in the state.

In 2023, West Virginia saw a 17% increase in visitor spending in the state compared with a national increase around 1%. The state Department of Tourism forecasts continued visitor spending will create 21,000 jobs annually through 2030.

Advocates are pointing to the preexisting staffing problems at national forests including Monongahela, which is described as chronically understaffed. Miller noted understaffed national parks and forests will have a slower response to invasive species and sees the likelihood of an overall decline in the quality of visitor experiences.

"Trail maintenance will likely become harder," Miller observed. "Cleaning up campsites and opening them up for people over the summer is going to become more and more difficult for these agencies to sustain."

National parks nationwide saw more than 325 million visits in 2023, a 4% increase over the year prior.