Recovering America's Wildlife Act
There's exciting news for conservation at a national level this month! The Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) has passed the House of Representatives and is headed to the Senate. This legislation will protect and rebuild wildlife populations through $1.4 billion in funding every year for conservation projects. Read more about RAWA here. Then, contact Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Sen. Ron Johnson to encourage them to vote YES for this amazing conservation opportunity!
DALC Welcomes Land Management Specialist Our team continues to grow! We're delighted to have Zach Pacana joining DALC as our Land Management Specialist, a new position focused on stewarding DALC's fee-owned properties, growing our volunteer network, and building the Driftless Trail. Zach's experience managing natural areas in Michigan and around the country makes him a great fit for this exciting work. Learn more about Zach and join us in welcoming him to DALC!
CHC Costs Continue to Climb Last month, the Cardinal-Hickory Creek (CHC) transmission line developers notified the Public Service Commission that project costs will exceed the projected $492 million price tag by at least another $49 million. At this time, the companies cannot even estimate the final costs. This is yet another reason DALC opposes the line. Even though the federal court has barred CHC from crossing the Upper Mississippi River, construction continues across the Driftless. DALC, along with Iowa and Dane Counties and the Citizens' Utility Board of Wisconsin, have asked the federal court to halt all construction on CHC until the court of appeals rules on the river crossing and environmental review of the project. The court is expected to hear the case this fall.
Solar - Never a Better Time! Let the sun shine in! Our 2022 Solar Group Buy continues in full swing. If you’ve been considering solar for your home or business, there’s never been a better time! Join your neighbors who are already taking advantage of the limited-time benefits of installing solar in 2022. This is the final year to enjoy the 26% federal tax credit, plus a $250 cash incentive for participants of the group buy.
Evenings Afield: Early Settlers Join owners of a farm established in the 1860s as they trace the history of land use here from lead mining to wheat farming to dairy to today's diversified crops and pasture. Find clues to the past through an old stone wall, the soil profile, and much more! This event will be held Thursday, July 21, 2022, 6-8PM and registration is available here. Can't make it in July? Don't worry - Evenings Afield is held every month! Check out the roster for the rest of the summer here.
Notes From the Field Summer Solstice greetings to you all! This month we welcomed three new conservation professionals to the Driftless Area Land Conservancy. I'm thrilled that Stephanie, Zachary, and Taylor have all joined our team. While they all bring a passion for the hills and valleys of the Driftless Area, they each bring unique skills, personality, and interests. I hope you enjoy reading their stories, and maybe you can attend one of our field events to meet them and others from the DALC team in person! Enjoy this abundant daylight and long sunsets, Jen Filipiak Executive Director jennifer@driftlessconservancy.org