The story is featured as the lead in the first issue of The Wild Leek, a newsletter of the Green Onion Resource Center (GORC) exploring issues concerning the ecology of the Northwoods. GORC is a non-profit dedicated to conserving the Northwoods ecosystem and promoting green values. For more information, contact Charly Ray at the Green Onion Resource Center @ (715) 373-0882. --- Excerpted from: >The Wild Leek >Internet Edition A Publication of the Green Onion Resource Center August 1998/ Vol.1 No.1 >Whittlesey Creek Refuge Sold Down the River? >Northern State Bank Plans Sale of Foreclosed Property to its >Chairman of Board Conservationists were disappointed to learn that Northern State Bank in Ashland plans to sell a critical property within the Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge for private home development. While the sale was not final at press time, bank president Gary Ellefson said last week Northern State Bank will soon close a deal with its chairman of the board, Frank F. Phillips for $60,000. Phillips said he didn’t wish to comment on the sale but did confirm he wishes to build a home there. The 27-acre parcel, marked only by a dusty road and the Scottie Club sign, is considered by some one of the most precious pieces of land in Bayfield County. Located near the junction of Highway 13 and U.S. Highway 2 the property sits in the center of the recently-approved 540-acre wildlife refuge. It is one of the last unprotected coastal wetlands at the head of Chequamegon Bay and Whittlesey Creek — the heart of the refuge — flows across the entire property. Whittlesey Creek provides critical spawning and nursery habitat for restoring coaster brook trout in Lake Superior. "In terms of ecological value the Scottie Club piece is at or near the top of our priority list for purchase," said Tom Busiahn, of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in an interview July 28, "for the stream that flows right through it, its central location within the refuge, ground water and potential for development." For a while, USFWS, which is responsible for managing wildlife refuges, believed it had a good chance at acquiring the parcel.

In January, Northern State Bank, a locally owned, community bank, began foreclosure proceedings against Ondassogami Development Corporation, which at one time had hoped to build a golf course on the site. The bank officially foreclosed April 2. Refuge project coordinator Maureen Gallagher said in an interview July 20 she had numerous conversations with bank president Ellefson who indicated that the bank would only sell to the wildlife refuge or its representatives. But on April 2 Gallagher called Ellefson and was told a third party had secured the parcel. Ellefson said he never promised the piece of land to USFWS and in the end acted in the best interest of the bank. "If Maureen Gallagher had walked into my office April 2 with a check for $60,000 she would have the property," he said in a July 20 interview. "I know [USFWS] doesn't have the money so I'm not going to waste my time on it." While the refuge did not have purchasing money in hand, officials said several private citizens indicated they would be willing to purchase the land for the refuge project, aware that they would likely suffer some financial loss. USFWS is required by law to pay only the appraised fair market value which tends to be lower than what the free market will bear.

The House of Representatives have approved $650,000 in the 1999 Interior Appropriations Bill to fund the refuge project. Busiahn also said he was optimistic USFWS may receive some grants this fall to begin buying land. Bud Jordahl, for one, said he with others would acquire the land and hold it until USFWS could buy it. A professor emeritus with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at University of Wisconsin-Madison, he has a long history in the northern region and most recently he facilitated development of the Northern Great Lakes Center, which sits near the Scottie Club property. “I think the bank should think about the larger community good,” he said in an interview July 28. "We are sitting on top of something really exciting there— a national wildlife refuge, adjacent to an eight to nine million dollar (Northern Great Lakes Visitor) center, a coaster brook trout stream running through it. It could be big for Ashland and environs — and to have someone build right in the middle is distressing to me."

One of the biggest concerns for Jordahl and others is that the land is zoned residential-recreation business meaning it could potentially be subdivided or developed. And while the land is critical to the refuge project "we will only deal with willing sellers," Busiahn said. "We will not go out and brow beat anyone." They sent surveys to 26 land owners, including Phillips, and seven responded they would be interested in selling — totaling 242 acres. Gallagher said Phillips indicated he would not be interested in selling. Gallagher and Busiahn are hoping USFWS and Phillips will come to some agreement concerning conservation easements to protect and restore habitat along Whittlesey Creek. “We recognize that it may take decades — and we may not get it all,” Busiahn said. “We plan to continue working with land owners knowing it’s a long term project.” *******************
Steve Tomasko <stomasko@facstaff.wisc.edu>
Ashland, wi USA - Tuesday, August 11, 1998 at 18:47:57 (CDT) 

Transfer interrupted!

Hi Folks,

Some depressing news on the amphibian conservation front. Aquaculture is big business in the Upper Midwest and aquaculture associations enjoy -- through their campaign contributions -- considerable political clout. Recently, the Wisconsin Aquaculture Association wrote and the Wisconsin Legislature approved a bill (Ch. 29.521, Stats.) that would permit fish farming in "freeze-out" (i.e., seasonal and semipermanent) wetlands. No aquatic ecologists were consulted in writing this bill. The bill was sneaked through without opportunity for public comment. Over the past couple of weeks there has been a limited opportunity for public comment; I drove to Madison last Wednesday and testified. It is clear that neither the aquaculturists nor the legislators have any notion of wetland ecology. As a result they are oblivious to the environmental destruction they are about to wreak. Freeze-out wetlands are, of course, used for breeding by most species of Upper Midwestern amphibians and the detrimental impacts of fish introductions on amphibians (and waterfowl for that matter) are well known. Most amphibian conservation issues are ultimately political issues. This legislation was a gift by Wisconsin politicians to the aquaculturists, presumably for their political support. The final decision on the implementation of this legislation will be made by a "Natural Resources Advisory Board" which is politically appointed by governor Tommy Thompson, and has a track record of acceding to the governor's wishes, who of course wishes to please his campaign donors. Considerable negative publicity could reverse this trend, and could force the governor to rethink this issue from a national perspective. So, I ask that you all do what you can. Comments are due by May 22nd to Sue Marcquenski, FH/4, DNR, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. E-mail: marcqs@dnr.state.wi.us
For more details on aquaculture's role in amphibian declines, see http://www.mpm.edu/collect/vertzo/herp/Daptf/lannoo.html
Gary Casper <gsc@csd.uwm.edu>
Milwaukee, WI USA - Wednesday, May 20, 1998 at 11:06:11 (CDT) 

EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT for SB 3, Wisconsin's Sulfide Mining Moratorium

Senate vote on Moratorium TODAY! COME TO THE SENATE!!!!!

For Immediate Release--Please Distribute Widely and Call Friends

Wisconsin residents are urged to IMMEDIATELY contact their Senator, and ask him/her to pass the Mining Moratorium Bill, SB3, without the crippling Amendment #4. The Senate debate, originally scheduled fro Feb. 12, has been moved to today.

Madison people--please come right away to 119 Martin Luther King Dr. (across the street from M&I Bank on the square) where the Senate is housed (not the Capitol). No signs, bags/backpacks, food , drink or noise is allowed (you can check bags). Wear buttons or t-shirts!

For state Senate e-mail addresses, see http://www.legis.state.wi.us/senate/senate.html

People who live in the district of Senator Robert Breske, , whose district would include the proposed Rio Algom Crandon mine should immediately contact him at 608-266-2509 to vote for SB 3, the sulfide Mining Moratorium WITHOUT the crippling Amendment #4.

According to constituents in Senator Robert Cowles district, with confirmation from Rep. Spencer Black and others in Madison, the Wisconsin Senate will go into caucus on SB 3, the Mining Moratorium, at 10:00am today, Tuesday February 3. A Senate vote on SB 3 could come today after the caucus. So please do not think you will be too late if you come down in the early afternoon.

(from Zoltan Grossman)
Alex Turner <alturner@execpc.com>
Madison, WI USA - Tuesday, February 03, 1998 at 12:30:01 (CST)