By Topf Wells

The Ice Age Trail Alliance and Dane County just announced the purchase of about 100 acres of land just west of Cross Plains. The purchase means the Trail will be moved off roads and cross some lovely and diverse land – great news for hikers. And great for Black Earth Creek. The land contains restored prairies, wetlands and a tributary. Thanks to Kyle, Mitch, and Josh of the DNR we now know this tributary is a source of highly oxygenated and extremely cold water to Black Earth Creek. It’s also a nursery area for young brown trout.

The good news is the most recent example of the extraordinary importance of the partnership between local land trusts and Dane County to the conservation and public enjoyment of natural resources. County Executive Agard, her staff, and the leadership of all the land trusts active in Dane County are working to improve that partnership. To cut to the chase, enabling land trusts such as Groundswell Conservancy, the Prairie Enthusiasts, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, the Ice Age Trail Alliance, and the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance to buy more land and protect more natural resources in Dane County will help our local trout streams.