The Madison Audubon Society has written a letter urging the National Park Service to require the Wisconsin DNR to honor its agreement and conserve former Badger Army Ammunition Plan lands for grassland bird habitat and only low-impact recreation. The DNR specified these uses in its formal application to the National Park Service for 3,400 acres of excess federal land at Badger, now called the Sauk Prairie Recreation Area.
The conveyance documents stipulated that excess lands transferred to the DNR are used for only low-impact recreation such as hiking, picnicking and primitive camping. The DNR’s application also made a commitment to prairie, savanna and grassland restoration. However, the DNR continues to pursue the possible development of an ATV track and shooting range that would occupy about 500 acres of land that has already been identified as having high potential for grassland habitat, Madison Audubon Society noted.
The Madison Audubon Society’s October 21 letter is an important boost to CSWAB’s current campaign targeting the National Park Service. In just the last month, nearly 600 Wisconsin residents have sent emails to the National Park Service through the CSWAB website.
To send an email message to the National Park Service, visit our Action Alert page. Help conserve the Badger lands for wildlife habitat, sustainable agriculture, environmental education and only low-impact quiet recreation.