Glacial Heritage Area (GHA)

Working with a group of local leaders over the past four years, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has developed a proposal for a network of recreation and conservation lands centered primarily in western Jefferson County. The proposed project, known as the Glacial Heritage Area (GHA), seeks to help meet the growing demand for a wide range of outdoor, nature-based land and water recreation activities in concert with protecting critical prairie, savanna, and wetland habitats.

To summarize, the GHA project proposes to:

• expand 5 existing parks and establish 7 new parks;
• establish 100 miles of trails linking the parks and cities and villages;
• protect pockets of land along major rivers and streams for boat access sites and to protect important habitat areas;
• expand 11 State Wildlife Areas and buffer them with Rural Landscape Protection Areas; and
• establish the Crawfish Prairie Habitat Area.

Survey and Comment Results

Thank you to all who filled out the survey, provided written comments, made suggestions at the open house meetings, and made formal statements at the public hearing. Your ideas, input, and perspectives have helped make the GHA plan a better document.

Summary of Public Input [PDF 109KB]

The Draft Plan will be going to the Natural Resources Board at their October 21, 2009 meeting. [see press release] An agenda for the meeting is usually posted three weeks in advance. You can provide verbal or written comments about the proposed Glacial Heritage Area to the Board. [See the Natural Resources Board website for agenda and instructions for providing comments.]