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Amsterdam Dunes Preserve County: Sheboygan
Lot size: 185 acres Established: 07/09/2015 |
Property Story
On Thursday, September 11, 2014, Glacial Lakes Conservancy took ownership of 333-acres in the southeast corner of Sheboygan County - a property known as Amsterdam Dunes. GLC applied for and was awarded a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Grant to help recover a portion of the acquisition costs - the largest award in the last five years of the program. This land was purchased in order to preserve it for future generations; a goal shared by GLC and Sheboygan County. The land was later transferred to Sheboygan County and GLC now holds the conservation easement on 185 acres of the land.
The preserve area includes 1,920 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, wetlands, managed forest, steep bluff lands, and croplands. Barr Creek and several unnamed permanent or intermittent waterways bisect the property at intervals. The property contains a number of specific significant ecological conditions to also note ; rare sand dune habitat, woodland/wetland habitat, Southern Hardwood Swamp remnants, old growth forest remnants with trees upwards of 120 years and older. The soils on the property consist of mostly Kewaunee Silt Loam, Oakville Loamy Fine Sand, Bellevue Silt Loam, Wasepi Sandy Loam and Granby Loamy Fine Sand. It lies immediately south of the WDNR’s nationally significant Cedar Grove Raptor Research Center.
This property provides rich and diverse habitats communities including upland and lowland hardwood forest, fresh wet meadow, ephemeral ponds, farmland, farmed wetland, fallow farmland and a unique, rare ridge and swale system. Large and small mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians use the area. White tail deer are abundant year-round and there is also an abundance of eastern wild turkey. The property is located along Lake Michigan and is one of the last remaining significant Lake Michigan shoreline habitat assemblages in Sheboygan County and in much of Wisconsin and Michigan that has not been developed. The forest has a mixture of mature trees, dead snags, and a younger understory to suit various needs. It has been identified as an extremely significant stopover and resting site for various groups of migratory birds.
Here is the story of how this project unfolded:
It was a grey, January morning in 2014, when several of us gathered at the Department of Natural Resources [DNR] office in Plymouth. Folks drove in from Madison, Milwaukee and the surrounding area to discuss how we could permanently preserve the 333 acre property commonly known as Amsterdam Dunes. We introduced ourselves, maps where handed out and the meeting began. A variety of ideas were shared including funding options, partnerships and logistics. The room fell silent. It was soon clear that the best option was if Sheboygan County and GLC worked closely to buy the property before it went into foreclosure, and then GLC would apply for a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant to help recover some of the purchase price.
As a non-profit, GLC had a better chance of receiving the grant than if the county applied on their own. Our partners to the south, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, had completed similar projects in the last few years so they could be a great resource. First, we needed to be an eligible non-profit in the eyes of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources [WDNR]. We worked with the WDNR project manager in our region, filled out the forms, gathered the necessary documentation and delivered it to the DNR office in Milwaukee. GLC was soon added to the eligibility list of non-profit organizations. First hurdle cleared.
Next, we met with our partners from Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT) who immediately offered support and guidance. We then met with Aaron Brault, Director of Planning and Conservation for Sheboygan County. His staff was able to assist with the many documents and maps required with the application. We met to rank the project and reviewed our progress. The 5 page application was prepared and we seamlessly went down the massive checklist gathering each supporting document. On July 29, 2014, we submitted our application for a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program grant to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the Amsterdam Dunes project. It took 3 emails with all the attachments and over a ream of paper in hard copy. Second hurdle cleared.
Just 2 weeks later, on September 11th, the formal agreement between Glacial Lakes Conservancy and Sheboygan County was signed and we were now responsible for the Amsterdam Dunes property located in the Town of Holland. What a privilege! County funds totaling $4.2 mil covered the purchase price. Now it was time to sit and wait.
In the afternoon of May 11, 2015, there it was – email notification from the DNR that our project had been submitted to the State of Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance. It read,
Dear Senator Darling and Representative Nygren: Pursuant to s. 23.0917(6m), Wis., Stats., The Department is notifying you as co-chairs of the Committee on Joint Finance of a proposed Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant to the Glacial Lakes Conservancy in the amount of $2,443,430 for the acquisition of 184 acres along Lake Michigan in the Town of Holland, Sheboygan County. The proposed grant award represents 50% of the total eligible project costs.
We did it! Glacial Lakes Conservancy, in print, listed as the project sponsor. Wow! This was more than exciting, it was breathtaking! Exciting news traveled fast and we were soon getting congratulatory emails from all over. If only we could bottle that moment! GLC was part of something big that will last forever. The BIG hurdle cleared.
The grant contract was issued on June 2nd so our legal team, Land Team and Board of Directors worked out the final edits on the conservation easement. We set a date for the second closing and notified all the parties.
July 9, 2015 was a beautiful, sunny day. Several of us got to the county offices early to visit with each other and prepare for the final closing. Pens were ready and the signing began. GLC was represented by Mary Piehl, Executive Director, and Christine Krieg, Board President. Sheboygan County Board Chair Roger TeStroede and Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Executive Director Shawn Graff were involved with signing document after document. We all cheered and posed for pictures to mark this special event. The grant money and land was turned over to Sheboygan County and GLC was granted a conservation easement on 185 acres of the property to defend in perpetuity. Since OWLT assisted throughout the process, they are serving as back-up holder to the easement. Finally, the last hurdle cleared.
No matter how the local government changes, our easement is permanent. We can ensure this large block of irreplaceable wildlife habitat will never be destroyed or developed – a true sense of accomplishment!
See the article below that was published in the November 2014 Wisconsin Counties Magazine:
The preserve area includes 1,920 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline, wetlands, managed forest, steep bluff lands, and croplands. Barr Creek and several unnamed permanent or intermittent waterways bisect the property at intervals. The property contains a number of specific significant ecological conditions to also note ; rare sand dune habitat, woodland/wetland habitat, Southern Hardwood Swamp remnants, old growth forest remnants with trees upwards of 120 years and older. The soils on the property consist of mostly Kewaunee Silt Loam, Oakville Loamy Fine Sand, Bellevue Silt Loam, Wasepi Sandy Loam and Granby Loamy Fine Sand. It lies immediately south of the WDNR’s nationally significant Cedar Grove Raptor Research Center.
This property provides rich and diverse habitats communities including upland and lowland hardwood forest, fresh wet meadow, ephemeral ponds, farmland, farmed wetland, fallow farmland and a unique, rare ridge and swale system. Large and small mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians use the area. White tail deer are abundant year-round and there is also an abundance of eastern wild turkey. The property is located along Lake Michigan and is one of the last remaining significant Lake Michigan shoreline habitat assemblages in Sheboygan County and in much of Wisconsin and Michigan that has not been developed. The forest has a mixture of mature trees, dead snags, and a younger understory to suit various needs. It has been identified as an extremely significant stopover and resting site for various groups of migratory birds.
Here is the story of how this project unfolded:
It was a grey, January morning in 2014, when several of us gathered at the Department of Natural Resources [DNR] office in Plymouth. Folks drove in from Madison, Milwaukee and the surrounding area to discuss how we could permanently preserve the 333 acre property commonly known as Amsterdam Dunes. We introduced ourselves, maps where handed out and the meeting began. A variety of ideas were shared including funding options, partnerships and logistics. The room fell silent. It was soon clear that the best option was if Sheboygan County and GLC worked closely to buy the property before it went into foreclosure, and then GLC would apply for a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant to help recover some of the purchase price.
As a non-profit, GLC had a better chance of receiving the grant than if the county applied on their own. Our partners to the south, Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, had completed similar projects in the last few years so they could be a great resource. First, we needed to be an eligible non-profit in the eyes of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources [WDNR]. We worked with the WDNR project manager in our region, filled out the forms, gathered the necessary documentation and delivered it to the DNR office in Milwaukee. GLC was soon added to the eligibility list of non-profit organizations. First hurdle cleared.
Next, we met with our partners from Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT) who immediately offered support and guidance. We then met with Aaron Brault, Director of Planning and Conservation for Sheboygan County. His staff was able to assist with the many documents and maps required with the application. We met to rank the project and reviewed our progress. The 5 page application was prepared and we seamlessly went down the massive checklist gathering each supporting document. On July 29, 2014, we submitted our application for a Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program grant to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for the Amsterdam Dunes project. It took 3 emails with all the attachments and over a ream of paper in hard copy. Second hurdle cleared.
Just 2 weeks later, on September 11th, the formal agreement between Glacial Lakes Conservancy and Sheboygan County was signed and we were now responsible for the Amsterdam Dunes property located in the Town of Holland. What a privilege! County funds totaling $4.2 mil covered the purchase price. Now it was time to sit and wait.
In the afternoon of May 11, 2015, there it was – email notification from the DNR that our project had been submitted to the State of Wisconsin Joint Committee on Finance. It read,
Dear Senator Darling and Representative Nygren: Pursuant to s. 23.0917(6m), Wis., Stats., The Department is notifying you as co-chairs of the Committee on Joint Finance of a proposed Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant to the Glacial Lakes Conservancy in the amount of $2,443,430 for the acquisition of 184 acres along Lake Michigan in the Town of Holland, Sheboygan County. The proposed grant award represents 50% of the total eligible project costs.
We did it! Glacial Lakes Conservancy, in print, listed as the project sponsor. Wow! This was more than exciting, it was breathtaking! Exciting news traveled fast and we were soon getting congratulatory emails from all over. If only we could bottle that moment! GLC was part of something big that will last forever. The BIG hurdle cleared.
The grant contract was issued on June 2nd so our legal team, Land Team and Board of Directors worked out the final edits on the conservation easement. We set a date for the second closing and notified all the parties.
July 9, 2015 was a beautiful, sunny day. Several of us got to the county offices early to visit with each other and prepare for the final closing. Pens were ready and the signing began. GLC was represented by Mary Piehl, Executive Director, and Christine Krieg, Board President. Sheboygan County Board Chair Roger TeStroede and Ozaukee Washington Land Trust Executive Director Shawn Graff were involved with signing document after document. We all cheered and posed for pictures to mark this special event. The grant money and land was turned over to Sheboygan County and GLC was granted a conservation easement on 185 acres of the property to defend in perpetuity. Since OWLT assisted throughout the process, they are serving as back-up holder to the easement. Finally, the last hurdle cleared.
No matter how the local government changes, our easement is permanent. We can ensure this large block of irreplaceable wildlife habitat will never be destroyed or developed – a true sense of accomplishment!
See the article below that was published in the November 2014 Wisconsin Counties Magazine:

article_in_nov_2014_wisconsin_counties_magazine.pdf |