Land Acquisition

The first priority of Schmeeckle Reserve is to preserve, maintain, and restore natural communities of central Wisconsin. The acquistion of green space has been an important component of this mission since the Reserve was created. The natural area has expanded from 127 acres in 1976 to its present size of 280 acres. The map below illustrates how the Reserve was developed through a patchwork of land purchases, grants, and donations.

View or download a high-quality Adobe Acrobat PDF map [3.1 MB]

The initial development of the Reserve in 1978 was funded through a federal Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant, supported by a match of land donated by the UWSP Foundation (where the lake is located). Additional lands were acquired through LWCF and the Wisconsin DNR Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program. Approximately 94% (264 acres) of Schmeeckle is protected in perpetuity through the LWCF (199 acres) and Stewardship (65 acres) programs.

Schmeeckle Reserve staff members continue to explore opportunities for expansion of green space in central Wisconsin. Long-term planning includes the protection of a green corridor along Moses Creek north to its headwaters, and a green corridor west to the Wisconsin River. Please consider supporting Schmeeckle in acquiring additional green space by visiting our Support page.