Totogatic River
In June 2010, we helped protect 2,100 acres along the Totogatic River—one of the few remaining wilderness streams in the state. The property includes 12 miles of river frontage and provides habitat for more than 20 Species of Greatest Conservation Need identified in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan.
The Fund facilitated the purchase by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from Wausau Paper, headquartered in Mosinee, Wisconsin. DNR will manage the property and provide public access for hunting, fishing, trapping, canoeing/kayaking and hiking.
The Totogatic River flows for 70 miles through five counties in northern Wisconsin, forming a wild and pristine stream in the St. Croix River Basin and the Mississippi River watershed. It earned the state’s designation as a Wild River in 2009—a designation shared with only four other rivers in the state—which ensures the river’s long-term protection from development threats.
“These are incredible additions to public lands in Wisconsin that will now be preserved and enjoyed for generations to come,” Governor Doyle said. “Our natural resources are one of the main reasons why people want to live, vacation and move here. They are why businesses want to locate here. The future of our state is closely linked to our natural resources, and I’m pleased that, today, that future is looking even brighter with the protection of these lands.”