GATHERING WATERS INC

POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: WORK WITH DECISION MAKERS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE STATE, LOCAL, AND FEDERAL POLICIES THAT SUPPORT THE WORK OF LAND TRUSTS AND THE CONSERVATION OF PRIVATE LAND. SPECIFICALLY, GATHERING WATERS ADVOCATES FOR CONTINUATION OF FUNDING FOR THE KNOWLES NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, A PROGRAM OF PUBLIC FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LAND IN WISCONSIN. IN 2024, GATHERING WATERS CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS TO CONNECT ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH THEIR LOCAL CONSTITUENTS AND WORKED WITH LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR TO IMPROVE HOW THE KNOWLES-NELSON STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FUNCTIONS AND IS ADMINISTERED AND ADVOCATED AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE WEAKENED PROTECTIONS FOR PROTECTED LAND IN WISCONSIN. ALSO IN 2024, GATHERING WATERS ADVOCATED FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE 70,000-ACRE PELICAN RIVER FOREST, THE LARGEST CONSERVATION PROJECT IN MODERN WISCONSIN HISTORY.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PROFESSIONALS, AND LANDOWNERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION AND VOLUNTARY TOOLS AVAILABLE TO SET ASIDE PRIVATE LAND FOR CONSERVATION. GATHERING WATERS MAINTAINS AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE AND PUBLISHES PAPER AND ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DURING 2024, GATHERING WATERS BEGAN PREPARING FOR ITS BIANNUAL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE FOR LAND TRUSTS AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS TO BE HELD IN MARCH 2025, WITH EXPECTED ATTENDANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 115 PARTICIPANTS; HELD "LAND TRUST DAYS", TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEARLY 2,000 PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES ORGANIZED BY WISCONSIN'S LAND TRUSTS ON LAND THAT THEY HAVE PROTECTED; AND HELD VARIOUS AWARD EVENTS HONORING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY LEADERS IN LAND CONSERVATION.