Last winter Greg and Donna Martens visited Elizabeth Holland, owner of Start Line Services in Cable, to order cross-country ski boots. Holland is a friend of Landmark Conservancy and operates her businesses at the edge of the Telemark Forest Preserve, which includes a section of the Birkebeiner ski trail and was permanently protected by Landmark in 2021.
The Martens were impressed to learn of Landmark’s efforts to protect the Telemark property with broad support from the community and a grant from the Department of Natural Resources’ Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, but they are not newcomers to land protection. The couple conserved 120 acres east of New Auburn in Chippewa County with the land trust back in 2008. The project, known as Dog Island Lake, includes the “wild lake” of its namesake and topography typical of the Chippewa glacial moraine landscape, with rolling hills, hummocks, kettle lakes and bogs, and ice-walled lake plains. A dramatic winding ridge cuts through the property, formed by torrents of meltwater from glacial Lake Superior at the end of the last ice age.
The Martens built a rustic cordwood cabin and lived on the property for 20 years. “It was time to move on,” said Greg, “but we didn’t want to see this land developed. If we hadn’t been able to protect it, we’d still be there today.”
Rolling hills in Chippewa glacial moraine landscape
Barred Owl at Dog Island Lake
Aerial Topography Map of Dog Island Lake
What makes this property special is not just the unique features within its boundaries; it is part of a much bigger picture. “This project made sense from every angle – protecting a wild lake, increasing protected habitat connectivity, and increasing access for non-motorized recreation,” said Rick Remington, Executive Director. “We weren’t talking a lot about climate resilience then, but looking back now, it checks all the boxes.”
The land has since been conveyed to Chippewa County for inclusion in the County Forest and is being managed for game and non-game species, further complementing thousands of acres of County Forest land and the Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area. Recreational access is permitted for hunting, birdwatching, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
Cross-country skiing is not just allowed, however, but promoted, as part of a greater vision that is carried out by the Friends of Hickory Ridge Trails. The organization is dedicated to developing, improving and maintaining human powered recreational opportunities in the Chippewa County Forest, and the group ensures exceptional grooming of trails for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking, totaling about 27 kilometers. Community for Outdoor Recreation, Biking, and Adventure (CORBA) also partners to maintain single track mountain bike trails in cooperation with Friends of Hickory Ridge.
Greg, Donna, and dog Elsa at Dog Island Lake
The Martens are pleased to have reconnected with Landmark, and you can sometimes find Greg volunteering at workdays sponsored by Landmark and the DNR. The couple has also joined the Landmark Legacy Circle and included conservation in Wisconsin as part of their legacy through a planned gift. “It’s just another piece of the puzzle that fit,” said Donna. “It was all meant to be.”
To learn more about recreational access, visit Dog Island Lake – Landmark Conservancy.