DALC announces it will purchase Wintergreen property
The Driftless Area Land Conservancy announced June 30 that it has officially exercised its option to purchase the Wintergreen property near Spring Green. The move marks a major milestone in the nonprofit’s effort to conserve the nearly 250-acre site along the Lower Wisconsin River.
DALC is now entering the final phase of its campaign to secure funding for the purchase, which will protect nearly a mile of shoreline, rare habitats, and key connections for the Driftless Trail. The property includes wetlands, prairie, and oak savanna, and lies within an area that supports 43 species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Once acquired, DALC plans to manage the land as a public nature preserve focused on education, restoration, and quiet recreation such as hiking and snowshoeing. A 15,000-square-foot lodge on the property may be repurposed for community use, with potential input from area residents.
DALC said the purchase is part of a broader effort to conserve more than 1,500 acres in 2025 alone. For more information, visit www.driftlessconservancy.org.
Valley Sentinel first covered this story in our May 1 edition.
WisDOT to hold public meeting on WIS 60 improvements in Richland County
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will host a public meeting Wednesday, July 16, to discuss proposed improvements to WIS 60 between WIS 80 in Muscoda and US 14 in Gotham.
The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 800 N. 6th St. in Muscoda. The project includes pavement and drainage upgrades, intersection improvements, speed reduction in Orion, updated roadside barriers, and realignment of WIS 60 west of County TB. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.
The meeting aims to share project goals and gather public input. Adjacent property owners are especially encouraged to attend.
Those unable to attend can contact WisDOT Project Manager Brian Meyer at brian.meyer@dot.wi.gov or (608) 789-5676. Written comments may also be mailed to Meyer at 3550 Mormon Coulee Road, La Crosse, WI 54601.
For interpreter services, contact Meyer at least three business days prior to the meeting.
For more information, visit wisconsindot.gov.
Rep. Pocan staff to hold July office hours across 2nd Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan’s district staff will host pop-up office hours throughout July at locations across Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District, including stops in Spring Green, Mazomanie, Black Earth and Sauk City.
Constituents are invited to meet with staff to seek help with federal agencies—including the Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration and passport services—or to share feedback for the congressman. No RSVP is required.
The Spring Green office hours will be held Wednesday, July 23, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Spring Green Community Library. Other area stops include:
- Mazomanie Free Library – Friday, July 11, noon–1 p.m.
- George Culver Community Library in Sauk City – Thursday, July 24, 3:30–4:30 p.m.
For the full list of office hours and locations, visit pocan.house.gov/office-hours.
State allocates $5 million to Taliesin for preservation and public access
Taliesin, the iconic Spring Green home and studio of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, will receive a $5 million investment from the State of Wisconsin as part of the 2025–27 state budget, Taliesin Preservation and the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation announced July 9.
The funding will support preservation and infrastructure improvements at the historic 800-acre estate in the Driftless Region, advancing projects such as structural restoration, improved accessibility and enhanced visitor experiences.
Taliesin Preservation Executive Director Carrie Rodamaker called the funding “a pivotal moment” for the site, which drew more than 30,000 visitors last year and generated nearly $4 million in economic impact for southwestern Wisconsin. “It affirms that Taliesin is not only a cultural treasure, but a powerful engine for education and economic development in Wisconsin,” she said.
The state’s investment marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to preserve Taliesin’s architecture, landscape and cultural legacy. The estate is a National Historic Landmark and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For more information, visit taliesinpreservation.org.
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