Door County Land Trust: Land trust announces matching challenge for possible 16th nature preserve

Door County, WI – The Land Trust is launching a $25,000 matching challenge to double the amount of donations made as part of a $750,000 private fundraising campaign for a newly proposed 338-acre nature preserve. This project would protect an important watershed and wildlife habitat in Southern Door and safeguard land that encompasses the waters of Kayes Creek and Twin Harbor Creek. Both flow into Little Sturgeon Bay and serve as a vital link to the health of the entire Green Bay watershed. If successful, the Little Sturgeon Bay property would become the organization’s 16^th public preserve to host infrastructure for trails and recreation in Door County.

“This intersection of Kayes Creek watershed with the Little Sturgeon Bay Estuary supports one of the most important fish spawning areas in all the bay of Green Bay,” said Mark Holey, Land Trust board member, retired WDNR staff, and retired fishery biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Trout, walleye, and northern pike are a few of the many species that spawn in the creek. 

If protected, the Land Trust would work to restore the Kayes Creek corridor to improve the important fisheries and mitigate direct nutrient and sediment inputs. Roughly 85 acres of the property are wetlands, and a good portion of the land that is currently used for agriculture has high restoration potential. Transformation of farmland to native prairie so close to the mouth of the creek would benefit water quality and increase habitat for migratory and grassland birds that are known to nest in the area. 

“The Land Trust is looking at an amazing opportunity,” said Executive Director Emily Wood. “It is rare that we get a chance to protect this much land with such great potential benefit for both wildlife and people.”  

Converting the property to a nature preserve is a process that would take several phases and years to execute. The Land Trust has already mapped areas for potential restoration, trails, and parking. More surveys would be conducted to map invasive species and develop a control plan if the land is acquired.

The property is in an area of Door County that is predominantly agricultural land with a small residential and boating presence. Vast acres have been owned by the same families for generations here. These historically working lands are becoming more expensive to maintain and have begun to show up on the real estate market more frequently in recent years. When that happens, the land is often subdivided for development.

Kermit and Cleo Franda owned the original 80-acre dairy farm that they added to over their lifetime to grow the 338 acres which the Land Trust is now working to acquire. If protected, the Land Trust would keep sections of the property in agriculture with sustainable practices during phases of the restoration process.

The Franda family has agreed to work with the Land Trust to sell the bulk of their property rather than subdivide it for development. This is a special opportunity because once land is divided, it is impossible to restore it to the way it was.

To protect this property and create a new preserve, the Land Trust needs to raise funds by September of 2026. The organization has multiple grant applications pending, with current grant requests totaling more than $2.5 million. A $100,000 grant through Door County Community Foundation Community Investment Fund has been awarded. The remaining need for private donations is a minimum of $715,000 but could be higher if pending grants are not awarded.

“This matching challenge is really a signal to the public that we are serious about protecting this property, and I hope it motivates donors to give now and give generously, while the impact of their gift can be doubled,” said Cinnamon Rossman, Director of Charitable Giving. “Gifts from private donors will be the reason land is protected in Door County.”

The announcement comes during a time when state funding for conservation is drying up. The Knowles Nelson Stewardship Fund—a bipartisan grant program responsible for development of public parks, boat launches, and recreational trails—officially ended without renewal on June 30^th of this year. This program provided funding for conservation for the past 37 years, and helped organizations like the Land Trust increase the pace of conservation to keep up with development. 

Without the Knowles Nelson program, the Land Trust will indefinitely rely entirely on donations from the community and the public to replenish the Land Acquisition Fund. Please help by donating to the Land Trust’s 2026 Conservation and Stewardship Campaign. Right now, all gifts up to $25,000 are being matched by a generous matching challenge grant that will double every contribution dollar for dollar. 

The matching challenge is provided by Thriving Earth Fund and the Wong family, honoring the memory and wisdom of Y.C. and Ruth L. Wong, and in recognition of the value of Southern Door County’s natural heritage, native species, and lively waters for this and future generations.  

Conservation in Wisconsin stands at the precipice of great challenge and great opportunity. With the help of the community, The Land Trust and its partners are working to create a legacy of protecting nature that can be enjoyed for years to come. 

Donations can be made online at doorcountylandtrust.org/littlesturgeon, over the phone by calling 920-746-1359, or by mail to: Door County Land Trust, PO Box 65, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. 

About the Door County Land Trust

Protecting Door County’s Exceptional Lands and Waters…Forever. Door County Land Trust protects the wild places, scenic beauty, and ecological integrity that make the peninsula and islands so special. 15 featured nature preserves are open for hiking, and other low-impact, non-motorized recreational activities–all at no charge to the public. Trail maps and more information may be found at www.doorcountylandtrust.org.