MADISON, Wis. — On June 30, 2026, state funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program expired. Created through collaboration by a Democratic and a Republican governor, this program has provided development and maintenance funding for over 750,000 acres of Wisconsin public land.
Representative Randy Udell (D-47th District) released the following statement:
“Since 1989 Knowles-Nelson has expanded outdoor recreation, preserved wildlife habitats, protected water quality, and boosted local economies through tourism. This program is eminently successful: 99% of Wisconsinites live within five miles of a Knowles-Nelson project, and 91% support renewing the program’s funding.
“This session, however, Legislative Republicans were unwilling to work across the aisle to keep the program funded, rejecting both Governor Evers’ and the Democratic Caucus’s reauthorization proposals. The Republican proposal, which cut the program significantly, failed to pass under their own Senate majority.
“This setback runs contrary to Wisconsin’s legacy of conservation and outdoor recreation. Next session, I will fight to restore Knowles-Nelson and preserve our state’s natural resources for generations to come.”
