News & Updates
It Takes a Village, to Care for Land
Sometimes it’s easy to imagine that the best parts of nature are far away, hidden on high mountaintops or secret valleys, only reachable after a trek and a scramble. But our favorite wild places are often right in our own backyards – and having nature so close to us makes it that much easier to take the initiative to head out and care for it....
Trusted Custodians
Judy and John Lovaas embarked on a mission to find land in the Driftless Area in 1988, driven by Judy’s deep-rooted passion for land preservation. This passion was ignited when the farmland adjacent to their home in McHenry, Illinois, was sold and earmarked for a sprawling subdivision. Before they departed, Judy valiantly fought to safeguard...
Take a Long-Term View
What are some ways to leave a positive, lasting impact on our world? Helping found a land trust is a pretty good one. So is a permanent conservation easement on private land with diverse native ecosystems. Joining DALC’s Legacy Society and supporting our future is another. And David Kopitzke and Paul Klawiter have done all three. Their deep love...
Two Driftless Trail Segments Nearing Completion, To Open Soon
After opening the re-routed Weaver Road Segment of the Driftless Trail last year, just north of Governor Dodge State Park, we are excited to announce great progress on two additional pieces of the Driftless Trail. The Knobs Road Segment, north of Ridgeway, is now in the “trial run” phase, open to a limited group who will provide feedback. In...
Twenty Years, and Forevermore
In 2003, DALC completed our first-ever conservation easement. Twenty years later, our celebration of this milestone is bittersweet – the donors, Deane and Edith Arny, are no longer with us. But their tremendous legacy lives on in the Driftless. For over forty years, Deane and Edith worked alongside their friends and family to restore a worn-out...
Wild Oaks Comes to DALC
At the end of 2020, we received a remarkable gift: 300+ acres of a diverse Driftless landscape north of New Glarus. Thanks to the vision, dedication, and generosity of the local community, this special place was forever saved from development. At the time, we called this property Spring Valley Tract. But that name was always meant to be a...
The Driftless Trail: A Unique Vision for a Unique Landscape
A drive through northeastern Iowa County serves up incredible vistas, bucolic farm scenes, roller coaster topography, historic treasures, and a taste of rural life. We all love what we see out the window. Now stop and think what a hike through this same landscape would give you. Not only could you soak in all of the above up close and at your own...