According to a press release from Department of Natural Resources spokesman Greg Matthews, TNC is seeking money from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. It is a state program created in 1989 by the Wisconsin legislature to "preserve valuable natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation," according to the DNR Web site.

Friday’s brief press statement does not specify the location of the possible land purchase except for its location in the township.

TNC proposes to purchase the land then leave it in its natural state and open to the 

public for low-impact uses such as hunting, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing and nature appreciation, according to the DNR announcement.

TNC owns several nature preserves in the Baraboo Bluffs, with a substantial acreage in the town of Baraboo. The properties include Baxter’s Hollow southwest of Baraboo along Highway 12.

During Wednesday’s town of Baraboo budget hearing, Supervisor Randy Puttkamer said the town lost about $3.7 million in equalized value from the tax rolls when Nature Conservancy made all its properties in Sauk County tax exempt. That meant the town tax levy had to be divided across a smaller amount of residents’ property value and helped push up their tax burden, he said.

Supervisor Steve Cohoon said he expects the DNR will formally notify the Town Board of the grant request, but said he had not seen the paperwork as of Friday evening. He said he did not want to comment on the issue until he knows something about the details of what is proposed.

"Unless I read it and know what’s going on I’m not going to comment on it," he said. "We have a town meeting coming up Monday night."

The DNR has made an initial determination that the land purchase will not involved negative environmental impact and neither an environmental assessment nor impact statement are being asked from the TNC. The DNR is inviting public comment on the proposal.

Comments on the proposed land acquisition should be sent to Vance Rayburn, Administrator of the Customer and Employee Services Division, care of Mary Rothenmaier. Comments may be left with Rothenmaier by phone; — (608) 275 - 3322 or via e-mail — Mary.Rothenmaier@Wisconsin.gov.

The deadline for comments is 4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20.

Information about TNC reserves in the area can be found at the organization’s Web site — http://www.nature.org. Use the search box at the top, right of the page and enter terms like "Baxter’s Hollow" or "Baraboo Bluffs."