Wisconsin couple dedicate land they love as nature sanctuary

As a boy, Ken Aldridge climbed a fire tower to get a view of the sprawling pines and creeks west of Minocqua, Wis., where his family spent many summer vacations. Now that vast expanse of woodland is the sanctuary where Aldridge takes his own wife and kids to ski, hike and fish.

The chief executive of Aldridge Electric Co. decided to ensure that it would remain a sanctuary for everyone. He and his wife purchased the property and dedicated what Wisconsin officials call the largest conservation easement of private land in their state's history ? almost 3,200 acres.

"We wanted to preserve something that has a lot of beauty to it," Aldridge said.

Aldridge has long been interested in environmental issues ? but that interest sometimes has met with controversy. His company's 150-foot wind turbine in Libertyville, Ill., has fueled complaints about noise and other nuisances among its neighbors, who have filed lawsuits to have it removed.

But in northern Wisconsin, Aldridge's neighbors are applauding.

Once eyed by developers, the 3,195 acres that Aldridge and his wife, Carolyn, bought last year for $4.5 million are now protected by an agreement that spells out how the Northwoods Land Trust will limit its use. Northwoods is a nonprofit conservation organization in Eagle River, Wis., that works with landowners to preserve natural resources and provide stewardship of protected land.

Instead of large-scale development, a handful of cottages might one day dot the serene landscape ? but skiers and other nature lovers will always have access, officials say.

The Aldridges signed a permanent conservation easement Dec. 1, creating the Winter Park Pines Nature Preserve. Although it remains private land, the Aldridges granted permanent recreation access.

Home to bald eagles, osprey and timber wolves, Winter Park Pines has nearly 27 miles of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. Now it's part of the Minocqua Winter Park Nordic Center's trail system, said Northwoods Executive Director Bryan Pierce.

The Aldridges purchased the land in June 2010 from a paper company, Potlatch Corp., which had been clear-cutting trees near the nordic center's cross-country ski trail system, Pierce said.

"It's a huge gift to the Northwoods," Pierce said. "The company that owned it had put together some development plans to put in a series of developments along the system. Anybody could have purchased it. It would've been up to them to do what they wanted with it."

Under the conservation easement, the 3,195 acres can be split into 12 parcels and sold individually, and one small cottage could be built on each parcel. But future owners must abide by the conservation easement, Pierce said.

Conservation is what's important, Aldridge said.

"I've been coming up here my whole life, and I want to preserve why people came here in the first place," Aldridge said. "People come up here for woods and water. I have three kids, and they've all enjoyed it since they were young."

aalderman@tribune.com

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/lIeATrgYPJQ/la-na-land-trust-20120115,0,3817153.story

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