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The Mississippi Valley Conservancy will host an event from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, to celebrate the purchase of a 55-acre property in the Trempealeau Lakes area next to the Mississippi River in the village of Trempealeau.
The celebration picnic will be held at the Hammes river cottage built in 1925 at W 23621 Lake Road, which is down the road from the land the MVC purchased recently. There will be a brief program beginning at 2 p.m followed by a cookout and music from local musician Johnsmith.
Aided by a donation of land value and grants, MVC purchased the property with its mile of frontage on Second Lake that abuts the state’s Trempealeau Lakes State Fishery Area. In addition to the appeal of the chain of spring-fed lakes for fishing, the area is listed on the Great Wisconsin Nature and Birding Trail. The purchase by MVC increases this local protected habitat to 219 acres.
The previous owners of the land — Jay Hoeschler, Bob Skemp and Joe Becker — made what MVC termed a “significant” donation of property value to make the conservation purchase possible.
Becker said the land was part of a larger purchase he made in the late 1950s. He planted 20 acres of pines and used the property for recreation. Part of it was platted and Skemp, his law partner, bought half interest in the land. Later when they wanted to market lots from the platted portion of the property, Hoeschler bought one-third interest.
Sales were brisk, he said, until the flood of 1965. Then the area was declared flood plain and building was stopped. Becker said his daughter, Barb Hammes (an MVC board member), was aware that the partners were ready to sell the remaining property and suggested contacting MVC.
Cost of the acquisition was $65,500 paid for with $ 51,500 from the Knowles-Nelson State Stewardship Fund, $14,000 from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the remainder from the value donation by the partners.
Anyone interested in attending the picnic celebration should contact MVC at
marttus@mississippivalleyconservancy.org or call 784-3606, ext. 1.
George Howe, MVC conservation director, said this is the first land purchased by MVC that has Mississippi River floodplain forest. Residents of the village of Trempealeau will have additional recreation opportunities virtually at their doorstep. The village of Trempealeau, the Mount Trempealeau Association and the Lions Club of Trempealeau have offered to work with MVC to restore hiking trails and protect the area. The acquisition provides for fishing, swimming, canoeing and bird watching.
The property is south of Highway 35 and the Great River State Trail, and is accessible from Lake Road, Pickerel Road, and Bass Road.
Also nearby is access to the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and its Long Lake Canoe Trail. The Great River State Bicycle Trail trailhead is nearby as well. The property is located entirely within the Mississippi River- Large River Corridor, identified by Wisconsin’s Wildlife Action Plan as being of “continental significance.”
Becker said the area is “loaded with wildlife” and the lake is full of springs. He advises caution when ice fishing Second Lake because of the risk of thin ice in spots because of the springs.
The area is available for public use. Guided hikes along Second Lake will be from noon to 2 p.m. and after the 2 p.m. program. MVC recommends parking along Pickerel Path to view the Second Lake property and along Bass Boulevard to attend picnic/presentation at the Hammes river cottage.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help with work such as boundary posting on the land should contact Abbie Meyer, MVC conservation specialist at
ameyer@mississipppivalleyconservancy.org or 784-3606, ext. 5.
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