CONSERVATION ON TAP: Exploring Early Northwood’s Conservation Traditions
Mercer
Wi
Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department (ICLWCD) and Iron County Lakes and Rivers Alliance (ICLRA) have teamed up to host a Conservation on Tap program at The Pines restaurant on June 12th at 6:00 PM. The featured speaker is historian Jim Bokern who will discuss the history of the conservation movements in northern Wisconsin.
Bokern’s presentation will cover conservation efforts, beginning in the 20th century, to protect northern Wisconsin’s unique forests, lakes and streams. Conservation activism ranged from grassroots efforts to state and federal protection. Importantly, early conservation efforts along the Bear, Trout, Turtle and Manitowish Rivers illustrate a broad range of diverse environmental preservation action. Northern communities engaged in stocking fish during the early resort era, litigated corporate logging interests, created the first state forest reserves, operated local fish hatcheries during the depression, and hosted Indian Division and Federal Civilian Conservation Corps Camps. Over the centuries, the robust natural resources in the area have always been prized, but required early 20th century proactive conservation leadership and vison to endure.
Jim Bokern, now a resident of Manitowish Waters, began teaching high school History in 1981. For his Masters Degree he wrote his thesis on the History and the Primary Canoe Routes of the Six Bands of Chippewa from the Lac Du Flambeau District. Besides teaching various AP History and Government classes, Bokern also has lead two archeological surveys on the Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes, co-developed the Digital Time Traveler Program at the North Lakeland Discovery Center, worked as project historian on two grants with the Lac Du Flambeau Historic Preservation Office, and documented the historically significant 6 Pause Portage in Iron County. He is currently president of the Manitowish Waters Historical Society and continues active research in the region.
Please join Iron County Lakes and Rivers Alliance and Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department for a thoroughly interesting and informative “Conservation on Tap” evening, June 12th at The Pines outdoor venue. The program is free and open to the public. Since ICLRA and the ICLWCD overlap in purpose, it seemed fitting that they join forces to present mutually interesting programs. Information on joining ICLRA will be available at the program or by calling 715-476-2881. For more information on this program, call ICLWD, at 715-561-2234