Southwest Savanna Ecological Landscape
Regional Master Plan
The Southwest Savanna Ecological Landscape includes state parks, trails, natural areas, fishery areas, wildlife areas and the Southwest Wisconsin Grassland and Stream Conservation Area. The landscape covers all of Lafayette County, and portions of Grant, Green, Iowa and Dane counties. Yellowstone Lake, New Glarus Woods and Belmont Mound state parks are all included in this regional master plan.
Pecatonica River Woods State Natural Area
Planning Update
Other Plan Change
Other plan changes, per NR 44.04(5), allow the department to implement non-discretionary changes to master plans resulting from changes due to a law or regulation change.
Related to State Statute 23.25(2)(m), which changed the name of the Galena River to the Fever River, this plan change updates all references in the Southwest Savanna Regional Master Plan from the Galena River to instead be the Fever River. This plan change also updates the name of the Galena River Streambank Easement Area to the Fever River Streambank Easement Area.
Read the Fever River Other Plan Change [PDF]
Military Ridge State Trail variance
The Wisconsin DNR has initiated a variance process for the Military Ridge State Trail portion of the Southwest Savanna Regional Master Plan.
This variance would change a management prescription for the Military Ridge State Trail to provide access to parking facilities for snowmobile users on the west side of Verona in the event the MRST in the city of Verona is paved and thus closed to snowmobile use. The trail currently connects snowmobilers to a Wisconsin DOT Park and Ride on the east side of Verona. This variance would allow a different facility be provided to snowmobilers for access to the Military Ridge State Trail and other area snowmobile trails without needing to travel through Verona to the Wisconsin DOT Park and Ride on the east side of the city.
Read the Military Ridge State Trail variance [PDF]
Learn more about the property at the department's Military Ridge State Trail webpage.
Have Your Voice Heard!
The public may submit comments regarding the proposed variance to the Southwest Savanna Regional Master Plan through January 29, 2024.
Comments and questions can be submitted to Erin Rieser via email, phone or U.S. Mail.
Email: ErinE.Rieser@wisconsin.gov
Phone: 608-400-6171
U.S. Mail: Wisconsin DNR
Attn: Erin Rieser LF/6
101 S. Webster St. PO Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Regional Master Plan
The Southwest Savanna Regional Master Plan was approved by the Natural Resources Board in December 2021.
The interactive map below shows many of the larger, more popular DNR properties in the Southwest Savanna. All properties included in this planning region are listed in Appendix A of the plan document. View all properties in the region and access additional map data with the Property Planning Viewer.
Access a full-screen version of the Interactive Map of Southwest Savanna Regional Master Plan Properties. If the map is not loading, please be sure your pop-up blocker is turned off.