Gathering Waters

On Saturday, July 25, Gathering Waters presented Ron and Darla Giordano with the 2026 Land Legacy Award!

Ron and Darla's conservation legacy is rooted in their love for the land. Many years ago, the Giordanos came across a 40-acre parcel in Columbia County's Wisconsin River Valley and recognized its ecological value. Ron called the original owner every month to ask if he would sell it.

When they were finally able to purchase the property, they worked with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to complete a formal ecological survey in order to learn more about the property and its potential. The resulting site assessment confirmed the property harbored intact native vegetation, significant restoration potential for sand prairie and oak savanna habitat, and even a state-endangered animal species.

In May 2023, the Giordanos made the extraordinary decision to donate their property to The Prairie Enthusiasts, ensuring its protection in perpetuity. Groundswell Conservancy led negotiations, made arrangements for the closing, and helped cover closing costs. The Giordanos even went a step further by accompanying their land donation with a generous cash contribution to support the site's initial management.

In honoring both the land's deep history and its ecological future, Ron and Darla Giordano have left a legacy that will echo across the Wisconsin landscape for decades to come!

Read more here: https://gatheringwaters.org/ron-and-darla-giordano-2026-land-legacy-award/

Here is what's happening during Wisconsin Land this week!

- July 30: A Morning on the Landscape: 25 Years of Greenseams® hosted by The Conservation Fund☀️
- July 31: Raptor Presentation hosted by Geneva Lake Conservancy🦅
- July 31: Explore Sardeson Forest Preserve hosted by Driftless Area Land Conservancy🌲
- August 1: Bumblebee ID and Conservation hosted by Mississippi Valley Conservancy🐝
- August 2: Graef Prairies Walk hosted by The Prairie Enthusiasts🌾

Find more information about each event at HaveFunOutside.org!

For our staff shoutout series this week, we’re highlighting Charlie Carlin, our Chief Strategy Officer! Charlie has been at Gathering Waters since 2018 and leads many projects including Team Knowles Nelson advocacy, GIS mapping and cartography, and research on the impacts of conservation in Wisconsin.

Charlie’s favorite part of his job is taking legislators on tours of land trust properties. There are so many protected gems around Wisconsin and Charlie says he is constantly humbled and impressed by the dedication of volunteers and land trust professionals that are stewarding Wisconsin’s special places.🌿

Charlie can’t pick a favorite outdoor activity because he loves them all! He especially loves mountain biking, water skiing, backpacking, camping, fishing, napping in a hammock, swimming in lakes, and drinking beers around campfires.⛺

The best concert he has ever been to is String Cheese Incident.🧀 He has seen them at least 70 times.

Leave a 👋 in the comments and stay tuned for next week to learn about another one of our staff members!

On Friday, July 17, Gathering Waters presented Andrew Struck with the 2026 Harold "Bud" Jordahl Lifetime Achievement Award!

Andrew Struck has dedicated more than 25 years of his career to preserving the natural landscapes and waterways of Ozaukee County, serving as its Director of Planning and Parks for over 20 of his 25 years on staff.

His visionary leadership has secured over $35 million in external funding for natural resource projects and helped protect, restore, and provide public access for a remarkable string of Lake Michigan coastal properties, including Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve, Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, Virmond County Park, and Clay Bluffs Cedar Gorge Nature Preserve.

Beyond land acquisition, Andrew spearheaded the Ozaukee County Fish Passage Program and oversaw the development of two iterations of the Ozaukee County Farmland Preservation Plan.

Congratulations, Andrew! Thank you for your leadership and your tireless efforts to support land conservation in Wisconsin.

Read more here: https://gatheringwaters.org/andrew-struck-2026-harold-bud-jordahl-lifetime-achievement-award/

We're excited for this week's Wisconsin Land Trust Days events!🎉

- July 21: Monarch Magic! Monarch Rearing Workshop hosted by Seno K/RLT Conservancy 🦋
- July 23: Enhancing Biodiversity on Your Land: Creative Approaches to Habitat Improvement hosted by Mississippi Valley Conservancy 🌾🌲🦗

Find more details about each event at HaveFunOutside.org.

Don't forget to request your free printed calendar of events or a Wisconsin Nature Guide at bit.ly/WINatureGuide!

For our staff shoutout series this week, we’re highlighting Mary Endres, our Accounting Manager! Mary started at Gathering Waters in April of this year and provides the financial and accounting framework that allows the Gathering Waters team to focus on protecting Wisconsin’s special places.

Mary’s favorite outdoor activities include walks in nature, water skiing, and sledding with her kids.👣

Mary’s perfect Wisconsin day would be a sunny fall day when the tree colors are at their peak.☀🍂

A fun fact about Mary that not many people know is that she went to a Candlebox concert in college and got to hang out with the band after because her friend knew all the lyrics!🎶

Say ‘hi’ to Mary in the comments and stay tuned for next Thursday to learn about another one of our staff members!

There's only one Land Trust Days event this week, but it's a great one!

Please note: This event was cancelled due to an air quality alert.

- July 16: Twilight Prairie Walk hosted by Tall Pines Conservancy🌠🌾🦇

You can always take inspiration from our list of independent adventures. Visit HaveFunOutside.org for more details!

During Land Trust Days, you can request a free printed Land Trust Days event calendar and a Wisconsin Nature Guide to help you explore protected properties around the state. 🌳🐦

Request these materials here at bit.ly/WINatureGuide. Visit HaveFunOutside.org to learn more about Land Trust Days.

For our staff shoutout series this week, we’re highlighting Amanda Jutrzonka, our Communications and Operations Manager! Amanda’s 5 year anniversary at Gathering Waters is coming up this September. She keeps the Gathering Waters website updated, posts on social media, and is involved in writing and editing much of the content that makes it out to you.

One thing that brings Amanda joy is spending time with her horse, Iris, who lives with horse friends in Oregon, WI. She goes out to visit or ride Iris several times a week. Iris has been in Amanda’s life since 2020 and have taught each other how to communicate without many words.

If she could learn any skill instantly, it would be playing the violin. While she’s played piano since she was 6 years old (and taught piano lessons for many years), learning a string instrument seems way harder than piano.

Leave a 👋in the comments and stay tuned for next week to learn about another one of our staff members!