DNR land acquisitions in the river corridor aim to increase a wide variety of recreation including canoeing, horseback riding, hiking, camping and nature observation. The riverway plan also stresses the importance of preserving cultural resources like archaeological and historic sites. New opportunities to buy public lands had a dramatic effect. Fueled by the Stewardship Fund, more than 20,000 acres of Wisconsin River shorelands were purchased in seven years. Sixty-two species of plant and animal species on the riverway corridor are classified as endangered, threatened or of special concern.
Cultural holdings are equally rich.
Several effigy mounds in the form of eagles, a bear and two panthers are now protected and a Black Hawk War battle site was purchased. In fact interpretive programs will be held there during our sesquicentennial celebration. The site of the Battle of Wisconsin Heights preserves a bit of riverside history in northwest Dane County, two miles southeast of Sauk City. Black Hawk's delaying tactics allowed several hundred women, children and elders to escape across the Wisconsin River. His victory was short-lived.