Dane County Executive Melissa Agard Applauds Herro Property Land Purchase in Partnership with Ho-Chunk Nation and Groundswell Conservancy

May 15, 2026
execmedia@danecounty.gov, 608-800-1127
County Executive

DANE COUNTY - Dane County Executive Melissa Agard today applauded the County Board approval of the purchase and permanent protection of approximately 165 acres in the Lower Mud Lake Natural Resource Area, paving the way for a landmark conservation partnership with the Ho-Chunk Nation and Groundswell Conservancy.

The property, located in the Town of Dunn south of Babcock County Park, includes significant Yahara River, Lower Mud Lake, and Lake Waubesa frontage, along with wetlands, woods, and important archeological and cultural sites tied to the Ho-Chunk people. The County will purchase the land for $6.41 million using the Dane County Conservation Fund before placing a permanent conservation easement on the property and donating the protected land to the Ho-Chunk Nation.

“This is a historic investment in conservation, cultural preservation, and partnership,” said County Executive Agard. “These lands are environmentally significant, culturally sacred, and deeply important to the history of this region. I’m proud Dane County is taking this step to protect this land forever while ensuring it can be stewarded by the Ho-Chunk Nation, the original caretakers of this place.”

Agard also thanked Groundswell Conservancy for the critical role the organization played in helping make the project possible.

“Groundswell Conservancy, working alongside our Land and Water Resources Department, was an essential partner every step of the way,” Agard said. “Their leadership, expertise, and commitment to permanent land protection helped bring together a truly unique partnership that will benefit generations to come.”

Under the agreement, Dane County and Groundswell Conservancy will co-hold a conservation easement on the property to permanently prohibit development, preserve public access, and protect the land’s ecological and archeological significance in perpetuity.

The property contains six recorded archeological sites, including rare mound groupings associated with the Ho-Chunk Nation’s longstanding presence along the Yahara River corridor. County officials say the partnership will help preserve those sites while creating opportunities for public education, conservation, and recreation.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to protecting the places that define Dane County,” Agard said. “It is about honoring history, preserving natural resources, and ensuring future generations can learn from and experience these lands.”