DODGE COUNTY (WLUK) -- Conservation efforts in Wisconsin will move forward, after a multi-million dollar boost from the federal government.

For the first time, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior made the presentation in person with a ceremonial signature.

"I hope it will cash," joked Ryan Zinke, U.S. Secretary of the Interior.

Zinke made it official. He presented the $34,966,603 check to the Department of Natural Resources Tuesday morning at a ceremony at the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area Visitors Center.

"The opportunity to have a secretary come here and actually roll out this year's appropriation. It's really exciting for us, and all of our sportsmen," said Sanjay Olson, DNR Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Division Administrator.

Olson says improving public land access for hunting and fishing is a priority.

"Sometimes it's access like a fee purchase, like an actual purchase. Sometimes it's through easement. Where we don't always have to own the land, but we get the easement for the public to be able to get on those properties," he said.


Olson says boat landings, and piers are on the upgrade list. He says the money will also support stocking efforts for various fish.

"There's opportunities to do more research, so we can find more about the fish and wildlife species, and game species that are out there. Certainly the habitat they use, so that we can make smart decisions with the limited dollars that we have," said Olson.

The federal grants to the states total more than $1.1 billion. Zinke says the Department of the Interior is looking to improve national projects as well.

"This next year, we're going to rebuild our park system, rebuild our wildlife refuges, and reorganize our stewardship in looking at wildlife corridors, watersheds, and key components to being the best stewards we can, for the the longest term. Using science, best practices, greatest good, longest term," he said.

DNR leaders say they are ready to get the state's projects going.

"It has a long term benefit. So yes, we spend the dollars in a short time, but what you see on the landscape lasts for an extremely long time," said Olson.

Money from things like fishing license sales, and ammunition pays for the federal project.

Over the years, the program has distributed more than $20 billion to help support conservation initiatives.

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