The Wiscosin Department of Natural Resources is taking comment on a land deal that would create new public forest land, and sell but also sell acreage to the Ho-Chunk Nation. A few months ago, leaders of the Ho-Chunk Nation approached the DNR, explaining they wanted to buy 244 acres of Jackson County forest land for cultural purposes, and to build up to 20 homes near the casino in Black River Falls. DNR Real Estate Director Dick Steffes says in the deal, the county would sell the forest land to the tribe for 646-thousand dollars. The county would pool that money with 380-thousand dollars in state stewardship funds to buy 647 acres from Plum Creek Timberlands, a real estate investment trust. The land would then be declared a county forest. The DNR will take written and verbal comments on the deal through January 20th.
