Bayfield Regional Conservancy was organized as a not-for-profit organization under the laws of the State of Wisconsin in 1996. The organization was granted formal status as a 501 (C) (3), tax exempt organization, by the IRS in 2024. The National Land Trust Accreditation Commission accredited BRC in 2024.

We were organized to benefit the general public through charitable, educational and scientific activity. The geographic area of focus for these activities is the Bayfield Peninsula and all of Bayfield County as well as the adjacent counties of Ashland, Sawyer and Douglas. Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands are also included in the service area.

During the first four years of its existence, the Conservncy was operated by a volunteer Board of Directors with no paid employees and its first project was the creation of the Brownstone Trail, a trail easement donated by 24 Landowners along the old railroad grade that runs along the Lake Superior Shoreline.

To date, we have worked to protect approximately 4,650 acres.

Our Mission

The mission of the Bayfield Regional  Conservancy is to protect the natural lands, waters, forests, farms and  places of scenic, historic, and spiritual value in Northwestern Wisconsin.

Working in Ashland, Douglas, Sawyer, and  Bayfield Counties our service area includes Wisconsin's entire Lake  Superior drainage basin as well as the incredibly rich and diverse lakes region in Sawyer County. A membership-based non-profit, regional land  trust, BRC was founded in 1996 for the following purposes:

  • To protect and enhance the ecological integrity of the air, land and water of the Bayfield Region,
  • To protect and enhance Lake Superior, inland lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands; agricultural, forest, urban and undeveloped lands; plant  and wildlife habitat and communities; and sites with significant human  aesthetic, spiritual, cultural and historic features, principles and  traditions,
  • To acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, real estate or personal  property of any kind whatsoever, including partial real property  interests and conservation easements
  • To conduct studies and to educate public officials and members of  the  general public about conservation tools and strategies which support appropriate and sustainable patterns of land and water use in the  Bayfield Region.
_Bayfield Regional Conservancy ~ 33 N. 1st Street, Bayfield, WI 54814 ~ 715.779.5263 ~ brc@brcland.org