This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to release the U.S. reversionary interest in specific land within Wisconsin's Black River State Forest, contingent upon a land exchange agreement between the state and Deli, Inc., to expand the forest.
Ron Johnson
Senator
WI
This bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture to release the U.S. reversionary interest in approximately 31.83 acres of state forest land in Wisconsin's Black River State Forest, contingent upon the state's agreement to exchange that land for approximately 37.27 acres of privately owned land to be added to the forest. The goal is to facilitate a land exchange between the state and Deli, Inc., a local business, to consolidate land holdings and enhance the Black River State Forest. The Secretary must provide a quitclaim deed to the State of Wisconsin as evidence of the release of interest.
Bill Greenlights Land Swap Adding Acreage to Wisconsin's Black River State Forest
This bill sets the stage for a specific land exchange involving Wisconsin's Black River State Forest. It directs the Secretary of Agriculture to release the U.S. government's future claim—known as a 'reversionary interest'—on about 32 acres of land currently within the state forest near Millston, Wisconsin. This federal step is crucial because that land originally came with a condition (under 7 U.S.C. 1011(c)) that it must always be used for public purposes. Releasing this federal string allows the state to proceed with a planned swap.
Trading Spaces in the Forest
The core purpose here is to facilitate a trade between the State of Wisconsin and a local business, Deli, Inc., which produces sphagnum moss. The plan, as outlined in the bill and referenced on a map dated June 26, 2023, is for the state to transfer the roughly 32-acre parcel (the 'State forest land') to Deli, Inc. In return, Deli, Inc. will transfer approximately 37 acres it owns or has rights to (the 'Deli land') to the state. The bill is very clear: the federal government's release of its interest only happens if the state formally agrees in writing to this specific exchange. Once the agreement is in place, the Secretary of Agriculture provides a 'quitclaim deed,' essentially a document confirming the U.S. has no further claim, clearing the way for the state and Deli, Inc. to finalize their swap.
What This Means on the Ground
If the exchange goes through as planned, the Black River State Forest will actually grow slightly, gaining the 37-acre Deli land parcel in exchange for the 32-acre State forest land parcel—a net gain of about 5 acres added to the forest. Deli, Inc. presumably gets access to land better suited for its operations. For people who use the forest, the main outcome is a minor expansion of protected land, although the specific boundaries will shift slightly. The legislation itself is quite specific, defining the involved parties and properties, and setting a clear condition for the federal government's role, leaving little room for ambiguity in this particular transaction.