FLORENCE, Wis. — Florence County Board will support a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources effort to purchase a 40-acre parcel within the Spread Eagle Barrens.

Forestry and Parks Director Patrick Smith said the property is surrounded by state lands and will be a good addition to the barrens. A snowmobile trail already runs through the property and, with the DNR purchase, the trail should be there long into the future, he added.

The county board unanimously approved a letter of support for the purchase at its monthly meeting.

The board Tuesday also agreed to send a letter of support requested by the DNR for their efforts to obtain a grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America the Beautiful Challenge.

The grant would be used to support barrens habitat conservation such as treating invasive species, executing controlled burns and creating firebreaks.

Spread Eagle Barrens State Natural Area is off U.S. 2 in eastern Florence County. The 8,418-acre protected property includes a 1,305-acre easement owned by We Energies. Bracken grassland is a regionally unique type of pine barrens that is only present in northeastern Wisconsin.

In other business, the board approved the 2023-24 contract with the Blue Ox Trail Riders for maintenance and grooming of 175 miles of snowmobile trails, 83 miles of winter use ATV/UTV trails and 63 miles of three-season ATV/UTV trails.

The board also noted that Smith will represent the county as part of the Wilderness Shores Implementation Team to discuss the future of the Pine River Dam.