The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is opposing a Department of Natural Resources plan to sell lakefront property in Vilas County to a major donor to Gov. Scott Walker.
The shoreline parcel on Rest Lake would be sold to Elizabeth Uihlein, who owns an adjacent condominium complex. She and her husband have donated $2.5 million dollars to Unintimidated, a political action committee that supported Walker’s presidential bid, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Executive Director George Meyer said the sale violates DNR procedures.
Stay connected to Wisconsin news — your way
Get trustworthy reporting and unique local stories from WPR delivered directly to your inbox.
“We don’t believe it’s appropriate for the department to be selling off lake frontage and river frontage,” he said. “It’s land that can be used for recreational purposes, and obviously protect the habitat in the lake.”
Bill Broydrick, a spokesman for Uihlein, called the proposed purchase “completely and totally unrelated to her support of Governor Walker,” and said “there are no plans to do anything but maintain the property in its current state.”
The federation will speak out at Wednesday’s DNR Board meeting.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2025, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
