Natural

Resources

Conservation

Service

Wisconsin Report 2004
From the desk of the State Conservationist

Dear Friends of Wisconsin Conservation,

I proudly present this 2004 USDA Natural

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state

report to you, the shareholders in Wisconsin’s

soil and water resources.

In 2004, we took an historic step in a new direction

with the launch of the Conservation Security

Program (CSP). By actively supporting the farmers

who have cared for the land, we have entered a new

era of farmland conservation policy.

CSP is intended for those producers who have been

historical stewards, have applied an effective

conservation system, and practice good management

and record keeping. Producers who aren’t yet ready

for CSP are invited to look into other financial and technical programs offered by NRCS and other state,

federal and private partners to become eligible in the future. In rewarding historical stewards, who have

been diligent for so long, we believe we are paving a path for others to follow. We are also confirming that

farmers and ranchers, given the appropriate incentives, can and will voluntarily create farms that are

showcases of conservation - for generations to come. This year, Wisconsin received nearly $29 million in

Farm Bill conservation programs delivered through NRCS. Each year, gains in conservation take us closer

to our goal of maintaining a productive land in harmony with a quality environment.

I want to thank the thousands of Wisconsin farmers and landowners for their commitment to conservation.

The conservation accomplishments realized this year are due to that commitment as well as the extraordinary

hard work and diligence of our NRCS staff in rolling out a new program while juggling the ongoing

workload. We also most sincerely thank the conservation partnership for their dedicated efforts – the county

Land Conservation Committees and Departments, DNR, DATCP, UW Extension, FSA, and other members

of the Wisconsin State Technical Committee and the Tribal Conservation Advisory Council. Private and

non-profit sectors further strengthen the conservation partnership, particularly farm and environmental

groups, Resource Conservation & Development councils, the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation

Association, and the Wisconsin Association of Land Conservation Employees. Our growing cadre of private

Technical Service Providers is also assisting in the delivery of conservation services. This conservation

partnership has reaffirmed its commitment to locally led conservation as one of the most effective ways to

help landowners and communities achieve their conservation goals through a voluntary, incentive-based

approach to land stewardship.

Sincerely,
Conservation

Technical Assistance

The landscape of southwestern Wisconsin compliments the

conservation practices that NRCS assists with every day.

CTA Program Highlights

• 554,690 acres of conservation plans

developed on cropland

• 10,628 acres of comprehensive

nutrient management plans applied

• 26,633 acres of conservation plans

developed on grazing land

• 11,978 acres practices applied on

grazing land

• 11,786 acres of forest stand

improvement

• 4,249 acres of agricultural wetland

restored

Wisconsin

2004 Report

NRCS Conservationists work with landowners to

explain the benefits of conservation practices and

how to implement them.

NRCS helps landowners in planning and

implementing conservation systems that reduce

erosion, improve soil, air and water quality,

enhance fish and wildlife habitat, improve

pastures, reduce upstream flooding, and

improve woodlands.

Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) is

available to any landowner or operator

regardless of participation in other USDA costshare or conservation programs. NRCS helps

farmers to meet their goals for resource

stewardship and assist individuals to comply

with state and local requirements.

Conservation compliance activities, such as

highly erodible land determinations, wetland

delineations and determinations, as well as

program appeals, are ongoing CTA work.

CTA is the basic foundation for NRCS

conservation activities. It is carried out in

cooperation with county Land Conservation

Departments and Committees throughout

Wisconsin. This effort allows for seamless

delivery of local, state and federal conservation

programs.

The United States Department of Agriculture

is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov
Conservation

Security Program

NRCS Chief Bruce Knight signing the first Conservation Security

Program contract in the State of Wisconsin.

CSP Program Highlights

Approved CSP contracts in Wisconsin

totaled 219. The Wisconsin portion of

the Kishwaukee Watershed enrolled

4,664 acres and the Lower Chippewa

enrolled 67,636 acres. CSP payments

for 2004 in Wisconsin were $2,163,622

with an average payment of $9,500 per

year.

Watersheds throughout Wisconsin will

become eligible for the program as

funding is approved. Annual sign-up

periods will take place on a rotational

basis by watershed.

Wisconsin ranked third in the nation for

the number of contracts awarded under

the new Conservation Security Progam.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

Dean Rosenberg Jr., a landowner in the Lower Chippewa River

Watershed was one of the first farmers in Wisconsin enrolled

into the new Conservation Security Program.

The newest addition to the toolbox of conservation

programs available to Wisconsin landowners was

rolled out in June 2004. The Conservation

Security Program (CSP) became available in two

Wisconsin watersheds. The Lower Chippewa

River and the Kishwaukee River watersheds were

chosen to be the first resource areas in the state

eligible for this new program.

CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial

and technical assistance for the conservation,

protection, and improvement of soil, water, air,

energy, plant and animal life, and other

conservation purposes on Tribal and private lands.

The program provides payments for producers

who practice good stewardship on their

agricultural lands and incentives for those who

want to do more. The program is designed to

reward the best conservation stewards of the most

environmentally sensitive areas in targeted

watersheds.

The United States Department of Agriculture is

an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov
The United States Department of Agriculture

is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

Environmental Quality

Incentives Program

EQIP Program Highlights

NRCS assumed full management of EQIP at

the end of FY04, including all administrative

functions and payments to landowners.

A total of 1,710 EQIP contracts, for $15,526,789

were completed.

• Animal Waste Storage:

 ♦ 121 applications for waste storage

 systems

 ♦ 58 applications were funded in FY04

 ♦ $7,746,062 total funds requested with

 $4,082,129 in funds available

• $300,000 were dedicated to Conservation

 projects on Tribal lands

• $298,000 for conservation practices for

 cranberry production

• $136,000 for Ground and Surface Water

 practices in Central Sands area

See reverse for specific practice

accomplishments in 2004

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program

(EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program that

addresses both local natural resource needs and

national resource priorities. The funding shares the

cost with farmers for installing conservation

practices to improve animal waste management,

grazing land, soil erosion and sediment control,

and other resource concerns. Practices approved

for EQIP incentive payments and cost-sharing

must meet NRCS technical standards.

EQIP generally pays up to 50 percent of the costs

of conservation practices, with a limited number of

practices offered at rates up to 75 percent.

Incentive payments may be provided for up to

three years to encourage producers to try new

practices. Farmers may elect to use a certified

Technical Service Provider for technical

assistance.

EQIP is the major cost-sharing program available

in Wisconsin to help livestock operators meet new

state regulations on livestock and animal waste

management.

Cranberry Growers New to EQIP in

2004

For the first time, EQIP funding was made

available to Wisconsin cranberry growers to help

meet their unique surface and ground water quality

and conservation needs. Funds totalled

$297,833, supporting six contracts:

• 210 acres of Irrigation Water Management

to improve irrigation efficiency

• 363 acres of Nutrient Management

• 363 acres of Pest Management

• 4,200 feet of shoreline protection

• Plus erosion control and other practices
Contracts Contracts

Practice Planned Installed

Access Road 51 23

Animal Trails 14 4

Brush Management 44 21

Closure of Waste Impoundement 9 3

Conservatiion Cover 2 1

Conservation Crop Rotation 6 1

Contour Buffer Strips 4 2

Contour Farming 4 3

Cover Crop 38 10

Critical Area Planting 48 35

Diversion 27 14

Fence 43 19

Field Border 2 1

Filter Strip 6 2

Forest Site Preparation 35 9

Forest Stand Improvement 32 15

Forest Trails and Landings 1 1

Grade Stabilization Structures 93 44

Grassed Waterway 157 82

Heavy Use Protection 36 16

Lined Waterway 7 2

Nutrient Management 970 797

Obstruction Removal 12 8

Pasture and Hay Planting 22 15

Pest Management 18 12

Pipeline 6 1

EQIP Practices Installed in 2004

The number of practices planned for installation in 2004 and the number that

were installed may differ due to staffing availability, farmer decision or change

in farming operation, or a delay in reporting.

Contracts Contracts

Practice Planned Installed

Prescribed Burning 2 2

Prescribed Grazing 581 471

Residue Management/Mulch Till 199 179

Residue Management/No-Till 434 400

Roof Runoff Structure 42 19

Sediment Basin 38 13

Sinkhole Treatment 4 22

Spring Development 2 0

Stream Habitat Improvement 2 0

Streambank/Shoreline Protection 2 0

Stripcropping 11 7

Structure for Water Control 3 1

Subsurface Drain 25 9

Terrace 3 2

Tree/Shrub Establishment 70 49

Tree/Shrub Pruning 2 1

Underground Outlet 23 9

Upland Wildlife Management 4 0

Use Exclusion 5 4

Waste Storage Facility 49 31

Wastewater Treatment 2 0

Water and Sediment Control Basin 4 1

Water Well 14 7

Well Decommissioning 49 26

Wetland Restoration 2 0

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment20 13

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation 1 0
Farm and Ranch

Lands Protection

Program

FRPP Program Highlights

• The Driftless Area Land Conservancy easement will

protect a 190 acre farm in the Military Ridge

Prairie Heritage Area.

• The Natural Heritage Land Trust easement will

protect a farm within the Black Earth Creek

Resource Protection Area.

• The West Wisconsin Land Trust and Kinnickinnic

River Land Trust will protect farms within the

Kinnickinnic River Watershed Protection Area in

Pierce County.

• DNR easements will concentrate on protecting

farms around the Brooklyn Wildlife Refuge and in

the new North Branch Milwaukee River Farming

and Wildlife Heritage Area.

• The Town of Bayfield easements will protect

specialty fruit & berry farms.

• The Baraboo Range Protection Program easement

will help protect the rural character of the Baraboo

Range National Natural Landmark, one of the

Nature Conservancy’s “last great places”.

• Since FRPP was established in 1996, NRCS has

helped 11 different farmland programs to purchase

easements for 6800 acres on 48 working farms in

10 counties.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture is

an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

In 2004, more than 1,800 acres of Wisconsin

farmland were protected from development

through the USDA Farm and Ranch Lands

Protection Program (FRPP). With funding of

$2.03 million, NRCS funded proposals from

seven different farmland protection programs

throughout the state. Twelve working farms, on

prime agricultural soils and under development

pressure were selected.

Wisconsin loses an average of 32 square miles

of prime farmland every year. FRPP is a

voluntary program that helps landowners keep

productive farmland in agricultural use through

the sale of agricultural conservation easements.

Land enrolled in this program will remain in

agricultural use.

Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

provides matching funds to existing farmland

preservation programs, such as land trusts,

state, tribal, or local government programs that

purchase development rights from farmers and

place agricultural easements on the land. The

farm remains in the farmer’s hands, but the

development pressure is reduced because the

perpetual easement keeps the land in

agricultural use.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

Conserving the Resources

Preserving the Future
Wildlife Habitat

Incentives Program

Stream habitat improvement through the WHIP program

has brought back trout in southern Wisconsin waters.

WHIP Program Highlights

Funding in 2004 totaled $536,400

which added 58 projects into the

program. Our partners and landowners

contributed an additional $134,100 to

these projects.

This funding went to restore, create or

enhance the following wildlife habitats:

• 1347 acres oak savanna restoration

• 771 acres prairie restoration/prairie

plantings

• 57,004 feet stream habitat

improvement

• 24 acres wetland enhancement

• 162 acres woodland/ wildlife

practices

• 16 acres of wild rice plantings

• 4000 feet of fish passages

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture is

an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program was important

to the success of the Pleasant Creek project in Dane

County. Water quality in the stream has improved

significantly and fish populations are returning to these

waters because of habitat improvement.

This voluntary program encourages landowners to

restore high quality wildlife habitats that support

species of local significance. The funding

provides technical and financial assistance to

landowners and others to develop upland,

wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat areas on

their property.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) has

proven to be a highly effective and popular

program across the country. WHIP primarily

concentrates on improving upland wildlife habitat,

such as native prairie, but there is an increasing

emphasis on improving riparian and aquatic

areas. The Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area

in Iowa and Dane counties is one of the

landscapes enrolled in this conservation program

that protects and manages one of the Midwest's

best large scale grassland areas.

WHIP was instrumental in restoring streambanks

in the Upper Sugar River, which became the first

Wisconsin river removed from the EPA list of

degraded waters, in 2004.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov
Grazing Lands

Conservation Initiative

GLCI Program Highlights

Technical Assistance:

• 240 grazing plans written covering

26,000 acres

• Prescribed grazing applied to

18,000 acres

• Conservation Planning Certification

Program implemented with

specialization on grazing

• Pasture Condition Scoring

completed on over 50 contracts for

the Conservation Security Program

• Two additional Grazing Lands

Specialists hired in 2004

• Three introductory and two

advanced Grazing Lands Training

sessions completed

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture

is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

Grazing cows at the Bert Paris Farm in Belleville,

Wisconsin. The Grazing networks in Wisconsin have

become very active over the last five years.

The goal of the Grazing Lands Conservation

Initiative (GLCI) is to increase public

awareness regarding the importance of

privately owned grazing lands. More than 80

NRCS and county employees have been

trained in prescribed grazing. The number

of acres of grazing plans has jumped from

5000 acres in 1998 to over 26,000 in 2004.

In 2004 NRCS-Wisconsin hired two

additional Grazing Lands Specialists to work

with producers in developing Managed

Grazing Systems.

In the last five years, through a

congressional directive, NRCS-Wisconsin

funded over $1.75 million in outside technical

assistance, education and on-farm research

and demonstration through the GLCI Grant

Program.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

The Wisconsin Grazing Lands

Conservation Initiative is a

voluntary initiative working to

develop and enhance grazing

lands in harmony with the

environment.

See reverse side for a listing of NRCS

Grazing Lands Specialists.
Where To Get Grazing Lands Assistance from NRCS

 State Grazing Lands Specialist

 Brian Pillsbury

 USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service

 505 Broadway, Room 232

 Baraboo, WI 53913

 608-355-4470

 brian.pillsbury@wi.usda.gov

 Area Grazing Lands Specialists

Southwest Area - Richland Center

Jean Stramel

USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service

850 Bohmann Drive Suite G

Richland Center, WI 53581-2907

Phone:(608) 647-8874, ext. 4

Jean.Stramel@wi.usda.gov

Northwest Area - Eau Claire

Richard Zirk

USDA, NRCS

1304 North Hillcrest Parkway, Suite A

Altoona, WI 54720

Phone:(715) 832-6547, ext. 112

Rick.Zirk@wi.usda.gov

Northeast Area - Appleton

Larry Brummund

USDA, NRCS

3369 West Brewster Street 

Appleton, WI 54914-1602

Phone:(920) 733-1575, ext. 127

Larry.Brummund@wi.usda.gov

Southeast Area - Juneau

Brian Pillsbury

USDA, NRCS

505 Broadway, Room 232

Baraboo, WI 53913

Phone: (608)355-4470

Brian.Pillsbury@wi.usda.gov

Jackson

Portage Waupaca

Brown

Door

Wood

Pepin

Buffalo

LaCrosse Monroe

Vernon

Grant

Crawford

Iowa

Sauk

Lafayette Green Rock Walworth

Racine

Kenosha

Juneau

Adams

Manitowoc

Kewaunee

Calumet

Fond du Lac

Ozaukee

Milwaukee

Washington

Sheboygan

Jefferson

Waukesha

Lake

Winne

bago

Columbia

Marqu

ette

Green

Waushara

Florence

Forest

Marinette

Oconto

Meno

minee

Langlade

Shawano

Douglas Bayfield

Iron

Ashland Vilas

Lincoln

Oneida

Marathon Dunn

Taylor

Price

Sawyer

Rusk

Washburn Burnett

Polk Barron

St. Croix

Pierce Clark

Chippewa

Richland

Dane 

Outa

gamie

Dodge

Northwest

Eau Claire

Southeast

Juneau

Southwest

Richland Center

Northeast

Appleton

Eau Claire

Location of NRCS Grazing Lands Specialists
Grasslands Reserve

Program

GRP Program Highlights

2004 Accomplishments:

207 landowners in Wisconsin filed GRP

applications covering over 29,845

acres. Of these applications 39 were

funded. Lease agreements totaled 34,

covering 7209 acres with funding for

these applications and agreements at

$1,244,508. Five easements were

funded at $644,598 covering an

estimated 620 acres.

To date, GRP lease agreements total

47 covering 8592 acres, easements

contracts total 7 covering 706 acres.

There are currently over 22,000 acres

in 193 backlogged applications in

Wisconsin.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture is

an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

Protecting pastureland like this is one of the goals of

the new Grassland Reserve Program.

Grasslands make up the largest land cover

on America's private land. The Grassland

Reserve Program (GRP) helps landowners

restore and protect grassland, pastureland,

shrubland and certain other lands and

provides assistance for rehabilitating

grasslands. The program will conserve

vulnerable grasslands from conversion to

cropland.

Restoring and protecting grasslands

contributes positively to the economy,

provides biodiversity of plant and animal

populations, and improves environmental

quality.

GRP is administered by the USDA Natural

Resources Conservation Service and Farm

Service Agency in cooperation with the

Forest Service.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

Regal Fritillary butterfly inhabits the restored

grasslands area of southern Wisconsin.

Photo by Mike Engel, Fish and Wildlife Service
Wetlands Reserve

Program

WRP Program Highlights

In the spring of 2004, NRCS dedicated

the new Turtle Valley Wildlife Area, the

largest WRP project to date in

Wisconsin. This 1800-acre jewel forms

the core of a 2300-acre high quality

wetland complex in Walworth County in

southeastern Wisconsin. This prime

wetland stretches for more than five

miles in the northwest part of the county.

This project is a collaborative effort

between the USDA Natural Resources

Conservation Service and the

Wisconsin Department of Natural

Resources, which now owns and

operates the area.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture

is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

The Turtle Valley Wildlife Area is the largest WRP

restoration to date in Wisconsin. This 1800-acre

project is in Walworth County, Wisconsin.

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) was

established by the 1990 Farm Bill. Over the

past 14 years it has become a popular, costeffective, and ecologically successful voluntary

wetlands restoration program.

WRP provides financial incentives to help

farmers restore cultivated areas that were once

wetlands and make them fully functioning

wetlands again. WRP continues to be a viable

option for the nation’s private landowners who

want to restore wetlands.

In 2004, Wisconsin received $6 million for

wetland restoration, which allowed 32 projects

to be enrolled on approximately 3,368 acres.

Landowner interest in the program remains

strong. Through 2004 Wisconsin has enrolled

42,416 acres in WRP.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

The dedication celebration at the Turtle Valley Wildlife

Area drew crowds from all over southern Wisconsin.

This wetland and wildlife area will continue to serve

future generations with cleaner water, open space

and recreational opportunities.
Technical Service

Providers

TSP Program Highlights

Over 180 people attended a one-day

workshop on how to become a

technical service provider (TSP) in

Wisconsin.

Providers sign up to become a TSP

through a new Internet based registry

called TechReg. This session provided

an on-line demonstration of the new

TechReg website and provided

guidance and answered questions

about the process of registering to

become a TSP.

TechReg also helps landowners locate

and choose certified registered

technical service providers who can

help them meet their conservation

goals.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture

is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

TSP workshop for new and potential providers that explained

the opportunites and responsibilities of becoming a technical

service provider.

Technical Service Providers (TSPs) are

individuals, private businesses, non-profit

organizations, or public agencies that help apply

conservation systems on the land. Resource

professionals are certified by NRCS and assist in

delivering technical services to landowners who

participate in USDA programs. Certified

specialists are listed on a national, web-based

registry called TechReg that is available to

landowners, and others seeking conservation

technical assistance.

By the end of 2004, Wisconsin ranked second in

the nation in number of TSPs, with 218 providers

certified and 33 pending certification.

Through contribution agreements, NRCS

dedicated $568,519 to counties to help stimulate

the implementation of continuous CRP and CREP.

Wisconsin NRCS also entered into a cooperative

agreement for $433,000 to provide technical

services to Wisconsin landowners.

EQIP participants hired private TSP's from the

TechReg registry that totaled $353,000 with 270

participants.

Architectural and Engineering (A&E) contracts

totaled over $321,000 utilizing five engineering

firms to assist NRCS in delivering technical

services to farm bill program participants.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

http://techreg.usda.gov/

TechReg is NRCS new Internet-based registry that

makes it easy for technical service providers to

register, become certified and manage their

profile.
Conservation Partners

Earth Team

The Earth Team is

the volunteer arm

of NRCS and

continues to help

NRCS and

conservation

partners deliver

quality service to

farmers in Wisconsin.

Earth Team members in Wisconsin

In 2004, 163 volunteers contributed over

21,080 hours at 41 different Wisconsin field

office locations. This is the equivalent of

more than 10 employees working full time.

The contribution of these volunteers carries

more value than a dollar amount; the Earth

Team volunteers are dedicated to their

cause--caring for the earth. Thanks to all

who helped with the volunteer program.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture

is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

State Technical Committee

The State Technical Committee authorized in the

1996 Farm Bill, serves as an advisory group to the

NRCS State Conservationist. Wisconsin's

Committee has broad representation from private

industry, partner agencies, producer groups,

environmental groups, and others. In Fiscal Year

2004, the Wisconsin State Technical Committee

convened seven times and held one

teleconference, providing guidance on:

• Allocation of Environmental Quality Incentives

Program funds, cost-share rates, eligible

practices, and policies

• Grassland Reserve Program ranking system

• Signup dates for Farm Bill programs

• Wetlands Reserve Program easement

purchase caps

• Farm and Ranchland Protection Program

policies

• Wisconsin nomination for Conservation

Partnership Initiative Grant

In addition, the committee receives regular

updates on farm bill programs and resources

issues in Wisconsin.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

Conservation on the Land

Internship Program

The internship program continued throughout

Wisconsin in 2004. Students are assigned to field

offices throughout Wisconsin working side-by-side

with conservation professionals. This is a great

opportunity for students to get experience in their

field of study while helping deliver important

conservation on the land. In 2004, 10 interns

worked in southern Wisconsin as part of the

Pheasants Forever/ Buffer Internship program and

19 students worked as conservation interns at 15

additional locations throughout the state.

Additional information on the program can be

found at: http://www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/about/

internships.html

Wisconsin Tribal Conservation

Advisory Council

The Wisconsin Tribal Advisory Council (WTCAC),

provides a forum for the 11 Native American

Tribes in Wisconsin to identify and solve natural

resource issues on tribal lands. Each tribe has a

representative that serves on the Council. NRCS

and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife

Service (GLIFWC) serve as advisors to WTCAC.

The Council gives a strong voice to the tribes on

conservation issues at the state and national level.

In 2004, WTCAC assisted NRCS in identifying

priority projects for the Environmental Quality

Incentives Program.
Soil Survey Program

NRCS Soil Scientist Chanc Vogel taking

soil samples for the Soil Survey.

Soil Survey Highlights

• Soil mapping completed on over

880,000 acres

• Soil maps digitized for 8 counties

• Soil survey reports published for 3

counties

• Certified spatial and tabular data for 63

counties posted on the new Soil Data

Mart

• Soil technical assistance provided for

thousands of soil survey users including

landowners, state and local government,

students, and consulting firms

NRCS remained on-schedule in 2004

towards our goal of mapping and

digitizing all Wisconsin counties by 2006.

By the end of the 2004 field season, 98%

of Wisconsin was soil mapped and 86%

of the soil surveys were digitized.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture is

an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

The Soil Survey Program provides a fieldbased scientific inventory of soil resources,

including soil maps, data describing physical

and chemical properties of soils, and

information on the potentials and limitations of

soils for a wide variety of land uses. NRCS is

the lead federal agency responsible for soil

mapping on private lands. The National

Cooperative Soil Survey program includes

many other state and local partners, who also

contribute staff, expertise, and funding for the

program.

Current Activities:

Because the digitized soil maps are a

foundational layer for the Wisconsin Land

Information Program, the state is contributing

significant funds to accelerate completion of

mapping and digitizing for all Wisconsin soil

surveys. Soil scientists are working to update

several older soil surveys to meet current

needs. Work continues on recently mapped

survey areas, to prepare the maps and data for

publication. These survey areas include Forest,

Menominee, Taylor, LaCrosse, Richland, Dunn,

Washburn, and Burnett counties.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov
Geographic Information

Systems

In Dane County, a national pilot project is

underway to utilize existing Geographic

Information System (GIS) data and techniques

to update soil survey information more

efficiently and with improved quality.

Wisconsin is a national leader in use of 3D

modeling techniques to improve the soil

survey.

NRCS Resource Soil Scientists continue to

provide valuable assistance for the public, and

state and local governments, in acquiring and

using soil maps and data.

New Initiatives:

The new Soil Data Mart came on-line in

2004: http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/ .

The Soil Data Mart is the official source for

soil tabular and spatial data. Certified soils

data is now posted on the Soil Data Mart

for 63 of the 72 counties in Wisconsin.

Several pilot projects are underway to

deliver soil maps and data in a userfriendly format on CD (eg: SoilView) and

on the internet. In partnership with the

University of Wisconsin, the state of

Wisconsin, and other soil survey

cooperators, the most promising initiatives

will be developed for more widespread

application.

As the initial soil survey is completed, soil

scientists will accelerate activities to

update older soil surveys to meet the

growing demand for more detailed,

complete, and current soil maps and data.

Research activities with the University of

Wisconsin and other soil survey partners

will continue. Soils research helps develop

improved techniques for collecting,

analyzing, and using soil information. Data

on soil properties and potentials such as

wetland hydrology, pesticide movement,

carbon sequestration potential, or crop

yields is needed for many applications.

All of Wisconsin mapping

and digital soil surveys are

expected to be completed

by 2006.
Water Resources

Programs

Water Resources Program

Highlights

Plain-Honey Creek Watershed

Considerable siltation behind the dam at White

Mound Lake was impairing storage capacity of

the dam, making it a high-risk dam. NRCS

recommendations were to remove sediment

from behind the dam, relocation of two houses

and one business, and adoption of a floodplain

ordinance that prohibits future development.

Project cost: $1,927,000.

Twin Parks Structure No. 10

Structural repair to this dam in Iowa county

extended the life of the dam structure providing

continued flood protection to the area. A zoning

ordinance now restricts future development in

the breach inundation area downstream of the

dam. Project cost: $72,500.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture is

an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

An exceptionally wet spring flooded fields, roads,

farms and homes in Wisconsin. In 2004, the

situation could have been decidedly worse, but in

many places throughout the state, roads and

bridges were not washed out, lives and property

were not lost, and whole towns were not flooded

because of steps taken decades ago through the

Watershed Flood Protection and Flood Control Act

(P.L.-566).

From the 1950s through the 1980s, 87 dams were

built in 26 Wisconsin watersheds through

P.L.- 566. These dams are still there, performing

as designed, holding back thousands of “acrefeet” of water - the equivalent of thousands of

acres of land covered in a foot of water. During

and after major rains, the dams release the water

slowly, preventing flooding downstream.

In an average year, these watershed projects

reduce flood damages on crops, roads and

communities by an estimated $2 million.This year,

with the unrelenting heavy rains, the estimated

reduction was $15 million less in flood damages.

Dam Rehabilitation

To date, 11 structures in seven counties have been

rehabilitated or are in progress through the

P.L.-566 Dam Rehabilitation Pilot Project. These

dams provide flood control to prime farmland,

highways and communities. They are an integral

part of the community providing economic and

recreational benefits.

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

 50th anniversary of the Watershed

Protection and Flood Prevention Act

Governor Jim Doyle proclaimed August 4,

2004 as the 50th anniversary of the Act

proclaiming Vernon County, Wisconsin as

"The Heart of Natural Resource Conservation

in America" because of the many

conservation projects in that county.

A 19-mile

stretch of the

West Branch -

Upper Sugar

River flowing in

Dane County is

the first river in

the State of

Wisconsin to be

removed from

the U.S.

Environmental

Protection Agency’s list of degraded waters as a result

of environmental restoration. Over the years, the river

was degraded by streambank erosion, animal waste,

and sediment eroded from croplands. In 1980, Dane

County requested USDA assistance to help landowners

through its P.L.- 566 Watershed Protection Program.

Over 13 years, P.L.- 566 focused on upland

conservation to reduce animal waste and sediment to

the stream. Streambank restoration and habitat

enhancement projects, through USDA, state and local

programs were the last steps in bringing the stream

back to its potential and prompting its removal from the

list.

Resource

Conservation and

Development

RC&D Highlights

The seven RC&D areas in Wisconsin

continue to plan and carry out new

projects. In 2004, 73 new projects were

proposed to the RC&D Councils

throughout the state.

The work that the RC&D areas

accomplish throughout the year is a

result of these new projects, as well as,

projects that have multi-year

commitments to complete. RC&D's

completed 69 projects in 2004.

Find out more about the RC&D in your

area by contacting the Coordinators listed

on the reverse side or checking the web

www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/RC&D.

Wisconsin

2004 Report

The United States Department of Agriculture

is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

This tour of Promise Farms, owned and operated by Shawn

and John McMartin, was part of the RC&D State Association

Meeting in the fall of 2004. Wisconsin RC&D's work with

producers offering assistance to improve their business

Need more information? Check out www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

The Resource Conservation and Development

(RC&D) is a voluntary program that helps people

protect and develop their economic, natural and

social resources. Wisconsin has seven RC&D

areas, covering the entire state. Each area is

governed by a Council made up of local citizens

who identify concerns, determine solutions, and

pool financial and technical resources to

accomplish their goals and objectives. This

grassroots involvement is highly valuable in

shaping the decision making process at the local

level.

RC&D Councils throughout Wisconsin carry out

projects that may include:

• Natural Resource Improvement

• Community Improvement

• Forestry

• Information and Education

• Economic Development

• Water and Water Quality

• Recreation and Tourism

• Marketing and Merchandising

• Fish and Wildlife Projects

• Waste and Waste Utilization

RC&D assisted the owner of the Bullfrog Fish Farm, Herby

Radman of Menomonie WI, develop local networks for

promoting sales of his high quality products raised at his

aquaculture facility.

River Country

RC&D assisted

in writing a

managed grazing

plan for Promise

Farm.
Pri Ru Ta

Chris Borden

925 Donald Street

Medford, WI 54451

715-748-2008

chris.borden@wi.usda.gov

Lumberjack

Kim Goerg

639 W. Kemp Street

Rhinelander, WI 54501

715-362-3690

kim.goerg@wi.usda.gov

Golden Sands

Bill Ebert

1462 Strongs Ave.

Stevens Point, WI 54481

715-343-6215

Ebertb@co.portage.wi.us

River Country

Pam Herdrich

1304 N. Hillcrest Parkway, Suite B

Altoona, WI 54720

715-834-9672

Pam.herdrich@wi.usda.gov

Glacierland

Greg Hines

3086 Voyager Dr. Suite 1

Green Bay, WI 54311

920-465-3006

greg.hines@wi.usda.gov

Southwest Badger

Steve Bertjens

150 W. Alona Lane

Lancaster, WI 53813

608-723-6377

Steve.bertjens@wi.usda.gov

Town and Country

Diane Georgetta

333 E. Washington

Suite 3500

P.O. Box 2003

West Bend, WI 53095

262-335-4855

Diane.georgetta@wi.usda.gov

The RC&D program is

administered by the

Natural Resources

Conservation Service.

Jackson

Outa

gamie Brown

Door

Pepin

Buffalo

LaCrosse

Vernon

Grant

Richland Crawford

Iowa

Sauk

Dane 

Lafayette Green Rock Walworth Racine

Kenosha

Manit

owoc Calu

met

Fond

du Lac

Milwaukee

Washington

Sheboy

gan

Jefferson Wauk

esha

Lake

Winne

bago

Columbia

Dodge

Green

Florence

Forest

Marinette

Oconto

Menominee

Langlade

Shawano

Douglas Bayfield

Iron

Ashland Vilas

Lincoln

Oneida

Dunn

Taylor

Medford

Rhinelander

Stevens

Point

Altoona

Lancaster

Green

Bay

Price

Sawyer

Rusk

Wash

Burnett burn

Polk Barron

St.

Croix Chippewa

Pierce Eau Claire Clark

Southwest Badger

Lancaster

Steve Bertjens 

River Country

Altoona

Pam Herdrich

Pri-Ru-Ta

Medford

Chris Borden

Glacierland

Green Bay

Greg Hines

Town and Country

West Bend

Diane Georgetta

Lumberjack

Rhinelander

Kim Goerg Golden Sands

Stevens Point

Bill Ebert

Portage

Wood Waupaca

Monroe

Juneau

Adams Waushara

Mar

quette

Marathon

Oneida Nation

Iron

RC&D Areas in Wisconsin