2005

Wisconsin Report 2005

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides

leadership in a partnership effort to help people

conserve, maintain, and improve our natural

resources and environment.
From the desk of the

State Conservationist

Dear Friends of Wisconsin Conservation,

I proudly present this 2005 USDA Natural

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state

report to you, the shareholders in Wisconsin’s soil

and water resources.

In 2005 we fulfilled a long-standing goal by completing the initial soil mapping of Wisconsin.

This effort, to map the 35 million acres of land in the state, was a herculean one, and took the

concerted effort of many partners with NRCS. The State of Wisconsin dedicated funds and focus

to complete the survey years ahead of the date that NRCS alone would have been able to achieve.

The initial soil survey, which will be completely digitized, certified and available on-line in

2006, puts Wisconsin among an elite few states to have reached this goal. The benefits will be

huge as we can all easily access soil information for better land use planning and decisions

everywhere in Wisconsin.

This year, Wisconsin received nearly $37 million in Farm Bill conservation program financial

assistance. After a pilot program in 2004, the Conservation Security Program (CSP) was fully

inaugurated in 2005 as the premiere program to recognize, support and stimulate farmland

stewardship. By financially rewarding the farmers who have cared for the land, we have entered

a new era of farmland conservation policy. In turn, these economic benefits will flow to the

agricultural infrastructure and rural communities of Wisconsin.

Producers who aren’t yet ready for CSP are invited to look into other programs offered by NRCS

and our local, state, federal and private partners to improve their operations and become eligible

in the future. Given the appropriate support, farmers can and will create farms that are showcases

of conservation, sustainable for generations to come.

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

conservation. I also want to thank our NRCS staff for their dedication and extraordinary efforts

to meet or exceed nearly all our goals. We also most sincerely thank our conservation partners

for their 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, Technical Service Providers,

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

Association. This partnership for conservation is the most effective way to help landowners and

communities achieve the high caliber of land stewardship we seek in Wisconsin.

Sincerely,
2005

The Conservation Technical Assistance program

(CTA) is NRCS's oldest program, and it functions

as a catalyst that allows all other NRCS programs

to work. CTA makes it possible for NRCS to provide

technical assistance to help people conserve,

maintain, and improve the long-term sustainability

of the natural resource base on cropland, forest

land, and grazing lands.

Since 1935, the primary mission of the agency has

been to provide conservation technical assistance

to our customers - landowners, land conservation

committees and departments, Tribes, state agencies,

local government, and other individuals and groups.

Conservation Technical Assistance focuses on

natural resource priorities at the local level.

Conservation Technical Assistance

www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

Did you know...

• CTA provides the budget that supports the people

and tools that make conservation happen - NRCS

staff, office space, vehicles, computers and the

technical tools that we need.

• CTA provides all the conservation planning that

occurs prior to the commitment or approval of an

application for funding in a farm bill program.

• CTA funds allow us to help farmers meet

regulatory requirements, provide assistance to

Land Conservation Departments, and help

communities develop resource plans.

• CTA is the basic foundation for NRCS

conservation activities and allows for seamless

delivery of local, state and federal conservation

programs.

• CTA funds allow NRCS to provide assistance to

agricultural producers. In short, CTA is the engine

that makes conservation work.

Helping People Help the Land

CTA Program Highlights - 2005

• 445,810 acres of conservation plans

developed on cropland

• 31,639 acres of conservation plans

developed on grazing land

• 11,500 acres practices applied on grazing

land

• 4,249 acres of agricultural wetland restored

• Soil erosion reduced by 634,600 tons

• Technical assistance to partners on 22 watershed

plans for water quality, flood prevention and water

supply.

Helping People Help the Land
2005

Wisconsin Projects completed-2005

Prairie/savanna contracts = 1847 acres

Stream habitat = 58,412 feet

Wetland enhancement = 36.8 acres

Woodland wildlife = 29 acres

Wild rice plantings = 13.5 acres

Fish passage projects = 4

Pine Barrens = 11.9 acres

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a

voluntary program offering landowners the

opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance

wetlands on their property. NRCS provides

landowners the technical and financial support to

make restoration possible. The NRCS goal is to

restore the greatest wetland functions and values,

along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre

enrolled in the program. This program offers

landowners an opportunity to establish long-term

conservation and wildlife habitat protection.

WHIP Highlights - 2005

• Fiscal year allocation of $540,945

• 109 applicants

• 87 accepted contracts

Project breakdown:

Aquatic = 16 $111,067

Terrestial = 56 $249,941

Tribal lands = 6 $32,741

Special = 9 $146,205

In-stream wooden

structures were installed

in shallow Ox Creek

(Douglas County) that

caused water to scour

deep holes, providing

fish habitat.

Wetlands Reserve Program

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

develops or improves wildlife habitat on privately

owned land . Through WHIP, NRCS provides both

technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share

assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife

habitat.

WRP Highlights - 2005

• Fiscal year allocation of $6,650,000

• 44 permanent easements

• Total acres enrolled = 3000

• Three 30-year easements

WRP total acreage in Wisconsin - 2005

• 41,596 acres enrolled in the program

 with 437 easements

• 1,227 acres enrolled in the program

 with 55 10-year contracts

The Jefferson Marsh Wildlife Area was officially dedicated in

2005. This 3100 - acre restoration contains over 2700 acres of

wetland with the remaining upland and buffer acres in woodland and grass cover.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
2005

Conserving the Resources

Preserving the Future

Soil Survey

In Wisconsin, the National Cooperative Soil Survey

program is a joint effort of the NRCS and other

federal, state, and local agencies.

Soil survey activities in Wisconsin include:

• Making and publishing detailed soil surveys

• Updating older soil surveys

• Digitizing modern soil surveys

• Developing soil property and interpretive data

• Completing scientific soils studies

• Assisting with the use of soil data

The 13-year undertaking of mapping the soils in

the Northwest ten counties in Wisconsin was

completed in 2005. NRCS celebrated this event with

other partner agencies, a milestone that without

partnerships, would have taken until 2016 to

complete. Now the 7.03 million acre soil survey

marks the end of the initial phase of the National

Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) in Wisconsin,

which began in 1899. Every acre in the state now

has soil information available as an important tool

for land use planning. Thanks to our partners for

making this project such a success:

• The 10 northwestern counties of Ashland,

Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk,

Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn

• Northwest Regional Planning Commission

• USDA Forest Service

• Bureau of Indian Affairs

• The Five Bands of Lake Superior Chippewa

Indians

• National Park Service

• Wisconsin DNR

• Wisconsin DATCP

• UW Research Division of Ag and Life Sciences

The New Web Soil Survey

In 2005, the Web Soil Survey was first released. It

is a new delivery system for soil survey information

and is available online at http://soils.usda.gov/

survey/. It is a national soil information system that

stores and delivers soil reports and spatial

information. It allows the user to select an area of

interest, view maps and data, and sort by geographic

area. In June of 2006, Wisconsin will have all the

soils in the state digitized and accessible on the Web

soil survey.

Soil Survey Highlights - 2005

• Soil mapping on over one million acres

completing the mapping for the entire

state of Wisconsin.

• Digitizing and certification of soil

surveys is continuing on pace to

complete the state by June 2006.

• Soil technical assistance provided for

 thousands of soil survey users including

 landowners, state and local government,

 students and consulting firms.

NRCS Soil Scientist, Randy Gilbertson explains many of the

important facets of the soil survey. He was one of the many

speakers at the Last Acre Ceremony celebrating the completion

of the soil survey in the northwest 10 counties in Wisconsin.
2005

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program

(EQIP) provides a voluntary conservation program

for farmers that promotes agricultural production

and environmental quality. EQIP offers financial

and technical help to assist eligible participants

install or implement structural and management

practices on eligible agricultural land.

Environmental Quality

Incentives Program

EQIP is the major cost-sharing program available

in Wisconsin to help livestock operators meet new

state regulations on livestock and animal waste

management. EQIP identifies conservation

practices to address priority resource concerns and

may cost-share up to 50 and 75 percent on certain

conservation practices. Incentive payments may be

offered for up to three years to encourage producers

to carry out management practices. Farmers may

elect to use a certified technical service provider

for technical assistance.

Practice Planned Installed

Access Road 148 48

Animal Trails 41 16

Brush Management 137 45

Closure of Waste Impoundement 14 7

Conservation Cover 11 5

Conservation Crop Rotation 23 18

Contour Buffer Strips 5 4

Contour Farming 3 2

Cover Crop 66 25

Critical Area Planting 83 33

Diversion 66 17

Feed Management 18 0

Fence 137 51

Field Border 3 1

Filter Strip 24 4

Forest Site Preparation 36 17

Forest Stand Improvement 62 30

Forest Trails and Landings 22 9

Grade Stabilization Structures 215 91

Grassed Waterway 385 185

Heavy Use Protection 93 30

Lined Waterway 14 4

Nutrient Management 2197 1616

Obstruction Removal 21 7

Pasture and Hay Planting 67 30

Pest Management 86 35

Pipeline 9 5

Prescribed Burning 11 7

Prescribed Grazing 891 628

Residue Mgmt/Mulch Till 393 325

Residue Mgmt/No-Till 860 725

Roof Runoff Structure 122 37

Sediment Basin 66 21

Sinkhole Treatment 4 2

Spring Development 10 3

Stream Habitat Improvement 4 0

Streambank/Shoreline Protection 137 58

Stripcropping 9 4

Structure for Water Control 5 1

Subsurface Drain 37 13

Terrace 8 4

Tree/Shrub Establishment 138 90

Tree/Shrub Pruning 1 0

Underground Outlet 63 16

Upland Wildlife Management 17 7

Use Exclusion 7 1

Waste Storage Facility 95 41

Wastewater Treatment 37 9

Water and Sediment Control Basin 9 2

Water Well 13 6

Well Decommissioning 88 44

Wetland Restoration 5 3

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment 16 8

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation 2 0

Specific practice accomplishments

EQIP Program Highlights - 2005

A total of 1,439 contracts for $16,360,137

were signed:

• Animal waste storage

› 82 applications for waste storage

systems

› 80 applications were funded in FY05

› $6,243,253 total funds requested with

$6,065,983 in funds available

• $208,200 were dedicated to conservation

projects on Tribal lands

• $292,100 for conservation practices for

cranberry production

• $105,000 for ground and surface water

practices in the Central Sands area

• $99,200 for pest scouting and pesticide

reduction in orchards

First special sign-up for Comprehensive

Nutrient Management Plans

• $1,280,000 in 68 contracts
2005

In 2004 and 2005, 13 Wisconsin cranberry growers

signed EQIP costsharing contracts to help address

the unique environmental concerns with surface

and ground water quality associated with that crop.

Irrigation Water Management and Pest

Management are being implemented on all of the

participating marshes, and 9 of the 13 contracts

also include Nutrient Management. These three

management practices form the basis of

comprehensive Resource Management Systems on

cranberry marshes.

By necessity, cranberries are grown very close to

water in order to flood the beds for frost protection

and harvest. Cranberries are native to wet soils

with typically high water tables. Even with very

careful management, nutrients and pesticides may

be easily transported to surface and groundwater.

Nutrient Management activities are focusing on

reducing applications of phosphorous fertilizer to

protect water quality. Pest Management incentive

payments are being used to offset the costs

associated with implementing Integrated Pest

Management and to reduce the environmental

hazards associated withusing high-risk pesticides.

EQIP workload for both practice planning and practice installation is

increasing dramatically. This reflects the substantial growth in Farm Bill

EQIP funding in the past five years, and should continue at this high level as

contracts signed in previous years are fulfilled.

And, Irrigation Water Management is focusing on

increasing irrigation application efficiencies and

uniformity of application, to conserve water and to

limit leaching and runoff of fertilizers and pesticides.

Additional conservation efforts being funded through

EQIP include erosion control projects, replacing

inefficient irrigation systems, and installing irrigation

tailwater recovery systems for the recycling and reuse of water.

More than $500,000 in EQIP funding has been

obligated to these contracts. These funds will result

in conservation efforts in excess of $1,000,000 when

labor, equipment, and material costs to participants

are complete.

EQIP Efforts for Cranberry Production

2004 4452 3806

2005 7266 4689

% change + 63% + 23%

 Year Number of practices

Planned Installed

A bountiful cranberry harvest near Warrens,Wisconsin.
2005

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is a

voluntary program that rewards farmers with a

history of good farmland conservation through

stewardship and incentive payments. The program

is designed to reward the best conservation stewards

of the soil, water and other natural resources in

targeted watersheds through 5-10 year contracts.

The program provides equitable access to benefits

to all producers, regardless of size or type of farm

operation.

In 2005, the Conservation Security Program opened

in two new Wisconsin watersheds, the DuckPensaukee and the Crawfish River watersheds. The

Lower Chippewa and the Kishwaukee watersheds,

which were eligible in the CSP pilot year 2004, were

eligible again in 2005 as well.

In the two years the program has

been open, 485 Wisconsin farmers

were selected for enrollment.

Florence

Forest

Marinette

Oconto

Menominee

Langlade

Portage Waupaca

Shawano

Outagamie Brown

Door

Douglas Bayfield

Iron

Ashland

Vilas

Lincoln

Oneida

Marathon Dunn

Wood

Taylor

Price

Sawyer

Rusk

Burnett Washburn

Polk Barron

St. Croix Chippewa

Pierce Eau Claire Clark

Pepin

Buffalo

Jackson

LaCrosse Monroe

Vernon

Grant

Richland Crawford

Iowa

Sauk

Dane 

Lafayette Green Rock Walworth

Racine

Kenosha

Juneau

Adams

Manitowoc

Calumet

Fond du Lac

Milwaukee

Ozaukee

Washington

Sheboygan

Jefferson Waukesha

Lake

Winnebago

Columbia Dodge

MarquetteGreen

Waushara Lower Chippewa

River Watershed

Duck-Pensaukee

River Watershed

Kishwaukee 

River 

Watershed

Crawfish River 

Watershed

CSP Program Highlights

Four eligible watersheds in the state

• $3,597,294 obligated in 2005

• $3,560,820 in payments in 2005

• 339 applications/273 approved

• 84,794 acres enrolled in 2005

• Average payment $7,233

Wisconsin rated 16th in the nation in

the number of CSP contracts, 85 %

of applications were selected.

Pat Leavenworth acknowledges the host of

the farm field days in Dodge County, Nancy

Kavazanjian and Charlie Hammer.

Conservation Security Program
2005

In September 2005, in cooperation with the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, NRCS conducted two

farm field days highlighting CSP farms and farmers. In the Lower Chippewa watershed, the tour visited

four farms that showcased a variety of farm size, type of operation, and management techniques. In the

Crawfish watershed, a farm field day drew over 100 visitors to see demonstrations on improving soil

health and organic content, cover crops, and precision nutrient management.

Conservation Security Program Farm Field Days

2005 CSP Statistics

Watershed Duck- Lower

 Crawfish Pensaukee Chippewa Total

Approved Applications 136 95 42 273

Tier I 108 47 24 179

Tier II 19 31 12 62

Tier III 9 17 6 32

Approved Acreage 42,711 32,293 9,790 84,794

2005 Payment Average $6,343 $8,920 $6,212 $7,233

2005 Payment Total $837,366 $847,388 $260,925 $1,945,679

Pat Leavenworth and Dan Weiss. The Weiss family

farm is a Tier III farm enrolled in the program.

Brian Prissel, a host of the CSP Farm Field Days tours.

The Greg and Judie Sage Farm utilizes managed

intensive grazing in their operation.

Participants at the Dodge County farm field days.

Dave Mikelson of Cloverleaf Dairy

in Buffalo Coutny stresses the

importance of taking care of the

farm for future generations. Shown

here is his grandson.
2005

In 2005, all of Wisconsin’s TSP funding, over $1.3

million, went to private sector TSPs. Over 600 EQIP

participants hired TSPs in FY05 for a total of

$939,040 obligated, to install conservation

practices. Ninety percent of the farmer-hired TSP

dollars were for development of Nutrient

Management (590) plans.

Contracted engineering technical services for EQIP

participants totaled $319,558. A cooperative

agreement for Cultural Resources services was

developed totaling $59,200. Additional agreements

were signed for non-engineering technical services

to CRP and EQIP participants and to complete 35

comprehensive nutrient management plans for nonFarm Bill Program participants.

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.

Technical Service Providers

TSP Program Highlights - 2005

A listening forum for Wisconsin's Technical

Service Providers was held in Stevens Point in

July. Over 25 TSPs attended to comment on the

TSP program and discuss issues with NRCS

state staff. Comments and concerns from

attendees were provided to the national office

or addressed at the state level, depending on

the scope of the issue.

NRCS provided information and exhibits on

TSP issues at the 2005 Agriculture Lime and

Fertilizer and Trade show, for the Wisconsin

Association of Professional Agricultural

Consultants newsletter, maintained extensive

TSP web information for providers and

farmers, and published seven TSP updates to

all Wisconsin TSPs informing them of program

changes, training, and updates.

Wisconsin ranks second in the

nation in number of TSPs,

with 243 TechReg certified

providers.

State TSP Coordinator, Ken Rismeyer (right) explains the TSP

process to an interested participant at the Wisconsin Fertilizer

and Chemical Conference in Madison, Wisconsin.

You can find more information on Technical

Service Providers at http://techreg.usda.gov/
2005

The Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

(FRPP) provides matching funds to help purchase

development rights to keep productive farm and

ranchland in agricultural uses. Working through

existing programs, USDA partners with State, tribal,

or local governments and non-governmental

organizations to acquire conservation easements or

other interests in land from landowners. USDA

provides up to 50 percent of the fair market value

for the conservation easement.The farm remains in

the farmer’s hands, but the development pressure

is reduced because the perpetual easement keeps

the land in agricultural use.

Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program

Since FRPP was established in 1996,

NRCS has helped 11 different

farmland programs to purchase

easements for over 9,000 acres on 60

working farms in 10 counties. The Thomas Family Farm near Barneveld with its magnificent

historic stone barn will forever be protected and preserved to

remind us of our rural beginnings and our cultural heritage.

In 2005, more than 2,434 acres of Wisconsin

farmland were protected from development through

the USDA Farm and Ranch Lands Protection

Program (FRPP). With funding of $3.6 million,

NRCS funded proposals from four different

farmland protection programs throughout the state.

Sixteen working farms in seven counties, 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.

• In 2005, FRPP partnered with the Driftless

Area Land Conservancy to protect a 181 acre

farm in the Military Ridge Prairie Heritage

Area, including a stone barn listed on the

National Register of Historic Places. One

additional easement was funded.

• FRPP helped West Wisconsin Land Trust

protect a farm in the Kinnickinnic River

Watershed Protection Area and provided

funding to protect an additional farm.

• Two fruit and berry specialty farms in the

Bayfield area were protected.

• The first easement acquired in partnership

with the new Dane County Agricultural

Easement Program was closed and 3

additional easements were funded.

• FRPP provided funding to help DNR protect

10 farms in the North Branch Milwaukee

River Farming and Wildlife Heritage Area,

the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway,

Brooklyn Wildlife Area, Governor Dodge

State Park, and the Baraboo Hills.

FRPP Program Highlights - 2005
2005

The purpose of the Resource Conservation and

Development (RC&D) program is to accelerate the

conservation, development and utilization of natural

resources, improve the general level of economic

activity, and to enhance the environment and

standard of living in designated RC&D areas. The

program also establishes or improves coordination

of activities in rural areas. Current program

objectives focus on improvement of quality of life

through natural resources conservation and

community development leading to sustainable

communities and sound management and

conservation of natural resources.

Resource Conservation and Development

Wisconsin RC&D Areas

Pri-Ru-Ta RC&D - Medford, Wisconsin

Serving Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price,

Rusk, Taylor and Washburn Counties

Contact: Chris Borden 715.748.2008

River Country RC&D - Altoona, Wisconsin

Serving Barron, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau

Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, St.Croix and

Trempealeau Counties

Contact: Pam Herdrich 715.834.9672

Lumberjack RC&D - Rhinelander, Wisconsin

Serving Forest, Florence, Langlade, Lincoln, Marinette,

Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Shawano and Vilas Counties

Contact: Kim Goerg 715.362.3690

Glacierland RC&D - Green Bay, Wisconsin

Serving Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee,

Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan and Winnebago

Counties and the Oneida Nation

Contact: Greg Hines 920.465.3006

Golden Sands RC&D - Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Serving Adams, Juneau, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe,

Portage, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood Counties

Contact: Bill Ebert 715.343.6215

Southwest Badger RC&D - Lancaster Wisconsin

Serving Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Green, LaCrosse, Lafayette,

Richland, Sauk and Vernon Counties

Contact: Steve Bertjens 608.723.6377

Town and Country RC&D - West Bend, Wisconsin

Serving Dane, Columbia, Dodge, Green Lake, Jefferson,

Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth,

Washington and Waukesha Counties

Contact: Diane Georgetta 262.335.4855

• New projects undertaken = 134

• Projects completed = 122

• Funds leveraged from other federal funds,

state and local governments and nongovernment funds = $3,538,534.

• Workshops and training events provided

training and developed new skills to 4945

participants.

• 7,669 economic or socially disadvantaged

people served.

• 395 businesses expanded and 430 businesses

received financial assistance.

RC&D Program Highlights - 2005

There are seven RC&D areas in the state. The

following figures are total accomplishments for all

RC&D's in Wisconsin:

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

Renewable Energy was a major

focus of RC&D activities in 2005.
2005

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

GLCI Program Highlights

• 330 prescribed grazing plans written

covering 27,000 acres

• Prescribed grazing applied to 24,000

acres.

• Certified 22 Managed Grazing Planners.

• Developed managed grazing plans for

new producers in the Grassland Reserve

Program and Conservation Security

Program.

• Three introductory, one intermediate and

two advanced grazing lands training

sessions completed.

• 9,200 tons of soil saved from sheet and

rill erosion by converting cropland to

pasture.

• Reduction in nitrate concentration by 10

times in some field groundwater.

• Reduction in water runoff by 75%.

The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

(GLCI) is a nationwide collaboration of

individuals and organizations working to

maintain and improve the management,

productivity, and health of the Nation’s privately

owned grazing land. Coalitions formed through

GLCI actively seek sources to increase technical

assistance and education to maintain or enhance

grazing land resources.

In Wisconsin more than 80 NRCS and county

employees have been trained in prescribed

grazing. The number of acres of grazing plans

written has jumped from 5000 acres in 1998, to

over 27,000 acres in 2005. Wisconsin has 10

Grazing Lands Specialists - four are NRCS

employees and six are funded on contract with

GLCI.

In the last six years, through a congressional

directive NRCS-Wisconsin funded over $2.6

million in outside technical assistance, education

and on-farm research and demonstration through

the GLCI Grant Program.

The Wisconsin Grazing Lands Conservation

Initiative works to develop and enhance

grazing lands in harmony with the

environment.
2005

Where To Get Grazing Lands Assistance from NRCS

State Grazing Lands Specialist

Brian Pillsbury

USDA, NRCS

505 Broadway, Room 232

Baraboo, WI 53913

Phone: 608-355-4470

brian.pillsbury@wi.usda.gov

Area Grazing Lands Specialists

Southwest Area - Richland Center

Jean Stramel

USDA, NRCS

24136 Executive Lane, Suite C

Richland Center, WI 53581

Phone: 608-647-8874, ext. 110

Jean.Stramel@wi.usda.gov

Northwest Area - Altoona

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

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

Altoona

Southeast

Juneau

Southwest

Richland Center

State Specialist

Baraboo

Northeast

Appleton

Eau Claire

Location of NRCS Grazing Lands Specialists
2005

The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act

(PL 83-566), August 4, 1954, as amended,

authorized NRCS to cooperate with States and local

agencies to carry out works of improvement for soil

conservation and for other purposes including flood

prevention; conservation, development, utilization

and disposal of water; and conservation and proper

utilization of land.

NRCS implements the Watershed Protection and

Flood Prevention Act through three programs:

• Watershed Surveys and Planning

• Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention

 Operations

• Watershed Rehabilitation

Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention

The purpose of the Emergency Watershed Protection

(EWP) program is to undertake emergency

measures, including the purchase of flood plain

easements, for runoff retardation and soil erosion

prevention to safeguard lives and property from

floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any

watershed whenever fire, flood or any other natural

occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden

impairment of the watershed.

Emergency Watershed Protection

Repeated storms during May and June 2004 caused

flood damage that impaired several waterways in

Crawford County. The townships in the county

were concerned with the potential hazards to life

and property if additional rainfall was received..

Through the EWP program, debris was removed

to protect five road crossings and bridges, restoring

the hydraulic capacity of the stream channels and

thereby reducing the threat of catastrophic flooding.

Dam Rehabilitation Program

Otter Creek Watershed

Under the Dam Rehabilitation Program, two dams

that create Blackhawk Lake in Iowa County were

repaired. The dams were built in 1970 with the dual

purpose of flood control and recreation. One dam

contains the principal spillway, the primary means

to convey water from the watershed through the dam

and into the stream below. The other houses the

drawdown spillway, which can be used to draw the

lake level down if needed.

Prior to construction, Iowa County implemented flood plain

zoning in the hydraulic shadow (breach inundation area) of the

dam.

One home in the breach inundation area of the

Blackhawk Lake dams was floodproofed by

constructing a reinforce concrete retaining wall to

protect against flooding from the 100-year flood

event.

In addition, the principal spillway of dam was

modified to allow more cold water to flow out of

the lake. Cold water temperatures are needed for

trout downstream. As a result of improved land

conservation in the watershed since the dam was

built, there has been an increase in ground water

entering the lake and increased base flow which is

naturally colder than runoff. The capacity of the

cold water discharge feature had been exceeded and

was modified for current conditions.
2005

Conservation Partners

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 2005, the Wisconsin State Technical

Committee convened eight times including once in

Wisconsin Rapids for a tour of cranberry operations in

support of the EQIP practice signup.

Other actions to provide guidance were:

• Allocation of Environmental Quality Incentives

Program funds, cost-share rates, eligible

practices, and policies, addition of cranberry and

orchard practices signups

• EQIP public comment session

• Subcommittee on Comprehensive Nutrient

Management Practices

• Wisconsin nomination for Conservation

Partnership Initiative Grant

In addition, the committee receives regular updates on

farm bill programs and resources issues in Wisconsin.

Conservation on the Land Internship Program

The internship program continued throughout Wisconsin

in 2005. 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

with field and technical work. In 2005, 23 interns worked

in 20 locations throughout the state.

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.

In 2005, 182 volunteers contributed over 18,712 hours

at 43 different Wisconsin field office locations. This is

the equivalent of more than nine 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.

The Wisconsin Tribal 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

2005, WTCAC assisted NRCS in identifying priority

projects for the Environmental Quality Incentives

Program and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program.

8030 Excelsior Drive, Suite 200

Madison, Wisconsin 53717

608-662-4422

www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov

The United States Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

NRCS - Your Conservation Partner

for over 70 years

In March 1935, fierce windstorms from the Great Plains

carried huge dark clouds of dust eastward and blackened

skies as far away as the nation’s capital. Hugh Hammond

Bennett convinced Congress that soil erosion was a

menace that merited national attention. On April 27,

1935, Congress established the Soil Conservation

Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture to

conserve natural resources on agricultural lands and

named Bennett as Chief. During his tenure, Bennett

stressed the importance of soil conservation to crowds

across the country.

2005 marked the agency's 70th anniversary. Today,

NRCS remains the nation's leading agency in conserving

natural resources on private lands. Every employee and

partner contributed to the agency's many

accomplishments. The nation's citizens can enjoy the

benefits of productive soils, clean air and water, and open

spaces because of the agency's work.

Cover photo: Jim Richardson, Richardson Photography