Conservation
Agricultural Programs
Contacts: Brian Smetana, Chris Rieck, Dave Duwe and Joeann Douglas
Phone: (262) 741-4972  Fax: (262) 741-4973
Conservation Home

DNR Grants - TRM - Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) grants are provided to control polluted runoff from both urban and rural sites. The grants are targeted at high-priority resource problems. Projects funded by TRM grants are site-specific and serve areas generally smaller in size than a subwatershed. The grant period is 2 years, with a possible 1-year extension. The maximum cost-share rate available to TRM grant recipients is 70 percent of eligible costs, with the total of state funding not to exceed $150,000. DNR TRM Grant Program

DNR Grants - Lake Grants - Wisconsin has several types of lake grants available to qualified lake organizations and municipalities. DNR Lake Grant Program

Farmland Preservation - Walworth County taxpayers who put their land into Farmland Preservation are provided a tax incentive for utilizing soil saving farming practices. Technical assistance is provided by Land Conservation.  Farmland Preservation Program Info

Land and Water Resource Management Plan - This program sets forth long-range strategy to target Land Conservation activities, staff and financial resources and is funded in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  It also provides funding on a county-wide basis for Best Management Practices to be installed to protect the diverse and unique natural resource base.

Transect Survey - Valuable information is gathered on a yearly basis to help demonstrate the reduction of soil erosion in the county.  The survey serves as  a monitoring tool to determine compliance with statutory soil erosion goals, performance standards, local trends and progress toward activities in county land and water resource management plans.  Each year approximately 740 sites are surveyed and data is sent to Purdue University to be incorporated into a national database.

Farm Stewardship - Land Conservation staff also provides assistance to landowners and farm operators to plan and implement conservation measures including animal waste storage, nutrient and pest management, various soil saving tillage practices, conservation cropping, structural and other best management practices.

CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program) - CREP is an opportunity for Wisconsin landowners to voluntarily enroll agricultural lands into conservation practices, such as riparian buffers, filter strips, wetland restorations, waterways and establishment of native grasslands in the grassland project area. There is no waiting period; enrollment and eligibility determinations are made on a first-come, first-served basis.  It is a Federal-State-Local partnership between the United States Department Of Agriculture (USDA), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and participating county Land Conservation Departments (LCD) throughout much of the state.

USDA is providing $200 million in federal funds to landowners for the implementation of the federal portion of the program. The State of Wisconsin is contributing $40 million in bond funds to landowners while participating counties are utilizing LCD staff to implement the state portion of the program. More Info (State), More Info (Federal), Tri-fold Brochure >(leave County website)

Other Federal Programs - There are a variety of additional conservation programs that may complement the resource needs on your property. More Info, Summary Guide >(leave County website)

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