Conservation Programs

The Vernon County Land & Water Conservation is a team of professionals with a wide range of skills. Our office is involved in a variety of conservation programs and, as a department, we take on new projects and responsibilities on a regular basis. Some of the programs we are involved with:

Administer and enforce compliance with a number of rules and ordinances:

Nonmetallic Mining Reclamation
Sludge/Biosolids
Manure Storage runoff rules mandated by the DNR (NR151) and
DATCP (ATCP50)

Vernon County operates and maintains 22 large flood control structures (dams).

We have qualified and experienced staff that work with landowners to enroll eligible land in CREP (Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program). This program provides an additional source of income to landowners.

If you experience crop damage from wildlife, you may want to check into the Wildlife Damage Program. This page will give you the basic information on the program and explain how to contact the Wildlife Damage Investigator.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/managing.html

We have a Land and Water Resource Management Plan for our department that details how we will serve the county while meeting conservation goals.

Counties have the primary responsibility for implementing the new agricultural runoff standards, which require all cropland and livestock operations in Wisconsin, regardless of size, to follow agricultural performance standards and manure management guidelines.

Our department is committed to improving and repairing streambanks to reduce the amount of sediment that enters our prime fishing streams. Along with streambank improvement we regularly install LUNKERS and improve fish, turtle and snake habitats.

Actively manage the county owned forestland by harvesting timber, planting seedlings and improving timber stands.

Operate and maintain our and forests for the benefit of county residents, as well as visitors to our area. Recreational opportunities include camping, fishing and hiking.

Aerial photographs are available to the public through the Land Information Office. The Land Information Officer is in the process of developing a GIS database set of "layers" that has information such as 911 locations, stream locations, property parcel numbers, soils information and much more.

The Land Information Office is also in the process of remonumenting the county's section corners. This has been sorely needed and will benefit all landowners. A map showing the remonumentation progress is available for viewing.