Shawano County Land and Water Conservation Department professionals claim they are among the best and most cost-effective solutions to improving water quality, achieving clean and safe drinking water, and supporting multiple industries at the same time.
Because of that, Shawano County supervisors are urging the Wisconsin Legislature and the Joint Committee on Finance to provide $20.2 million in stable, base funding for county conservation staffing.
This year, state officials established the current need for county conservation department staffing at $20.2 million to fund staff positions at 100% of the first, 70% of the second and 50% of each additional person.
The local resolution was adopted April 15.
Based on 2024 data, this measure would provide Shawano County about $50,000 of additional annual soil and water resource management grant funding through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
“In 2024 Shawano County received $154,819 for land conservation department staffing and support costs,” said Scott Frank, county conservationist. “This covered 1.8 staff positions of the 3.6 eligible staff positions in the LCD. If we were to receive full funding per Chapter 92, we could expect about $50,000 more.
“If this were to happen, it would give us some flexibility to buffer budget cuts, possibly offer seasonal/internship opportunities or even add a part-time position to the office.”
Frank said his office provides many services he and others do not want to see reduced.
County conservation departments are the local delivery mechanism for a range of Wisconsin’s natural soil and water and other resource management programs including non-point pollution control, farmland preservation, reclamation of non-metallic mines, invasive species control, woodland management, lakes protection and more.
According to DATCP, for every $1 of county staffing provided in the state biennial budget, conservation departments leverage $2 in additional local, state and federal funding.
Wisconsin Land and Water is a nonprofit membership organization that supports the efforts of around 450 land conservation committee supervisors and 370 conservation staff in Wisconsin’s 72 county land and water conservation departments.
The group reports that in 2006, the state’s base funding allocation of $9.3 million met 70% of the counties’ staffing needs of $13.3 million. In 2025, the $8.9 million provided met only 46% of the counties’ needs.
In the 19-year period from 2006-25, base funding relative to county staffing needs decreased by 26%.
Conservation staff professionals serve as technical advisers to support producer-led watershed groups, assist waterfront property owners, help farmers develop and implement nutrient management plans, respond to natural disasters like floods, project planning and engineering, securing cost share funding and spend years building the trust to be able to successfully do so.
The conservation practices these professionals help landowners apply to farm fields, forests and shorelines have numerous water quality benefits, including preventing soil erosion and promoting soil health, increasing infiltration into groundwater aquifers, protecting drinking water supply, reducing surface runoff and flood severity and more.
This minimum funding is expected to result in more conservation on the landscape and better protection of the state’s natural resources.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
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