Wisconsin County Land and Water Conservation Departments

Wisconsin Does It by County

Many states have soil and water conservation districts. Wisconsin delivers local conservation through county land and water conservation departments (LWCDs), run under a county land conservation committee (LCC). Wisconsin Land and Water, the nonprofit membership group that supports them, says there are 72 county LWCDs and LCCs, one set in each county. Around 450 LCC supervisors, who are elected officials, and about 370 conservation staff work in them. The group describes conservation here as locally led, with county staff and elected officials providing hands-on help to their communities.

Committee and Staff: Who Does What

The two halves have different jobs. LCCs are made up of publicly elected county board members, per Wisconsin Land and Water's members page. They lead local conservation efforts, set county conservation policy using local input and resource assessments, and draft the county land and water resource management plan. They also adopt cost-sharing programs and promote local stewardship. The LWCD is the professional staff that works alongside the committee, and together they deliver most local natural resource programs.

Racine County shows how a committee can be built. Its Land Conservation Committee has seven members, created under state statutes: county board supervisors, up to two appointed representatives, and one USDA Farm Service Agency representative. Its duties include carrying out responsibilities for conserving soil, water and related natural resources, setting local priorities for staff, directing staff to implement best management conservation practices, enforcing local ordinances, and promoting federal and state conservation programs. Your county's makeup may differ, so check your county board's committee page.

The County Land and Water Resource Management Plan

Every county plan follows state law. Under section 92.10 of the statutes, the land conservation committee prepares the plan, which must include:

• An assessment of water quality and soil erosion conditions across the county, including any data from the Department of Natural Resources.
• The best management practices for meeting the program's objectives and the tolerable erosion level.
• Applicable performance standards and prohibitions on nonpoint source pollution and soil erosion.
• A multiyear description of planned county activities and their priorities.
• A system for monitoring progress, a strategy for soil and water information and education, and methods for coordinating with other local, state and federal agencies.

The committee must notify landowners and land users of erosion and pollution determinations and give them a chance to challenge their accuracy. It also holds one or more public hearings and submits the plan to the county board and the state department. The state department assists in preparing the plan and must approve or disapprove it, and the county board reviews it and makes recommendations. Because the plan sets county priorities, it is worth reading before you apply for cost-share.

What a County Department Can Do for You

Services vary by county, but Winnebago County's department is a good example. Its nine staff serve as advisors to private landowners and farmers and help carry out the county plan. Services listed include:

• Land management planning and project design for cropland, tree planting, upland wildlife habitat and wetland restoration.
• Design, cost estimates, layout and construction supervision for best management practices.
• A county-funded Water Quality Improvement Program that provides money to private landowners for water-quality projects.
• Help securing and managing state and federal grants.
• Equipment, tools and supplies for installing practices such as protective vegetation, tree planting and wildlife habitat.

The department also runs a Conservation Awareness Poster Contest for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, lends Fish Hotel teaching kits for grades 1 to 5, and revises a Livestock Waste Management Ordinance. Winnebago held a public hearing on proposed changes to the ordinance and permit fee schedule on November 7, 2024. Livestock producers should ask their own county whether a local ordinance and permit apply to them.

The State Board Behind the Counties

The Land and Water Conservation Board, described on the DATCP page, connects local and state governments on conservation and farmland preservation issues. It has 11 members: three from county land conservation committees, three state agency leaders, one governor-appointed member serving a two-year term, and four governor-appointed members representing urban, rural, river management and natural resource preservation interests. The board reviews county land and water plans and makes recommendations, recommends how DATCP should allocate conservation funds to counties, and serves as a forum for emerging soil and water issues. County plans reviewed in recent agendas include Crawford, Sawyer, Waukesha and Florence in 2026.

How to Work With Your County Office

• Search for your county name plus "land and water conservation" or "land conservation department" and look for staff contacts and program pages.
• Use the member directory at wisconsinlandwater.org/members-hub/members to find county staff and board supervisors.
• Call before you plan a project, since design and funding steps come first.
• Ask what grants, cost-share and local ordinances apply to your land.
• Attend public hearings on the county plan, where landowners can speak.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.