Land and Water Conservation Department

The Winnebago County Land and Water Conservation Department (LWCD) is dedicated to providing a full range of professional services in the planning, design, and implementation of programs and projects that PROTECT, RESTORE and SUSTAIN the natural resources of Winnebago County.

Winnebago County Land & Water Conservation Department Logo


In Wisconsin, locally-led conservation is key to healthy soils, resilient farms, clean water, and vibrant communities. The Winnebago County LWCD staff consists of 9 County employees, with backgrounds in soil and water conservation, resource management, agronomy, watershed management, geography, environmental science, natural resources, graphic design, communications, and geographic information systems. LWCD staff are trusted advisors to private landowners and farmers. The LWCD works closely with the Winnebago County Board the Land Conservation Committee, Winnebago County Departments, and other local, state, and federal agencies to implement the County's Land & Water Resource Management Plan.

Technical and financial services are provided in a number of ways:

  • Land management planning and project design for individual landowners. This includes lands that are being cropped, tree planting, upland wildlife habitat development, wetland restorations, etc.
  • Design, cost-estimating, layout and construction supervision of "best management practices" built for land and water resource improvements.
  • Administer a county funded Water Quality Improvement Program.  This program provides funds to private landowners for various projects that improve water quality.
  • Secure and manage state and federal grants for County Land and Water Resource Management initiatives.
  • Secure and make available equipment, tools, and supplies that assist landowners in meeting their objectives in installing best management practices including planting protective vegetation on critical sites, tree planting, wildlife habitat development, etc.

 

FEATURED PROGRAMS & SERVICES:

2024 ANNUAL REPORT

Check out our annual report for our 2024 accomplishments and to learn more about the conservation practices we utilize to protect, restore, and sustain the natural resources of Winnebago County. Posted 4/17/2025

 

Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP)
2024 Annual Report

The LWCD is the collaborator for a two-year NOPP grant received from DATCP. NOPP grants provide funding to farmers for conducting field research on different application rates of commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Farmers compare different applications to find the optimal rate of return while avoiding runoff concerns. Each field is a stand alone research study that uses a statistical approach to differentiate the results. In 2024 the LWCD collaborated on NOPP grants with three farms in the Muddy Bottom Farmers Producer-led Group and one farm in the Upper Fox-Wolf Demo Farm Network.   Posted 4/10/2025

 

Muddy Bottom Farmers Producer-Led Group
2024 Annual Report

The LWCD is the collaborator for the Muddy Bottom Farmers (MBF) Producer-Led Watershed Group who received their first DATCP (Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection) grant in 2024 to continue their growth. A Producer-Led Group is led by farmers, for farmers to collaborate on programs and host events to share conservation knowledge. The MBF started in 2023 with five main farmers. In 2024, the MBF hosted a Winter Workshop, an August Field Day, and expanded their network to 30 farmers.   Posted 4/10/2025

 

2024-2025 Conservation Poster Contest

The results are in! This year's poster contest had 16 POSTER entries from students in 5 AGE CATEGORIES from K5-12th grade. They represent 7 SCHOOLS throughout the county. 29 JUDGES from 5 Natural Resources/Conservation Departments located at the James P Coughlin Center reviewed & rated all of the poster entries. 

The 1st place posters from each of the 5 age divisions advanced to the Regional Poster Contest where 2 of our posters received 1st place will now advance to the State Contest in March.

See our Conservation Poster Contest Webpage for all the county results, including photos of the posters. Posted 2/25/2025

 

 

 

 

   
   

 

Contact Information

Land And Water Conservation

Staff Directory
625 E County Road Y
Suite 100
Oshkosh, WI 54901-9731
Map It!
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm
Oshkosh:(920) 232-1950
Neenah:(920) 727-8642
Fax:(920) 424-1277

LWCD Facebook

Winnebago County Land & Water Conservation Department