Departmental Services
Technical Assistance:
Provide local landowners, mangers as well as units of government with technical assistance to find solutions to land and water resource management problems.
Conservation Information/Education:
Conduct a variety of conservation educational programs in partnership with other agencies and organizations. Our target audience included everyone from young to old, urban to rural. Our goal is to provide landowners with as much information as possible about reducing water pollution as well as encouraging the protection of our natural resources. During the spring of 2000, the LWCD completed the first addition of what would become a quarterly informational newsletter. Its purpose is to highlight issues and programs related to natural resource management.
Automation/GIS:
Emphasize efficiency and quality for all LWCD services by utilizing computer technology where appropriate. Services currently utilizing this technology include; surveying, drafting, conservation planning, engineering, mapping, aerial photography, word processing, mailings, and publication development. With assistance from the LIS/GIS Manager we plan on increase our office use and efficiency with the County’s GIS system.
Financial assistance:
Determine what financial assistance may be available to local landowners, managers, Towns, Villages, Cities, and organizations to help offset the costs of conservation work and assist them in obtaining those funds. Financial assistance can be in the form of tax credits, cost sharing, conservation easements and other incentive payments. Currently the LWCD administers several financial assistance programs.
Regulatory Activities:
Administer local ordinances and program compliance requirements. This currently includes the Farmland Preservation Program, Animal Waste Storage Ordinance, and the County’s Stormwater Management and Erosion Control (Land Subdivision Ordinance)
Landowner Project Consultation:
Part of the day-to-day service provided through the LWCD consists of acting as a project consultant. We provide a basic service to all landowners that request all forms of land use related information. We serve as a resource for reference material, maps, soils information and aerial photography. We also provide information about their potential need for various permits through DNR, Corps of Engineers, Planning and Zoning and other local municipalities. This is probably one of the most widely used resources the LWCD has to offer.
