Forested can be excellent sources of slowing the flow. Trees help reduce sedimentation, stabilize soils, provide shade and cool spots for a slower snow melt, and help soak up carbon dioxide. You can develop your forested land to serve your watershed even better.
Conservation Programs
Conservation programs are already available to help implement best management practices needed to reduce nonpoint source pollution to streams from forest management activities on private lands.
- Conservation Easements: Landmark Conservancy assists landowners in protecting their lands via conservation easements. Conservation easements help ensure that private land remains conserved in perpetuity. Lead Agency: Landmark Conservancy.
- Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP):A program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities; and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities. Lead Agency: USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Ashland Service Center (715) 682-9117.
- Land Acquisition: Landmark Conservancy acquires land in the region for conservation purposes. Lead Agency: Landmark Conservancy.
- Managed Forest Law (MFL): Land management incentive program that encourages sustainable forestry on private woodlands by reducing and/or deferring property taxes. Lead Agency: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- Wetland Reserve Program (WRP):Land retirement program to restore and protect wetlands on private property. Lead Agency: USDA-NRCS Ashland Service Center.
- Wisconsin Forest Landowner Grant Program (WFLGP):Cost-share program that provides assistance to protect and enhance forested lands, prairies, and waters. Lead Agency: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- Partners for Fish and Wildlife: Provides technical and cost-share funding assistance to landowners to restore wetland and other wildlife habitats on their property. From 2001-2010, eight wetland restoration projects in the Marengo River watershed have been completed through this program, totaling 38 wetland acres. To date, 76 upland acres have been enhanced for migratory bird nesting in the watershed. Lead Agency: United States Fish and Wildlife Service (US-FWS) – Ashland Conservation Office.
- Coastal Program: Great Lakes: Provides technical and cost-share funding assistance to private landowners for planning, design, and construction of wetland restoration and other wildlife habitat projects. This multi-agency wetland restoration program exists between the US-FWS and local county land and water conservation departments. Lead Agency: US-FWS – Ashland Conservation Office.