Conservation, Planning and Zoning News and Press Releases

Build a junk critter, see ideas for saving money while saving energy, hear great music, and discover an art show full of surprises - what more could anyone ask for?

The public is invited to the thirteenth annual Sauk County Earth Day from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday, April 22, rain or shine, at UW-Baraboo/Sauk County, 1006 Connie Road, Baraboo. Admission and parking are free.

Conservation Reserve Program General Sign-up Now Available. 

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural producers to use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits.

Interested producers may contact the Sauk County Farm Service Agency (FSA) to schedule an appointment at: 608-355-4420, Ext. 2

or for more information see the website at  http://www.fsa.usda.gov/crp

Sign up period is March 12, 2012 - April 6, 2012.

                     Are You Claiming Farmland Preservation Tax Credits?

Elizabeth Strunz and Dan Curran were the recipients of the 2011 Environmental Education Scholarships offered by the Sauk County Land Conservation Committee and the Conservation Planning, and Zoning Department.

Three endangered Whooping Cranes have been spotted on the former Sauk County Health Care Center property, the first confirmed sighting on the property. Restoration efforts began at the 80-acre parcel of county property in 2000 to return it to a wetland/prairie configuration and provide an educational opportunity to local schools and residents.

Jack Young Middle School and Sauk Prairie High School students recently participated in Adopt-A-Highway, a national litter awareness program. These highway cleanup projects were sponsored by the Sauk County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department.

“Otter Creek Streambank and Habitat Restoration Progressing”

Efforts to restore and protect parts of Otter Creek are progressing this spring with work on several properties in the flood-prone watershed. Tree removal, bank shaping and seeding are the primary strategies being used.

The goal of this project is to reduce bank erosion along Otter Creek, improve the fishery, reduce flood damages to adjacent lands, and to reconstruct some of the prairie that once existed along the stream.

Household Conservation Makes Cents for You!

Are you looking for some no cost or low cost ways to reduce your energy expenses? Now is an excellent time to make a few changes to reduce your energy bills as well as helping to conserve our natural resources.

Sauk County will host two meetings to present the preliminary data from a study of flooding issues on Clark Creek. The first meeting will be held in conjunction with the Land Conservation Committee meeting on January 20 at 9 a.m. in Room 326 of the West Square Building in Baraboo. The second meeting will be held in the evening of Tuesday, January 25, to provide additional opportunity for public attendance and input. The second meeting will feature an open house at 6 p.m. followed by a presentation at 7 p.m.

The counties of Richland and Sauk, together with the towns of Buena Vista and Spring Green have partnered with the Nelson Institute of University of Wisconsin – Madison to explore, and discuss the water issues associated with the western basin of Spring Green. Three public forums will be held in Spring Green to involve residents in this initiative.

One of the best ways to beat the winter blahs is to think about Spring. With Spring comes the return of our fine feathered friends, the bluebirds! The Sauk County Land Conservation Department is teaming up with area children to build bluebird houses. The hand-made houses are for sale for only $8 a piece with all proceeds going towards funding environmental activities throughout Sauk County. These houses are ideal for the yard, open field, golf course, or any open space you would like to invite beautiful bluebirds to stay.