Natural Resources

VISION

In the year 2020, Sauk County will remain one of the nation's most beautiful and significant natural resource areas. Historically, residents have worked to balance the county's future development with its natural assets, by identifying those areas that are naturally significant as well as those areas where development is favored. Ongoing efforts to coordinate future conservation practices among public and private landowners and government and private conservation agencies will serve to enrich the county's vast array of flora, fauna, water resources and recreational and educational opportunities for the present and future.

Goal 1

Sauk County should maintain and enhance the rich variety of plant and animal life of the Baraboo Bluffs and other significant natural resource areas throughout the county.

POLICY 1.1

Sauk County should limit allowing buildable parcels that are less than prescribed minimum lot size that occur due to bisections (e.g. navigable streams and roadways) and not allow them in areas that towns have identified as being significant natural resource areas.

POLICY 1. 2

Sauk County and local town governments should identify and define the area encompassing the Baraboo Bluffs and other sensitive areas within the county.

Goal 2

Sauk County should minimize development (i.e. residential, commercial, industrial, recreational) in areas that are identified by local units of
government as being natural resource areas.

POLICY 2.1

Sauk County should limit allowing buildable parcels that are less than prescribed minimum lot size that occur due to bisections (e.g. navigable
streams and roadways) and not allow them in areas that towns have identified
as being significant natural resource areas

POLICY 2.2

Sauk County should provide its communities with mechanisms that allow them to more easily maintain and enhance significant natural resource
areas.  Some of these tools include updated subdivision ordinance with appropriate regulations (e.g. erosion control, setback distances...,) and an Geographic Information System (G.I.S.)  with associated databases
that clearly identify the land’s natural features.

POLICY 2.3

Sauk County should provide zoning districts, with appropriate setback distances, that direct development away from those areas that have been identified as unsuitable for development.

POLICY 2.4

Sauk County should set criteria that assess the suitability of land for development. Factors such as the presence of floodplains, wetlands, steep
slopes, prime soils, large forested areas and significant historic or natural communities should be considered.

POLICY 2.5

Sauk County should provide mechanisms that allow landowners to more easily maintain significant natural resource areas. Some of these options
could come in the form of tax breaks, conservation easements, transfer of
development rights, purchase of development rights, etc

Goal 3

3 Sauk County should continue to develop policies and create programs
designed to provide information about the county’s natural resources.

POLICY 3.1

Sauk County and local town governments should identify and define the
area encompassing the Baraboo Bluffs and other sensitive areas within the
county.

POLICY 3.2

Sauk County should provide its communities with mechanisms that allow
them to more easily maintain and enhance significant natural resource
areas.  Some of these tools include an updated subdivision ordinance with appropriate regulations (e.g. erosion control, setback distances...,) and a Geographic Information System (G.I.S.), with associated databases that clearly identify the land’s natural features.

POLICY 3.3

Sauk County should create overlay maps that establish the location of the
county’s various natural resources (i.e. delineation of the Baraboo Bluffs,
scenic beauty areas...).

POLICY 3.4

Sauk County should create a library of plans that will provide consistent
countywide information for local planning efforts.

GOAL 4

Sauk County and its’ local governments should work to identify and protect
cultural, historic and archaeological sites.

POLICY 4.1

Sauk County should set criteria that assesses the suitability of land for
development. Factors such as the presence of floodplains, wetlands, steep
slopes, prime soils, large forested areas and significant historic or natural communities should be considered.

POLICY 4.2

Sauk County should provide mechanisms that allow landowners to more
easily maintain significant natural resource areas.  Some of these options could come in the form of tax breaks, conservation easements, transfer of development rights, purchase of development rights, etc.

GOAL 5

Sauk County should encourage sustainable and wildlife friendly farming and forestry practices.

POLICY 5.1

Sauk County should continue to provide and increase technical assistance and outreach educational opportunities to residents (e.g. erosion control and soil conservation practices, the correct use of fertilizers used in residential lawn maintenance, sustainable agriculture and forestry practices, planning and zoning primers, impacts of development and recycling...) 

GOAL 6

6 Sauk County should maintain and improve upon the county’s water quality-including its groundwater, surface water and wetland resources.

POLICY 6.1

Sauk County should continue to encourage farmers to create and follow soil conservation agreements with the county. 

POLICY 6.2

In order to protect the future of Sauk County’s groundwater, the county should establish a wellhead protection program.

GOAL 7

Sauk County should provide a clear guide for mineral extraction location decisions, practices and reclamation.

POLICY 7.1

Sauk County should create a specifically named “Mineral Extraction Overlay Zoning District” within the Sauk County Zoning Ordinance.  This district should provide a clear set of criteria that examines the effect of a potential site on neighboring farm operations, development, water resources, forest fragmentation, etc.

GOAL 8

Sauk County should establish programs meant to minimize the future amount of land that is dedicated to landfills.

POLICY 8.1

Sauk County should establish and enforce a county recycling ordinance for residential, commercial and industrial land uses.

GOAL 9

Sauk County should create a common knowledge base for all towns that wish to create or amend their development plans.

POLICY 9.1

Sauk County should create overlay maps that establish the location of the county’s various natural resources (i.e. delineation of the Baraboo Bluffs, scenic beauty areas...).

POLICY 9.2

Sauk County should create a library of plans that will provide consistent countywide information for local planning efforts.