Land & Water Conservation Committee

Waupaca County Land & Water Conservation Committee meeting, August 25, 2026. The committee approved the minutes and voted to approve the department’s proposed FY2027 budget. The budget estimates $1.467 million in expenditures and $1.06 million in revenue, for a projected county levy impact of $407,703—$21,709 below the prior year’s budget. Grant-funded work includes nutrient-management and conservation practices, cover-crop programs, and two DNR targeted-runoff-management grants of about $600,000 each; the county pays eligible costs first and seeks reimbursement. No vendor selection or contract award was made. Staff said cost-share contracts would be brought to the next meeting for approval.

Staff reported that EQIP and Conservation Stewardship Program sign-ups close September 18, with funding for new applications uncertain amid the pending federal budget and existing application backlog. An NRCS funding request for the demonstration-farm program was denied and is expected to be resubmitted after October 1; without renewed funding, the program may have to stop. The committee also heard updates on completed conservation cost-share projects and the department’s office move. The next meeting was tentatively set for October 12.