COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - Natural Resources

UW-Extension collaborates with organizations and other county departments to provide educational programming on waterbody classification, shoreland landscaping/restoration, non-point source pollution, and park and open space planning..

Program example:
Washington County Planning and Park Department (PPD) is initiating an update of the County's Park & Open Space Plan.  UW-Extension is partnering with the PPD to facilitate an advisory committee in reviewing goals, objectives, and policies along with soliciting public response in two rounds of information/input meetings.

Related Links of Interest

The Environmental Resources Center is comprised of University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension staff who apply their research and teaching to the natural resource management needs of Wisconsin. The Center provides staff support and informational materials to facilitate county and community efforts to develop sound environmental management strategies. 

The state agency responsible for natural resources and environmental protection is the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Information is available on matters and issues relating to air and water quality, solid and hazardous waste, leaking underground storage tanks, recycling, forestry, wildlife and fish management, and land/property acquisition.

The Washington County Land Conservation Department has as its motto, "To create awareness and promote action to protect the land and water resources of Washington County.  The site includes general information, staff contact information, upcoming events, and descriptions of programs. 

The Washington County Planning and Parks Department Web site contains information about the County's parks, golf course, land use regulations, and upcoming meetings and events.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service, formerly the Soil Conservation Service, is the federal agency that works with landowners on private lands to conserve natural resources.  Nearly three-fourths of the technical assistance provided by the agency goes to helping farmers and ranchers develop conservation systems uniquely suited to their land and individual ways of doing business.  The agency also provides assistance to other private landowners and rural and urban communities to reduce erosion, conserve and protect water, and solve other resource problems.

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