Lands, Waters, & People

WI Land+Water is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) that uniquely serves Wisconsin—its lands, waters, and people—through our membership, public programs, leadership, and resources. We work at the center of Wisconsin’s conservation network, supporting the Land and Water Conservation Departments and Committees in advancing our mission and vision for all communities.

Our Mission

We work to protect, conserve, and enhance Wisconsin’s natural resources by advocating for and supporting county conservation efforts for current and future generations.

Our Vision

We envision a future where our natural resources are valued and protected by informed, empowered communities advancing conservation at the local level.

Our Organization

We have seven staff members in our Madison office, but the entire organization includes the Board of Directors, eight committees, and eight area associations, as well as the broader network of public, private, non-profit partners, and volunteers across Wisconsin.

Our Members

Our membership is comprised of all 370 county staff members of the Land and Water Conservation Departments and all 470 members serving on the county Land Conservation Committees in Wisconsin.

Land Conservation Committees

Compromised of elected county board members and appointed members, Land Conservation Committees (LCC) take a lead role in local land and water resources protection. They set the course for conservation in their counties and work closely with their respective LWCDs to put planning into action.

Land & Water Conservation Departments

All county governments in Wisconsin have a Land & Water Conservation Department (LWCD) that is responsible for carrying our programs and projects that locally conserve Wisconsin’s land and water resources. Through their leadership and expertise, LWCD staff provide educational, technical, and conservation planning assistance in their communities as the boots-on-the-ground drivers of actions.

Board of Directors & Executive Committee

WI Land+Water’s Board of Directors oversees our organization. The Board is comprised of eight LCC members and eight LWCD staff members, representing each of the Area Associations.

The Executive Committee fulfills the obligations and conducts the business of the Board between board meetings. The Executive Committee is also comprised of equal parts LCC and LWCD members.

Standing Committees

There are seven additional committees that help oversee different programs and components of WI Land+Water and are comprised by LCC and LWCD members, WI Land+Water staff, and agency partners.

Area Associations

Eight area associations streamline the common interests of county conservation efforts for the regions, facilitate information exchange, sponsor educational and training events, elect area representatives to the WI Land+Water Board of Directors, and identify regional policy issues that may be acted on at the state level.

Advisors

We work with federal and state agencies to collaborate on conservation programs and projects.