Land Conservation & Planning Programs

Pepin County Cold Water Stream Program (PCCWSP) Guidelines/Fact Sheet

Criteria

• Property will have to have a cold water stream located on parcel (Bear, Arkansaw, Little Arksansaw, Boyd Spring, Little Plum, Plum, Porcupine, Creek 1-2, Creek 9-10, Fall, Duscham, Bogus, Schuh)
• Ranking will take place if there are more applications received than funds available, so sites where work already has been done (Bear Creek) will get priority over new sites
• Agree to sign the Pepin County held Stream Access Easement for public fishing to occur on project site only during the regular trout fishing season
• Size and location of practice/habitat structure will be determined by Conservation Planner Technician or County Conservationist with input from Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Biologist depending on site conditions, resource need, practicability, etc
• Water Action Volunteer monitoring program will be required before (at least once) and after (at least 1 year) construction of practice/habitat structure, which the Pepin LCD will train the landowner or Non-Profit Organization (NPO)
• List of practices/habitat structures: lunker structures, bank shaping and stabilization, cross-logs, plunge pools, root wads, rock deflector/weirs, boulder retards, turtle/frog hibernacula, brush bundles, sediment traps, seeding, mulching, access roads, mechanical stripping, etc
• Maintenance agreement will be 5 years from the date of installation
• Maximum of $5,000 per landowner or NPO will be rewarded if two or more applications are submitted
• Total of $10,000 of County Cost-Share funding will be allocated for this program per year
• Spot reviews will be performed by Conservation Planner Technician or County Conservationist every 2 years to ensure practices/habitat structures are maintained properly.

 

Benefits of Practices/Habitat Structures

• Increased habitat for cold water stream plant and animal species to use
• Provide an area for public fishing access that may not have existed before
• Reduce sediment load within the streams, which will reduce the temperature and improve dissolved oxygen
• Bring back the pre-European settlement floodplain that allows flood water to disperse
• To bring landowner and NPO, cold water stream interest back to Pepin County
• Reduce soil erosion on stream banks and recreate riparian zones
• Give public opportunity to learn about the importance in protecting cold-water streams
• Help restore degraded land back to near pre-European settlement conditions
• Additional information is available to read in our Pepin County Government Center office

Conservation Cost-Share Funding Available to Pepin County Landowners
The Pepin County Land Conservation Department, along with Natural Resources Conservation Services, (NRCS) has cost-share funding available for conservation practices. Common practices that are approved for funding include grade stabilization structures (dams), grassed waterways, diversions, nutrient management planning and manure storage. Additional practices are available.

Programs that provide cost sharing or incentives include the following:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP):
  Funds available to agricultural producers on agricultural land for conservation practices which protect soil and water quality. Such practices include animal trails and walkways; cover crop; fencing; forest stand improvement; grade stabilization structures (dams); grassed waterway; nutrient management; prescribed grazing; tree/shrub establishment; waste storage facility and well decommissioning. For a complete listing of practices and explanations visit the NRCS website www.wi.nrcs.gov/programs/ NRCS offers continuous sign-up for EQIP.
• Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP):
  which is intended to develop or improve fish and wildlife habitat on privately owned land. Almost any type of land, including agricultural and non-agricultural land, woodlots, pastures and stream banks are eligible. Other practices are brush management; conservation cover; forest stand improvement; stream bank and shoreline protection; stream habitat improvement and management. For a listing and explanation of all practices visit www.wi.nrcs.gov/programs/. A wildlife habitat development plan is required. NRCS offers continuous sign-up for WHIP.
• Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP):
  The purpose of this program is to restore wetlands previously altered for agricultural use. Land which has been owned for one year is eligible for this program.
• Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP):
  These programs help to reduce erosion, increase wildlife habitat, improve water quality and increase forestland. A landowner or operator sets aside cropland or pasture that is adjacent to surface water and receives annual rental payments for the term of the contract.
• Land & Water Resource Management (LWRM):
  This program’s goal is to reduce soil erosion, protect water quality and conserve county-identified natural resources. Cost-share funds and technical assistance is provided to landowners to install best management practices.
• Partners for Fish & Wildlife:
  To restore wetlands, grasslands and threatened and endangered species habitats. Land which can be restored to wetland conditions is eligible.
  
  

For more information on specific program or for assistance with water quality or soil erosion projects, please contact your local Conservation Department at the Pepin County Government Center. Call 715-672-8665 ext 5 for details.

Pepin County Invasive Species Program (PCISP)
Pepin County Land Conservation Department is taking a stand against harmful invasive plant species.  PCISP will provide assistance to land owners to control or eradicated up to 6 targeted species which include Buckthorn, Garlic Mustard, Honeysuckle, Japanese Knotweed, Spotted Knapweed and Wild Parsnip.   Site reviews will be completed by the staff to determine the size and scope of the infected area.  The staff will develop a management plan to slow and stop the spread of the invasive species.  This program is designed to provide technical and financial assistance for NR 40 compliance.  An incentive of 70% of the total cost (up to $5,000) will be provided once management plan is followed. 

Guidelines Criteria /Fact Sheet

• Property has to have a threatening area of one of the six main invasive species listed below
• Ranking will take place if there are more applications received than funds available, so larger infested areas will get priority over small localized areas
• Size and location of infested areas will be determined and flagged by Conservation Planner/Technician depending on species and likeliness of spreading by rhizomes
• Application choice will be determined by size and species targeted to control
• All control methods are suggestions by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Invasive Species Educators, Plant Conservation Alliance’s Alien Plant Working Group, Mississippi State University Extension Service, University-Wisconsin Extension, & Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area
• Mowing is only allowed on the cool season mixes before May 15th and from July to September 15th
• Maintenance agreement will be 5 years following effective application
• County Cost share will fund 70% of the total cost for application(s), up to $5,000
• Spot reviews will be performed by Conservation Planner/Technician every year to ensure standards are maintained
• Please read all herbicide product labels or have a certified herbicide applicator perform application
• Require a Prescribed Burn Plan developed by a NRCS Certified Prescribed Burn Planner for any burns
  
  

Benefits of Eradicating Invasive Species

• Provide native or desired plant species to grow freely, without the competition of invasives
• Stay in compliance with NR 40
• Reduce the future escalated spreading of terrestrial invasive species
• Bring back habitat essential to environmentally sensitive plants and animals
• Provide project areas that can be used in the future reference and research in controlling the invasive
• Additional information is available to read at the Land Conservation Department office
  
  

Resources & Documents:

• PCISP Brochure
• NR-40 Invasive Species Classification & Identification