GOLDEN SANDS RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

FOR OVER 50 YEARS, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS, AGENCIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE CENTRAL WISCONSIN A BETTER PLACE TO WORK AND LIVE BY PROMOTING CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY FORESTS, ABUNDANT WILDLIFE, AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.CLEAN WATER - OUR CLEAN BOATS, CLEAN WATERS PROGRAM ASSISTED SIX LAKES IN CENTRAL WISCONSIN WITH HIRING AND TRAINING SUMMER WATERCRAFT INSPECTORS. SUMMER STAFF WERE HIRED TO TALK WITH BOATERS AT BOAT LANDINGS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REMOVING PLANTS AND DRAINING ALL WATER TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. OUR EFFORTS HELPED BOATERS RECOGNIZE THAT THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE IN KEEPING OUR LAKES BEAUTIFUL! HEALTHY FORESTS - IN 2023, WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR DEMONSTRATION FOREST PROJECT. WE NOW HAVE SITES IN 11 OF OUR COUNTIES. THE DEMONSTRATION FORESTS ACT AS LIVING CLASSROOMS AND SITES FOR EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS CAN LEARN ABOUT FOREST MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP THEM MANAGE THEIR PROPERTY. IN 2023, WE HOSTED A DEMONSTRATION FOREST EVENTS. ABUNDANT WILDLIFE - AS PART OF OUR COOPERATING FOR WOODS AND WILDLIFE PROJECT, WE ASSISTED IN CREATING 15 NEW FOREST LANDOWNER COOPERATIVES. THESE COOPERATIVES ALLOW NEIGHBORS TO COLLABORATE ON FOREST AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLANNING, CONTRACTING, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, TAPPING INTO SERVICES THAT OWNERS OF SMALL PROPERTIES NORMALLY COULD NOT ACCESS. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SUPPORTING AGENCIES, WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST THESE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS WITH MANAGING THEIR PROPERTY WITH THE GOAL OF SUPPORTING NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA FOR FUTURE YEARS. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE - OUR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION CONTINUED TO LEAD IN SUPPORTING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (USDA-NRCS), IN WISCONSIN, BY CO-EMPLOYING SEVEN AFFILIATE STAFF THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN. THESE EMPLOYEES BOOSTED THE CAPACITY OF THE LOCAL OFFICES BY TAKING ON A VARIETY OF TASKS SUCH AS: ENTERING APPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, WRITING CONSERVATION PLANS, AND DOCUMENTING COMPLETED CONSERVATION PROJECTS. IN ONE COUNTY, OUR STAFF HELPED 126 LANDOWNERS WITH CONSERVATION PLANS. WOW!