The Buffalo County Land Conservation and Resource Management Department provides engineering, technical services, and financial assistance to landowners for soil and water conservation practices. The department coordinates and supports locally led, county, state, and federal conservation related programs and initiatives throughout the county.
Buffalo County Land Conservation
Conservation Practices
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) provides incentive payments and cost sharing for installing conservation practices along waterways and wetlands. Farmers can enroll land that has a history of crop or pasture land through either a 15 year agreement or perpetual easement to protect waterways and wetlands.
Nutrient Management
Buffalo County staff are available for nutrient management assistance including nutrient management plan writing, soil sampling, spreading calibration, or technical assistance.
Planning to Apply Manure? Check Before You Spread! Click on the link to check Wisconsin’s Online Runoff Risk Advisory Forecast before spreading. The site provides updated risk assessment for spreading manure. If your site shows RED, don’t spread.
Manure Storage
A permit is required for any new construction, reconstruction, enlargement, substantial alteration, or abandoned manure storage facility.
Farmland Preservation Program (FPP)
The Farmland Preservation Program offers state income tax credits to landowners who practice conservation farming. Buffalo County landowners with agricultural land located in the ANR-40 zoning district or the Town of Montana may be eligible for the $10.00 per acre tax credit, provided the land meets the state’s agricultural soil and water conservation standards.
Bluff Prairie Restoration Application
Cost-Share funding is available for restoration of remnant dry bluff prairies on private lands to preserve this valuable ecosystem and provide habitat for many rare plant and animal species. Interested landowners should complete and sign a “CAPX2020 Buffalo County Bluff Prairie Restoration Request“.
Trout Stream Restoration Application
Cost-Share funding is available at $5,000 per stream restoration site for the installation of fish habitat structures and stream bank protection projects. A public stream access easement held by Buffalo County is required to be recorded allowing public to access stream banks during trout fishing season only.
County Outdoor Recreation Plan
The 2021-2025 County Outdoor Recreation Plan recommends continued preservation, acquisition, development, and improvement of the area’s outdoor recreation facilities.