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Jefferson County Land and Water Conservation Department highlights cover-crop program, groundwater study and awards
Summary
Director Patricia Cicero told the county board the department uses a mix of county levy and grants, reported 616 farmland preservation participants covering more than 110,000 acres, supported over 2,600 acres of cover crops last year and released a groundwater study with UW–Stevens Point.
Patricia Cicero, director of the Jefferson County Land and Water Conservation Department, briefed the county board on the department's programs, funding mix and recent accomplishments, including a new groundwater study, expanded cover-crop support and an award from a statewide nonprofit.
Cicero said the department's funding is roughly 52% grants and program revenue with the remainder coming from the county levy. She said the county's farmland preservation program had 616 participants covering more than 110,000 acres and that enrolled landowners received more than $1,100,000 in tax credit payments last year.
The department supports agricultural and residential conservation through cost-share programs and educational outreach. Cicero highlighted the county’s cover-crop work: last year the county helped pay for over 2,600 acres of cover crops and partners with a local group that promotes cover-crop adoption and field days. She described cover crops as a practice that keeps soil in place when cash crops are not growing and can improve soil health.
Cicero also described the county's groundwater study, completed with the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, and an online dashboard with results. The department uses the study results to encourage private-well testing and to inform outreach. Cicero said her office and the health department have nitrate screening tools available and that the department screened 50 well-water samples last year and has already exceeded that number this year.
The department received the Working Lands Preservation Award from Gathering Waters, Cicero said, for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. She said the award presentation is planned for the county board's June meeting. Cicero closed by inviting supervisors to contact her office for more information about rain gardens, shoreland/native-plant installations or other conservation services.
"We couldn't achieve our goals without the great staff in our office," Cicero said, naming six staff members and noting the office's combined years of service.
