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County board adopts Sawyer County Land and Water Resource Management Plan after public comments about outreach

Sawyer County Board of Supervisors · February 19, 2026

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Summary

The Sawyer County Board voted to adopt the county's Land and Water Resource Management Plan, which county staff said was developed with an advisory committee, presented to the Wisconsin Land and Water Board and includes measurable goals; a public commenter urged more local input and requested $100,000 from the capital improvement plan be used to address backlog projects.

The Sawyer County Board voted to adopt the county’s 10-year Land and Water Resource Management Plan following a staff presentation and public comment.

Jay Kozlowski, county conservation/zoning staff, told the board the plan was developed with a broad advisory committee and in accordance with DATCP (Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection) guidance and was approved by the Wisconsin Land and Water Board on Feb. 3, 2026. "This plan was then presented to the Wisconsin Land and Water Board ... It was noted that it was a great plan and that county conservation staff gave a great presentation along with having measurable goals and objectives that match the county's resources," Kozlowski said. He told supervisors the plan had been reviewed at committee level, revised after hearings and now required county board adoption to move forward and unlock related state grant funding for cost-share projects.

During public comment, Linda Zilmer, a Birchwood resident and property owner, told the board the plan-development process had included meetings that were "not publicly noticed or available" and urged the board to consider using the $100,000 listed in the capital improvement plan to address a backlog of conservation projects. Kozlowski responded that the plan followed DATCP advisory-committee guidelines and had been brought to the Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee and through public hearings, and he outlined how state Soil and Water Resource Management (SWRM) grant eligibility depends on an adopted county plan.

Board members moved and approved adoption of the plan by voice vote. County staff noted that adoption will allow the county to receive state grant funding for staff salaries and specialized conservation projects and that previously the county borrowed funds from other counties for stream-rehabilitation work. The plan's adoption also forwards recommended emergency fire warden appointments and several wildlife damage claims to the county board as part of the Land, Water and Forest Resources Committee packet.

What happens next: With county board adoption, conservation staff can proceed to distribute SWRM funds for prioritized projects and seek state reimbursements tied to the adopted plan.