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Portage County wins nearly $50,000 USDA water-quality planning grant; panel approves wildlife damage claims
Summary
The joint committees accepted a $49,950 USDA National Water Quality Initiative planning grant to target two watersheds and approved three wildlife-damage claims while denying one, as presented by USDA Wildlife Services.
Portage County committees voted to accept a $49,950 USDA National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) planning grant and approved a series of wildlife-damage claims during their Feb. 24 meeting.
Tim (county staff) explained that Portage County reapplied for the NWQI funding for fiscal 2026 after an earlier application cycle; the grant will fund a planning phase to prepare a source-water assessment report and outreach plan in two targeted watersheds — Bear Creek/Waupaca River and Lake Emily — and will help leverage NRCS implementation funds for conservation practices. "This grant is slightly under $50,000... to prepare the planning phase of the project," the staff summary said.
On wildlife claims, USDA Wildlife Services representative Quinn Hannish reported the 2025 claims summary: four claims were submitted under 11 enrollments, three met harvest objectives and were recommended for reimbursement while one did not and was denied. Committees voted to approve the three reimbursements and accept the single denial as presented.
What happens next: staff will develop the source-water assessment and outreach plan with NRCS and then proceed to implementation phases where cost-share funding will be used to promote conservation practices in targeted priority areas; wildlife-claims reimbursements will be processed per the committee's approvals.
Actions: Committee approved acceptance of the USDA NWQI planning grant ($49,950) and approved three wildlife damage claims while denying one claim as presented by Wildlife Services.
