Golden Sands Resource Conservation And Development Council

CONSERVATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND UTILIZATION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES IN THE AREA CONSISTENT WITH SOUND CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES.

SINCE INCEPTION WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH COUNTLESS VOLUNTEERS, CITIZEN GROUPS, AND LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCIES TO COMPLETE PROJECTS THAT MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. WE 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, WHICH INCLUDED LOCAL COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, 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 THIS SUMMER HELPED BOATERS RECOGNIZE THAT THEY PLAY A BIG ROLE IN KEEPING OUR LAKES BEAUTIFUL! HEALTHY FORESTS - IN 2021, WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR DEMONSTRATION FOREST PROJECT AND ADDED SITES IN MONROE, MARATHON, WOOD, PORTAGE, AND WAUSHARA COUNTIES. BY THE SUMMER OF 2023 WE HOPE TO HAVE A DEMONSTRATION FOREST ESTABLISHED IN EACH COUNTY WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA. THE DEMONSTRATION FORESTS ACT AS LIVING CLASSROOMS AND SITES FOR EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS CAN LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP LANDOWNERS MANAGE THEIR PROPERTY. THIS YEAR WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HOST TWO DEMONSTRATION FOREST DAYS AT SITES IN ADAMS AND TAYLOR COUNTIES.ABUNDANT WILDLIFE - AS PART OF OUR COOPERATING FOR WOODS AND WILDLIFE PROJECT, GOLDEN SANDS RC&D, THE NORTHEAST WISCONSIN INVASIVES PARTNERSHIP, AND THE CENTRAL WISCONSIN INVASIVES PARTNERSHIP WORKED WITH U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PARTNERS TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROPERTY FOR WILDLIFE. ONE OF OUR FOCAL SPECIES IS THE ENDANGERED KARNER BLUE BUTTERFLY. AS PART OF OUR PARTNERSHIP, WE WERE ABLE TO RESTORE MORE THAN 100 ACRES! THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP, WE WERE ABLE TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST 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 FIVE 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 TO DOCUMENT 887 ACRES OF COVER CROPS APPLIED DURING 2021 THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP).