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Protecting land, water, and wildlife is a benefit to all who live in and visit Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. Every generation and community in our area will be more resilient with the clean water, fresh foods, education, recreation, and way of life that undeveloped natural spaces and farmlands provide. Sign up to receive Conservancy News and stay informed about land protection, environmental education, and outdoor recreation programs offered by Mississippi Valley Conservancy.

forget-me-not

Forget me not

Climate Change
Conservancy Stories
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Sometimes I find myself surprised by what a little attention to detail and taking a pretty picture can tell about the resiliency of the habitats Mississippi Valley Conservancy protects. On…
Trail at Romance Woods

Romance Woods: a secluded refuge

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There are certain advantages of getting “lost” in Wisconsin's Driftless Area – you discover a lot of territory and sights you wouldn't ordinarily see – stately chapels in small hamlets…
flowering sweet clover – an invasive specie

Restoration Update: July 2020

Climate Change
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The Conservancy's field crew has been busy these last few weeks of June and into early July working to combat an invasive specie that threatens our native prairie remnants and…
Carolina puccoon

Restoration Update: June 2020

Climate Change
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Mississippi Valley Conservancy’s land management crew (Freddy Ragan, Jon Baranowski, Ben Halfmann, and Reece Mullen) has been busy as ever caring for our nature preserves as the summer has gotten…
Eastern meadowlark

Conservation Volunteer Awards Announced

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LA CROSSE, WI – MAY 5, 2020 – Each year, hundreds of individuals volunteer time and talent to support the land and water conservation mission of Mississippi Valley Conservancy. The…
View from Sugar Creek Bkuff

Spring 2020 Habitat Restoration Update

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What’s Cooking?
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It’s garlic mustard season! With all burning cancelled, due to the current health emergency, our habitat restoration efforts are now focused on other seasonal tasks. As land manager Levi Plath…
Borah Creek Prairie

Two Prairies

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Grant Smith shares insights from his visits to Holland Sand Prairie and Borah Creek Prairie. I celebrated the 50th anniversary of Earth Day by driving through the Driftless Region to…
Protected land photographed by Robert Hurt

Earth Day Announcement of New Milestone Reached in Driftless Area Land Protection

Climate Change
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LA CROSSE, WI – April 20, 2020 – With the signing of a recent agreement to permanently protect 88 acres of land in Monroe County, the total acres now conserved…
Canniff woodland

Monroe County Landowner Protects Land, Water, and Wildlife from Development

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SPARTA, WI–April 15, 2020–With the protection of 88 acres of land in Monroe County, Wisc., this month, Mississippi Valley Conservancy now protects more than 21,000 acres in its efforts to…
view of Angel Bluff in Buffalo County

Angel Bluff Gets a Guardian Angel

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When Tim Wucherer signed up to be site steward for Angel Bluff, one of the 22 nature preserves owned by the Conservancy, he knew exactly what he was getting into…
Greens Coulee trail

Remembering What is Important in Life

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One of the buzz words that we hear often today is mindfulness, or the practice of “being in the moment.” This practice takes a designed effort. For example, every morning…
MVC logo

Mississippi Valley Conservancy Statement on Grandad Bluff Park Trail Project

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Mississippi Valley Conservancy’s mission is to conserve native habitats and farmlands in the Driftless Area for the health and well-being of current and future generations. We encourage outdoor recreation and…
Southward view from Hass Tract in La Crosse Blufflands South

Body and soul in the La Crosse Blufflands South

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Reflections on a hike from the Easter Road trailhead (Hass Tract) I hiked the Hass Tract of the La Crosse Blufflands South alone. A friend's wife had died unexpectedly the…
Visitors at Little Bluff

Sacred Bluffland Now Permanently Protected

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TREMPEALEAU, WI—February 17, 2020— With a Sunday morning ceremony, the Mount Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church congregation has celebrated completion of a long-hoped-for land conservation easement for its 19-acre Little Bluff…
Peg Brenneke overlooking Covia sand mine

Land in Monroe County Protected Against Frac Sand Mining

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TOMAH, WI—January 23, 2020—Mississippi Valley Conservancy helps third-generation landowner protect wildlife habitat and family farm from industrial use. Peg Brenneke, a Monroe County native, resisted selling her grandfather’s farm to…