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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.

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…
Dave Skoloda skiing at Red Mountain in Colorado

Skiing Protected Land

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Trail Trek Challenge Hike of the Month How painful it was to write about cross country skiing when, in mid-January, the ground was brown and the temperature at 40 degrees…
Grant Smith at Sugar Creek Bluff

On the trail with Grant Smith

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November 3, 2019 Sugar Creek Bluff State Natural Area Crawford County, Wisconsin I took advantage of perhaps the last sunny day of the fall to hike the Sugar Creek Bluff…
Bobolink perched on a protected land sign

Land Trusts Can Help!

Climate Change
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A new article from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's October newsletter highlights the role of land trusts in protecting bird habitat. The whole article is available at this link. Mississippi…
farmland with woodland protected

Conservation agreement in La Crosse County protects land and water on local farmland

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LA CROSSE, WI – October 3, 2019 – A new land conservation agreement between Mississippi Valley Conservancy and a landowner in La Crosse County will protect valuable wildlife habitat and…
Prairie on Amsrud property

Imperiled Wildlife Habitat Protected in Vernon County

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GENOA, WI – Steep, wooded bluffs enfold broad, sloping pastures for sheep and horses where Gene Amsrud and Patty (McNamee) Amsrud shared the view with a visitor to their land…
Mark Hein property

Trempealeau County Conservation Agreement Expands Area of Protected Land

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LA CROSSE, WI – A new land conservation agreement between Mississippi Valley Conservancy and Mark Hein will protect important habitat and farmland for at least four generations of the Hein…
students collecting prairie seeds

Xcel Grant Supports Outdoor Education in Nine-County Driftless Area

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view of Tunnelville Cliffs property

Restoration Update: Tunnelville Cliffs 2019

Climate Change
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When Conservancy Land Manager Levi Plath and his crew of interns return from a day in the field, you can see through the dirt and sweat that they are healthy…
2019 intern crew

Welcome to the 2019 intern crew!

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The work of the crew includes a variety of habitat restoration activities, including trail maintenance, invasive species removal, boundary posting, firebreak construction, and general clean-up. They're fortunate to have Levi…
New Amsterdam Grasslands

New Amsterdam Grasslands: A protected home for grassland birds

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It was no secret to several species of increasingly rare birds that a rolling grassland near the Mississippi River flyway was a good place to raise a family. Real estate…
DNR representative with landowners

Landowner Incentive Program accepting proposals for Driftless Area private lands restoration

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Private landowners, conservation organizations, and land trusts can now apply for funding and technical help through the Landowner Incentive Program to create and enhance habitat for pollinators and other at-risk…
view from Apple Valley nature preserve in Onalaska, WI

Land donation adds protection and access to conserved Onalaska bluffland

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ONALASKA, WI – As its second gift of land to be preserved for wildlife habitat and public recreation, T & D Real Estate Investments LLC has donated an additional six…
Ridgetop view

“Ridge People” Create Refuge for Themselves and for Wildlife

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READSTOWN, WI – Land ownership offers many learning opportunities, and that was certainly the case for Bruce Harvey when he and his wife chose to purchase a 97-acre property in…