The other morning, I was having my coffee and watching the birds on our feeders. I got to thinking that I hadn’t seen evening grosbreaks on our feeders in like, forever! So, when I got to my office, I decided to do a little research and find out where...
Conservation Corner
Conservation Corner is a weekly article produced by the Forest County Land & Water Conservation Department.
For more information contact Kayla Littleton, County Conservationist-Land Information/GIS Director at 715-478-1387 or by e-mail at
Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts
Last week I received the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) 2021 Assessment Report. I’ll try to summarize what the report means for us in Northern Wisconsin. We are already feeling the impact of climate change. We are fortunately starting to come...
Announcing the 2022 Forest County Land & Water Plant Sale
Once again, we are going to have our 2nd Annual Plant Sale. This year, we have added more wildflowers, shrubs and trees. A list of plants and an order form can be found on our website: www.forestcountylandandwater.org You can download and print the plant sale flyer...
Spotted Lanternfly Alert
The Spotted Lanternfly is an invasive species native to Asia. In 2014 it was found in Pennsylvania and has since spread to multiple counties which are now quarantined. If you see a spotted lanternfly, kill it, squash it, smash it...just get rid of it. In the fall,...
Land Management Plans
Why do you need a land management plan? They are the key to the successful management of your forest. Land management plans are long-term and provide continuity through generations of ownership. Make sure to go over your plan with family members that may be purchasing...
Surface Water Grants Program
Landowners, have you considered adding a rain garden or native plants to your shoreline? By stopping run-off from entering your lake or river, you can protect them for future generations. A rain garden or native planting can provide beautiful flowers all...
Governor Evers Signs Bill Encouraging More Wetland and Floodplain Restoration
Governor Tony Evers put his final approval on Senate Bill 91 (now 2021 Act 77) which focuses on restoring the natural capacity of wetlands to manage water. The legislation calls for the creation of a hydrologic restoration general permit for simple, voluntary projects...
European Frog-bit
Earlier this summer, botanists discovered a population of the wetland invasive plant European frog-bit (Hydrocharis morsus‐ranae) in Oconto County. This is the first time this species, which is widespread along the coastal areas of lakes Erie and Huron up to the...
PFAS Coordinating Council
In 2019, Governor Tony Evers declared it the Year of Clean Drinking Water. As part of the state-wide initiative to ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean, safe drinking water, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #40 in August 2019 to address the issue of...
Purple Loosestrife control
This week we finished mapping the county roads for Wild Parsnip and Purple Loosestrife locations. We noted that the Wild Parsnip has bolted (flowered and gone to seed) and is pretty much done causing problems for the year. Next spring, we will begin...
Wisconsin Caterpillars
Every summer at my household, my wife collects milkweed and monarch butterfly eggs. She’ll put the milkweed and eggs in a large terrarium and then has her daycare monitor their growth and transformation from caterpillars to butterflies. She usually is able...
Blue-green algae
Blue-green algae, also known as Cyanobacteria, are a group of photosynthetic bacteria that many people refer to as "pond scum." Blue-green algae are most often blue-green in color, but can also be blue, green, reddish-purple, or brown. Blue-green algae generally grow...