2019 | Valley Stewardship Network, Tainter, West Fork, Bad Axe & Kickapoo Watersheds

 

Contact

Applicant Organization: Valley Stewardship Network

Contact: Shelly Gradwell-Brenneman

Email: shelly@valleystewardshipnetwork.org

Project

Watershed Leadership in Action 

Subtitle: Farmers Unite to Form Councils That Protect Streams, Soil, and Community Resilience 

 

Over the past several years, Valley Stewardship Network (VSN), with long-standing support from Fishers & Farmers, has helped cultivate a powerful, community-driven conservation movement across the Kickapoo and adjacent Bad Axe watersheds. What began with the formation of the Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council has grown into a regional network of farmer- and landowner-led councils working to implement and maintain best management practices (BMPs) that protect water quality, support sustainable agriculture, and build ecological resilience. 

This project continued that momentum by supporting four watershed councils—Tainter Creek, West Fork, Bad Axe, and Upper Kickapoo—and laying the groundwork for the Hill Country Watershed Alliance, a new umbrella group to coordinate efforts across the region. 

 

A Collaborative Approach to Conservation 

The councils, supported by VSN, Trout Unlimited, and Wisconsin DNR, have identified and prioritized conservation goals tailored to their landscapes. For example: 

• Tainter Creek Council focused on water quality improvements through cover crops, grazing conversion, and prairie STRIPS. 

• West Fork Neighbors Council prioritized flood mitigation, soil erosion, forest management, and native habitat restoration. 

• Upper Kickapoo and Bad Axe councils began identifying their own watershed-wide priorities with VSN’s facilitation. 

This collaborative model has proven effective in addressing the root causes of watershed degradation—nutrient and sediment runoff from agricultural erosion and unmanaged recreational lands—especially as extreme weather events intensify. 

 

Scaling Up BMPs and Monitoring Impact 

From November 2019 through September 2022, VSN provided technical assistance, event coordination, and monitoring support for dozens of council-led projects. Highlights include: 

• 43+ acres of prairie STRIPS planted across 11 sub-watersheds, now harvested for local seed and used for erosion control, forage, and wildlife habitat. 

• 75+ site visits and whole-farm stewardship plans developed for farmers and landowners. 

• Soil quality testing, bird-friendly farming programs with 16 bird surveys, and monthly water quality monitoring in five watersheds. 

• Significant reductions in sediment and phosphorus runoff were documented in Tainter Creek through in-stream sampling and modeling. 

VSN also supported the development of a cover crop air seeder, in-field signage, and watershed perimeter signs to increase visibility and awareness of conservation practices. 

 

Education, Outreach, and Community Engagement 

With Fishers & Farmers’ support, VSN and its partners coordinated 18 field days and over 55 council meetings and events. These included: 

• Prairie STRIPS and soil health workshops 

• Family stream ecology and fishing days 

• Use of the Fishers & Farmers rainfall simulator at a two-day cover crop event 

• Ongoing outreach through local media, social media, and targeted GIS-based mailings 

These efforts have helped build a strong conservation ethic among landowners and fostered peer-to-peer learning that continues to drive adoption of BMPs. 

 

Looking Ahead 

This project is part of a larger, long-term restoration vision for the region. While formal watershed management plans are still in development, the work of these councils is already shaping the future of land and water stewardship in Southwest Wisconsin. By empowering local leaders, demonstrating effective practices, and building on years of partnership with Fishers & Farmers, this project has laid a foundation for resilient, community-led conservation that will benefit farms, fisheries, and future generations.