Funding

Clean River Partners is expanding public fishing access and protecting trout habitat along the Little Cannon River in Minnesota. By securing conservation easements and supporting farmers with sustainable practices, the project reduces sediment runoff and strengthens long-term stream restoration.

American Farmland Trust is partnering with farmers to test and showcase conservation practices that protect water quality and fish habitat. Through hands-on demonstrations and outreach—especially with women and minority farmers—the project aims to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff while building stronger, more resilient farming communities.

VSN has supported the Coon Creek Community Watershed Council by helping develop a 9 Key Element Watershed Plan and advancing farmer-led conservation efforts in the region. This work also includes leadership training, water quality monitoring, and expanded stewardship practices to protect Coon Creek and surrounding watersheds.

Using conservation marketing, an innovative approach being used in this geography, to engage landowners willing to adopt agricultural BMPs (Best Management Practices).

The Vermillion River project brings together MN DNR, FMR, and HAFA to restore a degraded metro trout stream through invasive removal, prairie and wetland restoration, scientific monitoring, and community engagement—creating a model for collaborative, watershed‑scale conservation.

A stark difference between the upper and lower part of the watershed forces this group to think outside the box and pursue two major approaches.

Conservation drainage practices have been a critical component of statewide efforts in Illinois.

Land Stewardship Project’s Bridge to Soil Health program is scaling-up the number of crop & livestock farmers who are restoring soil and talking publicly about resulting financial and environmental benefits.

Farmers, Izaak Walton League, agencies and ag service providers are advancing farming systems to restore soil health in Minnesota, including education, events, forums, interviews, workshops, tours and demonstration plots.

Farmers, UM-Mankato Water Resources Center and Waseca SWCD are advancing soil health and cover crop adoption in Le Sueur River Watershed including funds, mentoring and technical advice.

Farmers, Great River Greening and Nicollet SWCD are hosting field days, community events, demonstrations and discussions to advance cover crops, crop rotation and data collection showing results of conservation practices.

Farmers, Clean River Partners, Rice SWCD, St. Olaf College, MPCA, Minnesota DNR and McKnight Foundation are expanding cover cropping in Heath, Rice and Wolf Creek watersheds, including farmer-to-farmer and farmer-to-student learning.

Farmers, The Wetlands Initiative, NRCS, USFWS, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Illinois Corn Growers, University of Illinois, McKnight Foundation and others are advancing use of small tile-treatment wetlands on row-crop farms.

Across Southwest Wisconsin, farmers and landowners are coming together to protect clean water, healthy soil, and thriving communities. Through farmer-led watershed councils, prairie plantings, and hands-on education, this growing movement is restoring the land—one field, one stream, and one conversation at a time.

Farmers, Iowa Soybean Association and Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development are implementing relay cropping and replicated strip trials to evaluate for yield and environmental impact, and facilitating dialogue among farmers.

Farmers, Mower SWCD, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, a consultant and others in Root River Field to Stream Partnership are demonstrating and communicating about Prairie Strips on 10-20 targeted sites.

Farmers, landowners, Monroe County Land Conservation and Trout Unlimited are innovating to monitor effectiveness of streambank restoration practices before and after storms, to enhance floodplains, flow regimes and connectivity.

Farmers are planting cover crops for 3 consecutive years and Clean River Partners, St. Olaf College and Minnesota DNR are coordinating, monitoring and conducting a fish count to show impacts.

New farmer-led watershed councils are forming across Southwest Wisconsin, empowering local land stewards to lead conservation efforts and improve water quality from the ground up.

Farmers are planting cover crops on 1,000 of 3,469 tillable acres in Rice Creek watershed for 3 consecutive years. Monitoring and a fish count will show impacts.

A collaborative effort between farmers, conservationists, and state agencies restored over a mile of Tainter Creek, reducing erosion, improving trout habitat, and inspiring community-led conservation across Wisconsin’s Driftless Area.

Building on extensive county-wide planning, Jo-Daviess Soil and Water Health Coalition farmers and local partners are hosting workshops and facilitated discussions to establish consensus and active participation in watershed restoration.

Farmers, Shoal Creek Woodlands for Wildlife Partnership and Ozark Land Trust are implementing a Marketing Action Plan to increase infiltration, improve stream channel habitat and reduce sediment and nutrient loading.

Missouri Department of Conservation, NRCS and others are providing technical and cost share assistance to Peno Creek Cooperative Partnership for watering systems, riparian corridor tree plantings, stream fencing and stream crossings.

This project established Wisconsin’s first prairie STRIPS demonstration sites, reducing runoff and improving fish habitat while empowering farmers to lead conservation across 14 sites in the Kickapoo region.

Farmers, USFS, USFWS, Partners for Fish & Wildlife, Illinois Department of Agriculture and Union SWCD are stabilizing streambanks, constructing riparian buffers and enhancing habitat for fish and mussel species of concern.

Farmers and Missouri Department of Conservation are installing alternative water systems, riparian fencing and reinforced stream crossings, restoring riparian corridors, developing managed grazing plans and planting cover crops to improve fish habitat.

Root River Field to Stream Partnership farmers, MN Department of Agriculture, county agencies, TNC, MN Ag Water Resources Center and MN DNR are evaluating nutrient and sediment loss and conservation effectiveness with field-edge and in-stream monitoring.

Seven Mile Creek Watershed Partnership (farmers, Great River Greening, Nicollet SWCD and NRCS) is installing water storage systems and bioreactors to reduce ravine erosion, sedimentation and nutrient runoff to the creek.

Multiple partners turned watershed data into action—engaging landowners, restoring habitat, and protecting over 14,000 acres in this Wisconsin watershed through sustainable, community-led conservation.

Landowners and US Forest Service are enhancing wetlands in swale and ridge topography and increasing water holding capability in an oxbow lake/button bush marsh along Big Muddy River.

Missouri Department of Conservation, NRCS and others are providing technical and cost share assistance to Peno Creek Cooperative Partnership for watering systems, riparian corridor tree plantings, stream fencing and stream crossings.

Across a five-state region, the Missouri Department of Conservation is leading landowner engagement workshops for federal, state, county, and NGO partners—building capacity, sharing best practices, and strengthening relationships with landowners to support conservation on the ground.

Farmers and Missouri Department of Conservation are implementing managed grazing to add value to farms and reduce sedimentation, nutrient loading & streambank instability.

A 40-member farmer-led council, two sub-watershed groups, and cover crop program are addressing water quality and fish habitat issues.

Farmers, Nicollet Soil & Water Conservation District, NRCS, Great River Greening and Minnesota DNR are installing sediment control structures and other practices to reduce ravine erosion, sedimentation and nutrient loss.

The Boone River Watershed is a decade‑long conservation success story, where partners have restored more than 60 oxbows, improved water quality, and boosted habitat for the endangered Topeka Shiner. With strong collaboration and national recognition, the project has become a proven model for watershed restoration—one that continues to grow with hundreds of sites still ahead.

In Mitchell County, Iowa, partners restored over 10 miles of stream habitat by removing a low‑head dam that had long blocked fish movement. Led by Iowa DNR, Mitchell County Conservation, and a dedicated landowner, the project improved water quality, reconnected fish passage, and boosted species diversity. The restored stream now supports healthier aquatic life and provides clearer water, more wildlife, and better recreation—showcasing the power of collaboration between agencies and local landowners.