Soil Health & Watershed Groups
Valley Stewardship Network
West Central Wisconsin

Valley Stewardship Network: 25 Years of Community-Led Conservation in Wisconsin
For a quarter of a century, Valley Stewardship Network (VSN) has been at the forefront of grassroots conservation in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. Founded on the belief that healthy watersheds begin with informed and engaged communities, VSN is celebrating 25 years of community-based work to protect and restore land and water through conservation, education, and research.
Working alongside watershed councils, nonprofits, agencies, and universities, VSN provides technical assistance and leadership to implement stewardship practices that protect water quality, stream habitat, and climate resilience. Their approach is deeply collaborative and rooted in local knowledge, empowering communities to take ownership of their environmental future.
Tangible Impact Across the Region 
VSN’s work has already made a measurable difference:
- Supported the formation of five community-led watershed councils, including the Coon Creek Community Watershed Council, Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council, West Fork Neighbors Watershed Council, Bad Axe Watershed Stewards, Kickapoo River Watershed. VNS also helped launch the Hill Country Watershed Alliance, which represents multiple watershed groups all striving for the same outcomes.
- Planted over 70 acres of native prairie STRIPS, which reduce runoff, improve soil health, and support pollinators and wildlife.
- Implemented conservation grazing practices to enhance ecosystem resilience and soil structure.
- Facilitated water quality monitoring at 21 stream sites, building a robust dataset to track environmental change and guide future action.
Through these efforts, VSN is not only restoring landscapes but also strengthening rural economies by linking conservation to economic development, tourisms, and community well-being.
Fishers & Farmers Collaboration with VSN
Fishers & Farmers Partnership has funded six projects in collaboration with Valley Stewardship Network to help with watershed projects in southwestern Wisconsin including:
- Engaging Landowners and Restoring the Kickapoo River Watershed with Capacity Support | Mississippi Valley Conservancy
- The STRIPS Effect: Demonstrating the Power of Prairie to Improve Water Quality and Biodiversity in Wisconsin | Kickapoo River Watershed
- From Erosion to Restoration: the Power of Partnership in Protecting Wisconsin’s Cold-Water Streams | Tainter Creek
- Watershed Leadership in Action: Farmers Unite to Form Councils that Protect Streams, Soil and Community Resilience | VSN, Tainter, West Fork, Bad Axe & Kickapoo Watersheds
- Neighbors for Clean Water: How Local Farmers and Landowners are Restoring Streams and Strengthening Communities | VSN, Kickapoo & Bad Axe Watershed
- A Watershed Council Collaboration: Revitalizing Coon Creek and Building a Regional Model for Conservation Through Partnership | VSN, Coon Creek & Neighboring Watersheds
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Resilient Watersheds
VSN’s future plans are ambitious and inspiring which include:
- Facilitating local watershed planning to guide long-term conservation strategies.
- Expanding prairie acreage through direct planting and landowner engagement.
- Sustaining grassroots leadership by supporting both existing and emerging watershed councils.
- Promoting regenerative agriculture to build soil health and climate resilience.
- Expanding ecological monitoring of water, soil, pollinators, birds, and wildlife to measure the success of conservation practices.
Guiding Principles and Goals
VSN’s mission is grounded in three core goals:
- Promote Best Management Practices that improve water quality, climate resilience, and habitat through outreach and technical support.
- Increase community involvement by growing membership and engaging with a broader network of conservation stakeholders.
- Serve as a regional resource hub, connecting individuals and organizations with the tools, knowledge, and partnerships needed to protect Wisconsin’s natural heritage.
Watershed or Service Area Map
Want to be in this directory?
Fill out and submit this form to our coordinator, who will review it and contact you to confirm details. We look forward to hearing from you!