Sheboygan County Planning & Conservation

Coming soon to a county boat landing or park near you!

Our department was recently given 16 wooden bat houses made by the students from the Kettle Moraine/Milwaukee Circle Homeschool group. They worked hard building them and also learned why it is so important to help the bats of Wisconsin. We can't wait to see if these boxes get some helpful new tenants. 😀

Did you know: Bats are some of the most fascinating and ecologically important animals in the world. However they are also one of the most misunderstood groups of animals in the world, which has led to many irrational fears and myths about bats.
Bats are mammals—they give live birth and nurse their young—however, they are not rodents as many people believe. Bats are known for their voracious appetites; a single bat can eat thousands of insects every night. With appetites like these, bats are an important form of natural pest control. It has been estimated that bats save farmers in the southwestern United States hundreds of millions of dollars in reduced pesticide use every year

Info taken from the Wisconsin Bat Program from WI DNR document:
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/Bats

To help gain a better understanding of local bicyclists' experiences in our community, we would greatly appreciate your help. Please fill out the survey located here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BFC_2024
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Snapshot Day is fast approaching! There's still time to register as a volunteer to help monitor Sheboygan County's lakes and rivers for invasive species!

This FREE event is open to all ages (minors must be accompanied by an adult). Volunteers will gather at Maywood for a short training session before being assigned to various locations across the county for monitoring. We will reconvene at 12:30 at Maywood to collect data sheets and review our findings!

Please consider joining us for this fun event! If you're passionate about our lakes and rivers, this is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to their preservation and accessibility for everyone!

For more information or to register for Snapshot Day, please visit https://wateractionvolunteers.org/events/ or contact Katie Hanson in our office at [email protected] or 920-459-1375.

Sheboygan County is home to numerous wonderful farmers markets!

Today we are highlighting a newly revamped market in Plymouth. This market is under new management and in a completely new location! The "Plymouth Farmers' Market" will now be held at Stayer Park on Thursday nights from 3pm-6pm. Be sure to stop out and support our local agriculture!"

Farmers and vendors - interested in how we can work with you to implement conservation on your agricultural land? Give us a call!

Here are other farmers markets we are aware of in Sheboygan County:
SCIO Summer Market: https://www.sheboygancountyinterfaith.org/farmers-market/
Elkhart Lake Farmers and Artisans Market: https://www.elkhartlakechamber.com/farmers-market
Solu Estate Farmers Market and Craft Fair: https://visitsheboygan.com/event/solu-estate-farmers-market-and-craft-fair/304/
Random Lake Farmers Market

Going beyond the county? Use farmfreshatlas.org to find farmers markets and farm stores in Wisconsin!

Conservation(noun): a careful preservation and protection of something, especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.

Did you know??
This week is Wisconsin Women in Conservation week!
Join us in celebrating all of the incredible women who are following their passion to make this world a better place! Pictured are three of our own fantastic staff in action; Laura, Katie, and Sharon 🙂

Every one of us can make a difference in the health of our natural resources and communities through knowledge, understanding and kindness. 🌎

The Sheboygan Interurban Trail will be closed today and tomorrow for maintenance (July 9th and 10th). We anticipate to be able to re-open it on Thursday. Alternate routes will need to be used at this time; please do not attempt to enter the trail.

For more information on our Interurban Trail please visit: https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-f-q/planning-and-conservation/facilities/trails/interurban-trail

Our department is taking part in this year's Great Lakes Landing Blitz! Find us at public boat launches, grab a sticker for your boat/trailer, and learn the importance of inspecting, removing, and draining your boat & equipment.

Don't forget that a Sheboygan County parking/launch permit is needed to use any of the 6 launches maintained by the county!

Happy boating!

Get ready to make a difference on Wisconsin's waters!

The Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz starts June 26 and goes through July 6.

During this time, boaters will be greeted at landings and access points by volunteers and regional aquatic invasive species prevention partners sharing the simple but powerful message: You can protect your favorite lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species impacts.

By taking a few minutes to inspect your boat, remove any attached plant material or mud, and drain your livewell or bait bucket, you can help stop the spread of invasives.

Look for volunteers across the state during the blitz to learn more about how you can make a difference.

Photo Credit: Jeanne Scherer

Happy National Pollinator Week! 🦋🐝🌻

New this year, we now offer a native planting program to help support soil health, water quality & create habitat for pollinators on your property! If you are interested in helping our local pollinators thrive and are thinking of upgrading your property please consider planting native plants. Call us for more information. 920-459-1370.

Check out this handy chart put out by the UW Madison extension that lays out bloom time by native plant species.

We also recommend this publication by the Xerces Society:
https://xerces.org/publications/plant-lists/native-plants-for-pollinators-and-beneficial-insects-great-lakes

🌱 Step into Soil Health Through Conservation and Innovation Field Day 🌱
Join us for an exciting day of learning and discovery! 🌾🚜
🚁 – Trevor Wittmus from Poplar Farms LLC will showcase corn interseeding using a drone. Don’t miss this cutting-edge technology in action! 🌽 Comments by Zak Kennke, Libertyland Farms.
🌱 –Adam Kolb, Seven Rivers Soil Cooperative Agronomist, and Steven Orthland, Seven Rivers Soil Cooperative Farmer, will share their experiences adapting no-till corn planting paired with cover crops and low disturbance manure. Bring your questions for a lively Q&A session! 🗣️
🌮 – Lunch - Grab a bite to eat while continuing the discussions.
📋 - Register by June 20th – Free to attend, but please register so we can plan accordingly. https://go.wisc.edu/june27register
📍 Location: Libertyland Farms & Orthland Dairy
🚗 Directions to Parking Area: https://go.wisc.edu/june27
📅 Date: June 27 🕒 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Spread the word! 🌱🌎

This Friday and Saturday!!
Two chances to safely dispose of your household hazardous waste🙂
For more details please visit our website:
https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-f-q/planning-and-conservation/programs-associations/household-hazardous-waste

Snapshot Day registration is OPEN! Please join our department as we host this free event to help protect our county's waters! Register at the link provided below. We can't wait to see you!

Registration for AIS Snapshot Day is now open! Join us on August 10th, 2024 for this free, statewide effort to protect Wisconsin's waters from aquatic invasive species.

Register through this Google form: https://forms.gle/xTocynrsw2MMnZYCA

Or, for more details, check out the event webpage here:
https://wateractionvolunteers.org/event-page/aquatic-invasive-species-snapshot-day-2024/

Hats off to the Sheboygan River Progressive Farmers for another fantastic year of promoting & successfully demonstrating effective conservation practices in our area. Keep up the good work!

The Drain Campaign May 31 - June 2 is here! Draining boats, livewells and fishing buckets at the boat launch before leaving, helps us prevent the spread of disease and invasive species to Wisconsin waters. Using minnows? If you will continue to use them at the same location, you do not need to drain the minnow bucket. As long as you do not add any lake or river water to their bucket, you can take them to another location.

Breakfast on the Farm is a great family event! Just over two weeks away; be sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time! 🐄🧀🥛🍦🌻🍳🚜👨‍🔧

Breakfast on the Farm is only 18 days away! There is still plenty of time to purchase advance tickets on our website which will save you time on the big day!

Join our friends at the Sheboygan County Conservation Association for this awesome free event happening this Saturday. 🌳🚣‍♂️🎣🌞

It's getting CLOSE!!!!!
The 2024 Sheboygan County Conservation Association Free Fishing and Outdoor Activity Day is right around the corner! This year it's June 1st!
Come on down to the Sheboygan Falls Lagoon for FREE Fishing (rods, bait and equipment is all supplied FREE)...you don't even need a Fishing License!!!!
The Sheboygan County Conservation Association is stocking the Lagoon with 800 lbs of Trout. Keep what you catch or release if you'd like. We'll even have volunteers on site to clean and cook it for you if you choose (also FREEE)
So many fun activities for the kids (and kids at heart), such as trying your hand at bowfishing, Pellet Gun shooting, Archery, canoeing and much more.....did I mention is ALL FREEE?
If you've never attended, YOU NEED TO!!!!

Heading out on the water this Memorial Day weekend?

Protect our water from aquatic invasive species by remembering these steps!

Many thanks to the Plymouth Pumas Select Fastpitch team and family members!

Mark your calendars!
You will have two chances to safely dispose of your household hazardous waste next month!
For details on this event please visit:
https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-f-q/planning-and-conservation/programs-associations/household-hazardous-waste

Mark your calendars!

Sheboygan County Planning & Conservation will be hosting Snapshot Day again this August! This is a great event to "get your feet wet" with aquatic invasive species monitoring. Join us for a half day of training and sampling in our lakes and rivers.

The event is free and open to everyone!
Look for more information as the event approaches. Contact Katie Hanson in our office with any questions.

Registration for Wisconsin Land and Water High School and Middle School Summer Camp is open until May 17th!
There is still time to enroll your kids for some fun filled adventures!😀🌳🚣🏞🏊🤸☀️

We will be selling our extra trees at 9am this morning. Stop by the tent from 9 till noon today. First come first serve!

Red cedars have arrived!!! If you were called to wait to get your order you are now free and clear to swing by anytime to grab your orders. Thank you!

Today is the day!
Tree sale pick up day is finally here! We are ready for you 😃
Happy Planting 🌳🌲🌳🌲

Come see Laura and Katie this Saturday at the Random Lake Conservation Fair!
Learn about our annual tree sale, our efforts to stop aquatic invasive species, and more that we do here at Sheboygan County Planning and Conservation Department. 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/UCKFCdT6j8gj9DdM/?mibextid=oFDknk

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!! April 20th from 11am to 3pm at Random Lake High School.

Tree Sale pick up is drawing near!

We are so excited to start the prepping process for filling your orders! 😀

Pick up notices were sent out in the mail last week along with the printed copy of your order. Please make sure to bring these with you when you come to pick up your trees. 🌲🌳🌲🌳

📢 PLEASE REMEMBER TO WATCH OUR FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM PAGES FOR UPDATES!

It’s no secret that planting cover crops can provide numerous benefits. This week’s snow and rainfall helps to illustrate one of those benefits -prevention of soil erosion.

Highlighted below are photos of two fields in Sheboygan County. These photos were taken on the same day and road, only minutes apart. The difference: The field on the left was recently tilled and left bare, while the one on the right is planted with a cover crop.

Notice the color of the water running off the tilled field. Fields subject to conventional tilling are more susceptible to soil erosion, evident in the amount of soil in the water. The water from the field growing a cover crop, however, has far less sediment in it - meaning more soil is staying on the field where it belongs.

If you have any questions regarding cover crops or soil erosion, contact the conservation department at (920) 459-1370.

📢Reminder📢

Our Household Hazardous Waste Collection is this Saturday!

For more information visit:
https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-f-q/planning-and-conservation/programs-associations/household-hazardous-waste/-fsiteid-1 #!/

The Wisconsin Invasive Species Council is still accepting feedback related to their proposed revisions to Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Identification, Classification, and Control Rule (Chapter NR 40, Wis. Adm. Code). You can watch recordings of the Council’s presentations, find full lists of species along with proposed classifications, review slide shows, and fill out the feedback survey by visiting the council website at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/invasives/InvasiveSpeciesCouncil. Feedback will continue to be accepted until April 5th.
If you have questions, please reach out to Mackenzie Manicki (WDNR) at [email protected] or 608-206-4561.
Photo: Yellow floating heart (Amanda Smith)

Mudsnails are not currently known to be in Sheboygan County, and let's try to keep it that way!

Remember to follow CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY to protect our County's waterways from invasive aquatic hitchhikers.

CLEAN off visible aquatic plants, animals, and mud from all equipment before leaving water access

DRAIN watercraft bilge, livewell, motor and other water containing devices before leaving water access.

DRY everything for at least five days OR wipe with a towel before reuse.

Picture a grain of rice. Maybe smaller—that’s the size of a New Zealand mudsnail. These minuscule creatures are like junk food for fish, breed rapidly, and hitchhike on gear like boots, waders to kayaks.

Prevent their invasion into local streams with tips on Wisconsin Trout Unlimited’s website, courtesy of Ellen Voss, River Alliance of Wisconsin’s Climate Resilience Director: https://wicouncil.tu.org/blog-posts/updated-decontamination-guidance-for-new-zealand-mudsnails