In 1997, the State Legislature, through Wisconsin Act 27, amended Chapter 92 of the Wisconsin Statutes, requiring that all counties develop a land and water resource management plan and that they update those plans every five years to remain eligible to receive conservation staff funding and cost-share grant monies.  The locally-led planning process is intended to address each individual county’s unique natural resources, identify particular problems associated with the resource base, and establish a plan to help protect and restore those resources. In addition, the county plans are intended to focus on State nonpoint source pollution performance standards related to agriculture and urban development. The plan development process is intended to encourage innovative programming and leadership and to build local support. The plans identify natural resources and their current condition and limitations, and set forth a strategy that addresses natural resource issues and problems. They also provide a means to educate the public about these issues and problems and include the public in the steps necessary to protect the natural resource base.

SEWRPC has recently worked with Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Racine Counties to prepare updates to their land and water resource management plans. The SEWRPC staff has also served on the committees established for recent updates to the Ozaukee and Walworth County plans.

Milwaukee County Land and Water Resource Management Plan

The current planning effort is the third comprehensive edition of the Milwaukee County Land and Water Resources Management Plan, the second prepared by the Regional Planning Commission, and is intended to serve as a workplan for the County from 2022 to 2031. The plan is intended to identify, prioritize, and address land- and water-related resource conservation issues and concerns in Milwaukee County. The plan is also intended to protect, improve, and restore ecological diversity and quality and promote the beneficial use of the land, water, and related resources found within the County.

The plan establishes goals to guide County and other agency land and water conservation initiatives; provides workplan objectives, planned actions, and strategies to guide and coordinate the activities of various agencies and programs; provides information of conservation funding initiatives from a variety of private, local, State, and Federal sources; and identifies partnerships between agencies, municipalities, and other organizations.

Milwaukee County Final Draft Plan

Ozaukee County Land and Water Resource Management Plan

This plan is the second comprehensive revision of the Ozaukee County Land and Water Resource Management and is intended to serve as a multi-year (2021 – 2030) workplan which will: specifically address implementing State agricultural and nonagricultural nonpoint source water pollution performance standards developed by the Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; identify local land and water resources concerns, issues, and priorities; establish goals and objectives in response to the identified concerns and issues; develop a comprehensive program integrating existing and proposed resource management programs, plans, and funding sources designed to achieve the established goals and objectives; establish partnerships between agencies, municipalities, and other organizations; incorporate an informational and educational strategy in response to the identified concerns and issues; and identify a method to evaluate and monitor progress.

Ozaukee County Final Draft Plan