Advocacy Resources for Our Members
WI Land+Water works with legislators and partner groups to advance our conservation priorities, including budget and legislative bills.
While we have lobbyists and partners that support our goals, there is nothing more effective than our local member conservationists speaking to the importance of conservation priorities in their own words.
Advocating for Conservation Staffing in the State Budget
The Governor's Budget is out and the Committee of Joint Finance will be working to put their fingerprints on it.
NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT
Join us in advocating to secure $20.2 million in base funding for county land and water conservation departments.
Our state elected decision makers need to hear from our members to better understand the role county conservation staff plan in supporting successful farms, protecting our drinking water, and bringing in dollars for their communities.
The State Budget is around a year-long process. We've pulled together this timeline to help identify where we are in the process alongside the opportunities for our members to engage.
Get Involved
We designed this Toolkit with accompanying Budget Action Checklist to help you get started, track, and share your advocacy success!
Get ChecklistGet to Know the Issues
The first step is making sure you are familiar with WI Land+Water's budget priorities. It's important to know our specific requests and the messaging we are using to promote the work of our members and locally led conservation.
Budget Priorities Handout
Download the one-pager that explains our 2025-2027 State Budget Priorities. Be sure to share this with your county lobbyist.
Our Policy Priorities
Learn more about how we set our current policy priorities. If you'd like to know more, please reach out to Matt.
Attend a Leg/Admin Meeting
We work through our Leg/Admin committee to set our priorities and take strategic action.
Engage with Your Representatives
Building relationships with elected officials is key to advancing our conservation priorities. We encourage you to call your representatives early and often. We want them to be familiar with our work and understand the value of our people so they can better consider our budget requests. Here are some ways you can connect with your legislators.
Share Your Top Three
Share your county's top priorities with this customizable template to spotlight your initiatives. Reach out to Communications Director, Kristin, if you need help with Canva!
Organize a Visit
Hosting an elected official can be easy! We're here to help and this how-to guide provides step-by-step instructions.
Meet & Make Your Ask
We developed a customizable script, and provide tips for meeting with your legislators.
Show Your Support
You can also show your public support for locally led conservation through these steps.
Attend a Listening Session
Speak up publicly in support of conservation staff at JFC meetings, committees, or with your local rep. Join an email list for session updates.
Pass a Resolution
Download this template to show your county support for fully funding conservation.
Write an Op-Ed
Show your support by writing an op-ed for your local paper. Use these customizable templates for inspiration.
Keep us updated on your advocacy efforts
Feedback is vital to our effort. Let us know how you've engaged, who you talked to, how it went, and if there are more ways we can support you in advocating for county conservation.
State Budget & Advocacy FAQs
The Committee on Joint Finance is a 16-member committee made up of 8 State Senate members, 8 State Assembly members; 12 are Republicans, 4 are Democrats. JFC builds the budget that the Legislature will approve, and will ultimately pass to the Governor for approval (perhaps with modifications).
Learn more about the 2025 Joint Committee On Finance (also called "JFC"), including current members and upcoming hear dates.
In 2025, the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) provides $11,214,400 in county conservation staffing funding, $8,964,100 of which is base funding.
WI Land+Water is requesting $20.2 million in base funding annually, which is the amount county LWCDs requested in 2025, as per 92.14(6)(b).
Successful conservation is based on relationships. Base funding provides counties stability, allowing LWCD staff to build relationships with farmers and landowners to understand their goals, and then leverage additional external funding and resources on landowners' behalf. Base funding also provides counties the certainty to invest non-state dollars in LWCD staff to grow capacity to deliver resources to their community.
WI Land+Water does and will continue to lobby at the state level, but the most effective lobbying is done by local constituents making a direct case to their legislators.
Below you will find list of ways to advocate for your county's needs in the State Budget.
Determine which method suits your county best, and use that as an opportunity to share specific examples of how your LWCD’s work provides value to the residents of the legislative district/county. Show what the state/district/county “gets” out of this investment in conservation. Frame in terms of ROI - return on investment.
Conservation in Action
Lean more about the success conservation projects happening in your county so you can share them with your elected officials.
All of these stories highlight the many ways our members provide technical assistance for their communities.
Supporting Farmers
No one understands the Wisconsin landscape better than farmers. They also understand the value of their county conservation staff.
We asked five Wisconsin farmers to share how they've benefited from working with their county conservation departments. From improved soil health to increased profits, farmers are seeing a range of successes when they partner with conservation staff.
Hear From FarmersProtecting Drinking Water
The Village of Athens in Marathon County has been grappling with a significant environmental challenge: rising levels of nitrates in its municipal drinking water supply. To address this pressing concern, the Marathon County LWCD, in partnership with the Marathon County Health Department, Wisconsin Rural Water Association, and the Village of Athens, developed an innovative approach they call "The Marathon Method."