Climate Resilience Toolkit

County conservation departments are on the front lines of responding to the impacts of climate change on our natural resources, yet many existing tools and data sources aren't designed with local planning in mind. The Climate Resilience Toolkit was created to meet that need—translating broad climate information into a usable, Wisconsin-specific resource that supports local decision-making and helps conservation staff connect climate impacts to the landscapes they manage.

View the Toolkit

Why Climate Resilience Matters for Wisconsin

Wisconsin is experiencing significant climate changes that are impacting communities statewide. Since the 1950s, our state has become approximately 3°F warmer, with precipitation increasing by 17% (about 5 inches). Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and the last two decades have been the warmest on record while the past decade has been the wettest.

Built for Wisconsin Conservation Professionals

This toolkit is designed primarily for county conservation staff working on their 10-year Land and Water Resource Management Plans, but its flexible structure makes it useful for a wide range of conservation and natural resource professionals. Whether you're updating an existing plan or developing new conservation strategies, it provides the data, tools, and framework needed to identify practical steps that strengthen the resilience of land and water resources over time.

Two Ways to Get Started

Download the Complete Toolkit
Get the full 30-page guide with detailed explanations of all climate data tools, comprehensive planning framework, and extensive resource lists. Look for the download arrow at the bottom right of the screen reader to save a PDF.

Download Just the Workbook Pages
Access the practical planning worksheets (pages 21-23) to start applying the climate planning framework immediately with your team.

Complete Toolkit Workbook Pages

What's Inside the Toolkit?

Resource Assessment Tools

Access Wisconsin-specific climate data from trusted sources including WICCI, NOAA, the State Climatology Office, and more. Learn how to interpret historical trends, current conditions, and future projections at the county level.

Climate Planning Framework

Follow a proven three-step process adapted from the Northern Institute of Applied Climate Science:

- Assess climate impacts and vulnerabilities in your area

- Identify climate resilience opportunities within your existing goals

- Select specific adaptation actions that fit your local context

Adaptation Strategies

Explore evidence-based strategies organized by conservation focus areas including agriculture, forestry, water resources, wetlands, shorelines, and wildlife management.

How can the toolkit support your work?

Understand past, present, and future climate trends in your county
Identify climate risks and vulnerabilities in your resource areas
Update goals, objectives, and actions to improve resilience
Access data tools and adaptation strategies specific to: agriculture, forests & agroforestry, wetlands & watersheds, shorelands & wildlife

How can you dive deeper?

The Climate Resilience Toolkit is designed as a streamlined, practical resource to support climate action planning at the county level. It was adapted from the more in-depth NIACS Adaptation Workbook to better meet the needs of local conservation staff. If you're interested in exploring more comprehensive planning processes or tailoring actions in greater detail, we encourage you to check out the full Adaptation Workbook, linked in the resources section below.