Conservation Professional Training Program

Zoning as a Tool to Protect Groundwater
2022-05-19 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago)
From a simple rezone to complex ordinance updates, learn about the process for updating your zoning ordinance. Take a closer look at how communities are addressing new and emerging land uses, replacing long lists of dated uses with use categories, and incorporating graphics and other user-focused features.
Info here.

Building Native Agriculture Overview and Action Steps
2022-05-19 14:00 - 15:00
The beginning of a webinar series designed to assist individuals and Tribes by sharing proven methods which can be used as building blocks for Indigenous agriculture systems, providing a road map to success.
These presentations are intended to bolster Native farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to engage in production agriculture through a better understanding how food ways, cultures, and needs tie into business plans, which will enhance self-determination and support traditional food systems of Native peoples.
Info here.

2022 County Officials Workshops
2022-05-20
Join the University of Wisconsin-Extension Local Government Education Program and the Wisconsin Counties Association for our County Officials Workshops (COWS), which will be held in person in 2022.
THIS ONE-DAY WORKSHOP is a unique opportunity for both newly elected county government officials and veterans of the county board to learn from experienced educators about best practices and avoiding the pitfalls of governance.
TOPICS INCLUDE

Roles & Responsibilities
Budgeting
Open Meetings Law
Public Records Law
Ethics & Conflicts of Interest
Running Effective Meetings
Agendas & Minutes

Info here.

Opportunities to Accelerate Watershed-Scale Runoff Management: A Law and Policy Perspective
2022-05-20 10:30 - 11:30
Tune in to hear environmental attorney Paul Kent share some of the history of stormwater management from a legal perspective, increasing challenges in this arena, and opportunities for watershed-scale solutions to these issues. Paul will discuss hydrologic restoration and related holistic approaches to managing stormwater and how those changes can be implemented given the current regulatory framework.
Info here.

Life Hacks over Lunch: A Meet-up Series for Watershed Professionals
2022-05-20 11:30 - 12:30
This free, virtual meet-up series is a peer-learning opportunity for watershed professionals to share ideas and advice for solving real-life challenges of watershed projects.
If you work with farmers and communities on watershed-scale projects to improve water quality and have ever found yourself thinking, “I don’t want to recreate the wheel,” this meet-up series is for you.
In each meet-up, one person will kick things off by presenting a challenge or issue to the group to “hack.” Conversation, collaboration, and commiseration will ensue.
Info here.

West Central Spring Conservation Gathering
2022-05-20 13:00 - 17:00
Building healthy soil amidst an increasingly challenging environment remains a high priority for women landowners in Wisconsin. Join fellow women landowners, farmers and conservationists along with local experts, to delve into climate-smart practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate the impacts of climate change, while building resilience to strengthen your operation.
Info here.

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Workshop
2022-05-21
Do you live by a stream or river? Looking for a way to protect streams near you? Become a volunteer stream monitor with the Rock River Coalition! From May to October, our 180+ stream monitors collect data vital to understanding the health of our streams across the Rock River Basin. By the end of this workshop, you’ll know how to measure water quality and be ready to adopt your own stream monitoring site. No experience is needed!
Info here.

Greg Judy Grazing School
2022-05-21
Greg Judy Grazing School, we will be hosting a classroom presentation portion at the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County Campus (1006 Connie Rd, Baraboo) in the Giese Lecture Hall (Room A001) and then heading out to Echo-Y Farm for the afternoon for a pasture walk portion with Greg Judy
Info here.

Dragonfly Monitoring Virtual Training
2022-05-21 09:30 - 11:00
The Arboretum relies on volunteers to help survey dragonfly diversity and habitat quality. Gain the knowledge and skills needed to participate in this citizen science project and monitor dragonflies in your community. Training participants will learn to identify common dragonfly species, conduct surveys, and record and submit data. No experience needed.
Info here.

Citizen Science Association Conference
2022-05-23 - 2022-05-26
This now-annual event connects researchers, practitioners, community members, and others to share research, experiences, ideas, and innovations. Regional events will complement a core central program, providing opportunities to connect with big ideas online and also build or strengthen connections close to home.
Info here.

Wildlife Habitat Planting (CPS 420)
2022-05-23 13:00 - 14:00
Join Jeff Kalin, NRCS Wildlife Biologist, and Karin Jokela, Xerces Society Pollinator Planner and Partner Biologist, for a Tech Talk on the new Wildlife Habitat Planting practice (CPS 420). In this session, we will discuss:

The rationale for a wildlife specific conservation practice standard
Key differences between Wildlife Habitat Planting (420) and Conservation Cover (327)
Wildlife WHEGs
Implementation requirements
Plant selection to support wildlife

Info here.

Soil Health Learning Circles (Bilingual) - Soil Health Practices for Vegetable Producers
2022-05-23 18:00 - 19:00
Please join us this spring for Soil Health Virtual Learning Circles featuring presenters on soil health and soil conservation topics for your farm. The six one-hour Learning Circles will be done via video conferencing and taught in English and Spanish.
Info here.

Tracking the Golden-winged Warbler
2022-05-23 19:00 - 20:00
Birds in North America are facing considerable population decline, with over half of all species declining in the past half-century. This is particularly true for the Golden-winged Warbler, a neotropical songbird that has experienced over a 70% population decline since 1966. Due to their imperiled status, they are currently being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. To better understand drivers behind their population decline, and to aid in giving an informed listing decision, we have initiated a range-wide collaborative effort to assess annual survival of both males and (the more elusive) females through the use of radio telemetry. Join Emily Filiberti, a Master’s candidate at the University of Maine, to learn more about her contribution to this widespread effort through deploying and tracking these NanoTags on Golden-winged Warblers in Oneida County.
Info here.

Grasses, Sedges & Rushes
2022-05-24 - 2022-05-26
This workshop introduces participants to the basics of identification of grasses, sedges, and rushes; three graminoid families with species commonly found growing in wetlands and adjacent uplands. Lectures on taxonomy, plant structure and use of appropriate plant keys for identification are provided with a mixture of lab and field work.
Info here.

Invasive Plant Identification Workshop
2022-05-24 10:00 - 14:00
Learn how to:

Identify common and new invasive plants in WI
Report and map invasive plants with EDDMapS
Use resources to plan effective management

Info here.

Great River Graziers/Kickapoo Grazing Initiative pasture walk
2022-05-24 10:30 - 11:30
Grazing of sheep on clover, orchard grass, forage chicory. Beginning EQUIP project to include rotational grazing fencing and annual forages to control Canada thistle

Info here.

Integrating Water Quality Management and Natural Hazard Resilience through Nature Based Solutions
2022-05-24 12:00 - 14:00
Water quality management and natural hazards such as flood, drought, wildfire, etc. can be closely related, and natural hazards can have major impacts on water resources – both in terms of quality and quantity. When implemented strategically, nature-based practices can create co-benefits by improving water quality and increasing community resilience to hazards. Understanding these co-benefits can be useful in leveraging resources, expertise, and funding across different programs and agencies.
This webinar features professionals from across the country that are conducting projects that promote both water quality and hazard resilience. Speakers will discuss a variety work, including urban green infrastructure and large-scale floodplain restoration projects that address water quality and flood concerns, as well as research on how communities can integrate nature-based practices into their planning and resource management. Speakers will discuss partnerships they have built across agencies and organizations, and the creative funding strategies that have been used to support this work.
Info here.

Coastal Workshop
2022-05-24 12:00 - 16:00, 2022-05-25 10:00 - 15:00
FEMA has been preparing coastal flood hazard analyses for the Great Lakes coasts for several years. As a result, Flood Insurance Studies and Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan and Lake Superior coastal counties will be revised to include the new analyses over the next few years.
Most coastal counties on Lake Michigan have already begun the regulatory phase of the process. Local floodplain management regulations will need to be updated to reference the revised data and to include additional minimum floodplain management standards that meet the National Flood Insurance Program minimum criteria for affected communities to continue participating.
Local floodplain management officials will need to become familiar with the new types of data, the new regulations and the implications for development regulation, hazard mitigation and insurance in the affected areas. Understanding the rules and the potential financial outcomes of development decisions will help local officials counsel property owners, developers and consultants considering construction and reconstruction of facilities in coastal areas in Wisconsin.
This seminar will provide an overview of the National Flood Insurance Program’s approach to identifying and describing Great Lakes coastal hazards. It will also show how to find the needed data for development regulation in coastal hazard areas and explain the National Flood Insurance Program floodplain management standards for coastal hazard areas in detail. In addition, the seminar will include content regarding the redesigned Flood Insurance rating system, known as “Risk Rating 2.0,” with a focus on how the new rating methodology might be viewed by stakeholders making decisions about development in coastal areas.
Local officials from affected communities should attend, including those who may have attended earlier versions of this seminar given in June 2018. We also encourage other stakeholders interested or involved in regulation or design and construction in coastal areas of Wisconsin to attend.
The approximate length is 3.5 hours. The session will be led by Frank Shockey, Senior NFIP Specialist, FEMA Region 5. Please RSVP to Frank Shockey (Frank.Shockey@fema.dhs.gov) or Brian Cunningham (brian.cunningham@wisconsin.gov) if planning to attend.

Spread and Distribution of Invasive Plants
2022-05-24 13:00 - 14:00
John Madsen, Research Biologist at the Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Unit in Albany, CA
Info here.

Can We Grow Crops and Monarchs?
2022-05-24 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar examines recent research that simulates population outcomes for different habitat establishment scenarios and insecticide use patterns on agricultural lands. Join us to learn more about the results, which are hopeful for monarchs.
Info here.

Moving Rural Communities FORWARD: Future Opportunities for Rural Workforce and Rural Development Through Extension
2022-05-24 14:00 - 15:00
In this webinar you will learn about the FORWARD project, including ways that Cooperative Extension professionals will identify and address the needs of low-income workers and employers in rural communities. You’ll hear how three pilot models are working in the rural communities of Oregon, Arkansas, and Indiana, leveraging extension to build capacity to engage community stakeholders and use local data to design career pathways that provide low-income rural worker-learners with skills needed to obtain and succeed in local, in-demand jobs that provide a path to social and economic mobility.
This project offers the potential for leverage and sustainable impact because it focuses on building capacity for Cooperative Extension to collaborate with their communities to address the workforce issues facing lo-resource rural communities – a high priority!
Info here.

Clean ‘Green’
2022-05-25 04:30 - 17:30
Traditional cleaning products contain chemicals that can be harmful to humans, animals, and your home environment. Learn how to make ‘green’ cleaning products by using safe ingredients in your home and save money too. Recipes included in this presentation.
Info here.

Introduction to Insects in the Garden
2022-05-25 09:00 - 11:00
Insects are an extremely diverse and critically important group of animals. In this class, PJ Liesch, Director of the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab will discuss the basic anatomy, physiology, and ecology of these creatures and take a brief look at the main groups of insects. This will help you in identifying insects in your garden, knowing beneficial predator insects from plant-eaters, identifying and supporting pollinators and understanding management techniques. (Speaker PJ Liesch). A lab session in the Teaching Garden will follow.
Info here.

Co-Existing and Making Farms Safe for Birds
2022-05-25 13:00 - 14:00
The Role of Birds on the Farm Course: Lesson 6 – Co-Existing and Making Farms Safe for Birds
Upon successfully completing this lesson, participants will be able to:

Explain livestock situations that are bigger or smaller risks of being sources of pathogens for birds, which could then be deposited on food.
Give reasons why birds are likely to be a lower food safety risk when farms are in areas with abundant natural habitat.
Evaluate farm situations (telephone wires, etc.) where birds are more likely to cause contamination.
Share reasons why habitats like hedgerows do not have a greater risk of food borne. pathogens than the crop itself.
Appraise circumstances in which farms may cause harm to birds (pesticides and predators).

Info here.

Restoration Success: Linking Social and Ecological Metrics
2022-05-25 13:00 - 14:00
Understanding why habitat restoration is, or isn’t, viewed as successful is a critical piece of evaluating completed projects and garnering support for future projects. Ecological measures alone may not fully describe the success or shortcomings of restoration projects, and public perceptions of success may be based on an entirely different set of metrics. In fact, restoration metrics rarely include human dimensions even though community support for restoration can make or break potential future projects, and affect long-term success of completed ones.
Using South Slough NERR (Oregon) and other restoration projects in the region as case studies, this project deployed a three-pronged approach to understand and improve estuarine restoration outcomes, which includes synthesis of long-term monitoring data, comparisons between manager and public perceptions, and interviews to understand efficacy of ecological metrics. In this webinar, the project team will talk about their approach to understanding restoration success, summarize their findings on the values and perceptions associated with estuarine restoration, and share recommendations for including social and ecological metrics in future restoration projects.
Info here.

Equity in Outdoor Education & Environmental Justice
2022-05-25 16:00 - 17:00
Introducing Outdoor Learning: a four-part webinar series, with appearances from the US Department of Education and in collaboration with a consortium of leading national organizations, including Big Green, Ecorise, Green Schoolyards America, Out Teach, and FreshFarm Foodprints.
The US Department of Education supports the use of outside facilities to enrich the educational experience and support the mental and physical health of students. Federal ESSER Funds made available through the American Rescue Plan Act offer a great opportunity to invest in quality outdoor education infrastructure, training, staff and other resources.
Info here.

Making Riparian Forest Buffers Work for You
2022-05-26 10:00 - 11:00
Riparian forest buffers are combinations of trees and shrubs designed to mitigate the impacts of land use on a water feature. These areas are connections between aquatic and upland habitats for wildlife and can also serve as linear connections to other habitat areas along the water feature. Agroforestry can be part of this system. This webinar will go over NRCS criteria and guidance for applying this practice. 1 Society of American Foresters (SAF) CEU will be offered.
You will receive a confirmation email upon successfully registering. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org for registration assistance.
Register here.

Invasive Plant Introduction
2022-05-26 18:00 - 20:30
Join us for an informative workshop to learn skills to identify the most common invasive plants and noxious weeds, including those which pose a risk to your health and safety.
Created with input from experts with years of experience working in the field identifying plants, this 2.5 hour webinar will discuss plants that pose the greatest risk to human and animal health, and threaten our ecosystems and biodiversity. It will include a basic introduction to plant anatomy and how to apply these skills to identify invasive plants, as well as noxious weed that you may encounter while you work in the field this spring and summer.
This workshop will be delivered via our interactive virtual learning platform and will include opportunities to chat and network with others in the program.
Info here.

Festival of Nature
2022-05-27
Celebrating the natural beauty of the Door Peninsula. Events go from Memorial Day Weekend through August.
Info here.
