We’re lucky to live in a place where natural beauty takes so many forms. Restored wetlands, meandering trout streams, sparkling lakes, and quiet woods are all within reach. Local trails invite adventure. There’s something alive and changing around every corner.
Long before any of us arrived, the Ho-Chunk Nation and other Indigenous peoples cared for these places with respect and balance. We continue to learn from their example today.
For 42 years, people who care deeply about this area have helped Groundswell Conservancy protect the lands and waters we love. These special places will continue to inspire us all because they’re protected forever.
Please give today to keep the momentum going.
Gray-headed coneflowers at Patrick Marsh Conservancy | Photo by Tony Abate
South-central Wisconsin is one of the most naturally and culturally rich areas in the Midwest. Tall bluffs rising above winding river valleys. Wetlands shimmering with birdlife. Prairies blanketing hillsides with ever-changing colors. Forests sheltering local wildlife. Farms spread like quilts made over generations.
Early conservation heroes, thoughtful landowners, and generous supporters have all helped keep it this way.
This past year has been extraordinary. The Groundswell community helped protect unique places—each one an example of the lands and waters that make our region so special. These include:
- wetlands added to the Lake Mills Wildlife Area, improving wildlife habitat and water quality while expanding public access for year-round activities.
- wetlands and rewilded farmland along the Yahara River, our first partnership with the Town of Dunkirk’s Rural Preservation Program.
- rich farmlands in the Town of Dunn, making sure some of the best soils in the country will always be available to grow food in the future!
Whether you’ve been part of this effort for years, or you’re just joining us now, your commitment matters. You can help build on this incredible progress.
Picking tomatoes at Westport Farm | Photo by Ben Lam
We have the chance—and the responsibility—to keep going. As development pressures mount and our population grows, so does the urgency to protect what makes this part of the Midwest feel like home.
Looking ahead to 2026, you can help advance conservation where we live. Your support will:
- improve water quality and public access, and enhance farmland and watershed protections in the Black Earth Creek valley.
- preserve the agricultural character and fertile soils of the region for future generations of landowners.
- enhance public access to and restore habitat at Westport Prairie, converting more farmland to prairie and creating a welcoming trails and signage plan.
- support HMoob (Hmong) farmers at Westport Farm by providing more accessible services and facilities—like soil health improvements and high tunnels for over-winter planting.
- develop a sustainable buy-protect-sell model to help emerging, new American, and other farmers find affordable land that will be available for future generations.
And we expect to close on our largest project ever—a partnership with Ducks Unlimited to protect 3 square miles of high-quality wildlife habitat along the Sugar River.
This land will become part of Avon Bottoms Wildlife Area in Rock County. Expect more opportunities for outdoor recreation, and lasting protection for wildlife and clean water.
More landowners and communities are thinking about their land’s future—and reaching out for our help. The time for us all to act is now.
Your gift today will allow us to move quickly to protect more places, care for the lands we’ve already conserved, and ensure that everyone has access to nature.
Your contribution—whether it’s $50, $500, or $5,000—is an investment in our shared home.
Harvesting rice at the Lifting Hearts Therapy Garden | Photo by Ben Lam
Because of your generosity, we’re not only preserving land—we’re building a future where wildlife thrives, family farms remain farms, and everyone can experience the joy and peace that nature brings.
With your partnership, we can ensure that these special places continue to flourish for generations to come.
Every day we act, we protect more. And every day we wait, we risk missing opportunities to conserve what we love.
Thank you for standing with Groundswell Conservancy—for your generosity, your vision, and your belief that our land, water, and wildlife are worth protecting forever.