WHO WE ARE

We are farmers, producers, business owners, landowners, people who live, work, and play here. Membership is free and is open to anyone with a vested interested in the Coon Creek Watershed. Membership offers a voice in protecting and in shaping the future of this historic and beautiful watershed.

CCCWC members at a managed grazing demonstration
CCCWC members at a managed grazing
demonstration (Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
CCCWC members at demonstration about the importance of cover crops
CCCWC members at demonstration about the importance
of cover crops (Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
CCCWC local historian
CCCWC local historian (Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
CCW Meeting
CCCWC members at demonstration of economic and
agricultural value of cover crops (Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)




WHAT WE DO

We make running water walk. Our Vision is a watershed nurtured, cherished and flourishing. Our Mission is to continue the historic legacy of conservation leadership through improving and restoring our soil, water, and air as stewards of the Coon Creek Watershed. We focus on strategies and practices that individuals can implement.

Dam constructed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Dam constructed in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part
of the Nation’s First Watershed Project (Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
Contour strips
Contour strips (Photo courtesy of Danika Wehling)




HOW WE DO THIS

Through planning, education, outreach, demonstrations, and actions on the ground, we encourage everyone to learn about and use sound conservation practices to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and increase infiltration. These practices include using permeable surfaces for patios, walks, driveways, creating rain gardens, using no till, cover crops, strip cropping, contour strips, crop rotation, grass waterways, prairie plantings, buffer strips, terraces, managed grazing, grade stabilization structures. We are funded through grants and Ho-Chunk funding through Vernon County.

Learning about the value of keeping roots in the ground
Learning about the value of keeping roots in the ground
(Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
Learning about strategies and methods to slow the water
Learning about strategies and methods to slow the water
(Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)




WHEN WE MEET

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month. The social hour and light dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. followed by a business meeting and demonstration at 7:00 p.m. The demonstrations focus on conservation information and practices people can employ to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and increase infiltration.

Social hour and meeting to learn about cover crops
Social hour and meeting to learn about cover crops
(Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
Meeting after the social hour at Norskedalen Nature & Heritage <br/> Center Inc.
Meeting after the social hour at Norskedalen Nature & Heritage
Center Inc. (Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)




WHERE WE MEET

While the weather is warmer, we meet at the homes and farms of members to learn about the different conservation practices our friends and neighbors are using to slow the water, to make the running water walk. During the colder months, we move indoors. The meeting locations are also on our Facebook page.

Hayride tour of contour strips and a functioning dam constructed in 1936
Hayride tour of contour strips and a functioning dam
constructed in 1936 (Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
Learning the history and conservation work of the Coon Valley Conservation Club
Learning the history and conservation work of the
Coon Valley Conservation Club (Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)




WHY WE DO THIS

The Coon Creek Community Watershed Council, Inc., (CCCWC, Inc.) began in 2021 as a response to the disastrous and continued flooding in the Coon Creek Watershed. People in the area came together to discuss what we could do to mitigate flooding.

Flood Damage at Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center Inc.
Flood Damage at Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center Inc.
(Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
Flood Damage in the Coon Valley Veterans Memorial Park
Flood Damage in the Coon Valley Veterans Memorial Park
(Photo courtesy of Nancy Wedwick)




ROOTS

To find answers, the group looked to its roots, historically and literally. In its history, the Coon Creek Watershed experienced soil erosion and excessive flooding in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Throughout the Midwest, the erosion became so severe the federal government acted. In 1933, the Coon Creek Watershed became the site of the first large scale conservation demonstration in the nation. Conservation practices were implemented in this watershed and the erosion and flooding decreased significantly. Streams cleared and wildlife returned and flourished.

Roots in the ground
Roots in the ground
(Photo courtesy of Monique Hassman)
Historical roots
Historical roots (Photo courtesy of Nancy Wedwick)

From our roots, we have learned that sound conservation and regenerative practices can mitigate flooding in this area.

Managed grazing pasture
Managed grazing pasture
(Photo Courtesy of Monique Hassman)

We know that together we can make running water walk





CCCWC COLLABORATIONS

La Crosse County
Monroe County
Vernon County
Valley Stewardship Network
Coon Valley Business Association
Coon Valley Conservation Club
Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center Inc.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Greener Pastures
University of Wisconsin-Madison Grasslands 2.0
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Oral History Project
Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Council
Bad Axe Farmer-Led Watershed Council
Rush Creek Watershed Conservation Council