Program areas at Gathering Waters
Technical training and assistance to land trusts: build the capacity of more than forty Wisconsin land trusts and conservation organizations through one-on-one mentorship and technical assistance, legal services, conferences, and workshops. Gathering Waters works closely with the land trust alliance, a national association of land trusts, to offer training opportunities and support services to Wisconsin land trusts. During 2022 Gathering Waters organized a virtual statewide conference for conservation organizations attended by more than 100 participants. In addition, during 2022 Gathering Waters launched the land conservation law program to provide legal services directly to Wisconsin land trusts. We also held "land trust days," an effort to promote opportunities for nearly 2,000 people to participate in activities organized by Wisconsin's land trusts on land that they have protected.
Policy and government relations: work with decision makers at all levels of government to promote state, local, and federal policies that support the work of land trusts and the conservation of private land. Specifically, Gathering Waters advocates for continuation of funding for the knowles nelson stewardship program, a program of public financial support for the preservation of land in Wisconsin. In 2022, Gathering Waters connected elected officials with their local constituents and worked with lawmakers and the governor to improve how the knowles-nelson stewardship program functions and is administered and advocacted against legislation that would have weakened protections for protected land in Wisconsin.
Education and public outreach: educate the general public, professionals, and landowners about the importance of private land conservation and voluntary tools available to set aside private land for conservation. Gathering Waters maintains an interactive website and publishes paper and electronic newsletters throughout the year. In addition, Gathering Waters gave out annual awards at local events honoring significant contributions made by leaders in land conservation.
Program development: planning for the future of land and water conservation in Wisconsin, through consultation with land trusts and other conservation leaders and strategic planning activities.