Sauk County Land Resources and Environment

05/15/2026

Get ready for some very cool science😎

In 2024, a small population of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was identified at Hemlock County Park. Purple loosestrife is an invasive flowering plant that can easily spread and quickly dominate wetlands and shorelines outcompeting native plants. LRE staff contacted Upper Sugar River Watershed Association staff who provide support to prevent the spread of invasive species to come up with an action plan. Due to the Purple Loosestrife population size, biocontrol using Galerucella beetles was recommended. These beetles provide highly effective control by feeding on leaves and shoots and studies have found that they do not threaten native plants or cause other issues. The department is currently working through the first step in the process which is beetle rearing. Purple loosestrife plants were collected to provide the food and habitat the beetles need. Beetles will live in enclosed “nursery” pools until they are ready to be released at Hemlock County Park later this summer. These nursery pools are being cared for by Sauk County Parks + Recreation staff at White Mound County Park. Feel free to stop by the park to see the beetles and learn more about the project.

05/12/2026

If you missed the Sauk County Native Plant sale, check out the options available at the Powered Up Baraboo Native Plant Sale happening this weekend 🌼🌺🌾🌸🌻

Our Native plant sale fundraiser is just around the corner! On Saturday morning May 16, will have pre-orders ready for pick up and a wide variety of plants that are for sale on the day of. Come early for best selection!

05/08/2026

Now is a great time to do some spring cleaning and properly dispose of those electronics you no longer need. Check out Electronics Recylcing Event coming up in Sauk City later this month.

Electronics Recycling Event!

Have old electronics taking up space? Bring them to be recycled responsibly!
📅 Saturday, May 16, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 McFarlanes' True Value
780 Carolina Street, Sauk City, WI

See our website for more details: https://bit.ly/4uuUrLE

05/06/2026

Celebrate the Boo U Campus with Us!

For decades, the Baraboo-Sauk County Campus has been a cornerstone of education, connection, and community in South Central Wisconsin.

Join Friends of the Campus for a special celebration as we honor 58 years of impact, reconnect with familiar faces, and share the stories that made this campus so meaningful.

• Alumni, faculty, staff, and community members—past and present—are all welcome!
• This is a FREE event as our way of saying THANK YOU for your support over the years.

• Sunday, June 7, 2026
• 1:00 – 4:00 PM
• Lange Center | Baraboo-Sauk County Campus

Let’s come together to celebrate the memories, the people, and the legacy.

👇 Tag someone who should be there with you!

05/06/2026

Check out these upcoming pasture walks just north of us in Juneau County!

Mark your calendars now! Great pasture walk lineup this year!

05/05/2026

We are looking forward to collaborating with the Sauk County Master Gardeners Association this summer at the Sauk County Farm Community Gardens (S4555 County Road CH, Reedsburg). We hope you can join us!

May 16th - Planting Workshop, 3:30pm
May 27th - Weeding Workshop, 3:30pm
July 15th - Harvest Workhop, 3:30pm

Learn more about the Sauk County Farm by visiting https://arcg.is/0y85Hv

Any person who has a qualifying disability that requires the program materials of this event to be in an accessible location or format should contact Sauk County Land Resources and Environment Department (608) 355-3245 between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. and at least 1 week in advance of the event so that reasonable arrangements can be made to accommodate each request.

04/24/2026

🌱💦Want to learn how to protect your favorite river or stream?

Save the date for Project RED (Riverine Early Detectors) with the Friends of the Baraboo River Inc. and Upper Sugar River Watershed Association!

📆Saturday, June 27th, 2026
🕛9:00am-12:30pm Training
1:00pm-3:30pm Discovery Paddle *Participants will need to bring their own equipment)
📍700 Hill St. Baraboo, WI 53913

The health of our favorite rivers depends on all of us!
Wisconsin’s rivers are vulnerable to invasion by a number of aquatic invasive species (AIS), from Eurasian watermilfoil to Purple loosestrife. The key to successfully protecting our waters is detecting invasives early when it may still be possible to isolate or eradicate them. AIS populations that are detected early require less money and effort to manage.

Volunteers like you are invaluable for early detection and rapid response. If left unchecked, AIS have the potential to reduce the diversity of native organisms, disrupt the food web, and impact recreational activities.

How We Monitor
Project Riverine Early Detectors (RED) has four steps:

1. Visit a section of river or stream, keeping your eyes peeled for invasive species
2. Collect specimens or photograph suspicious plants and animals
3. Verify the specimens
4. Share your findings

At this Project RED training, professionals from the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association will help you on you learning journey to help you feel confident in your ability to look out for invasive species as you recreate near or in water throughout the summer!

Please consider bringing a friend and get out near the water with us. We need your help!

Register by emailing Grace [email protected] or Jasmine [email protected] to sign up for this volunteer training opportunity!

04/24/2026

What a great way to end with the Savor the River Valley on April 25th!

04/22/2026

Hey Reedsburg! Want to learn about your school mascot? 🦫 RSVP for this beaver event on May 13th!

So. Excited. For. This. Join us for a Beaver Habitat Field Day and Potluck in Sauk County on May 13!!!!! More info and RSVP at WiWiC.org under Events 🦫

04/22/2026

🌎Happy Earth Day!

Besides visiting White Mound County Park and submitting a nature inspired poem, there are many activities you can be a part of for Earth day!

🗑️Pick up trash along the street you live on or in a park
🧴Go plastic free for a day
🚲Get outdoors to appreciate: take a bike ride on the Great Sauk Trail, go birding at the Sauk County Farm and record sightings for worldwide bird counts
🛶Apply to attend a conservation summer camp! We are offering scholarships to Sauk County Youth: https://www.co.sauk.wi.us/landconservation/conservation-camp-scholarships-0

Check out https://www.earthday.org/ for more activities, quizzes, and other resources to celebrate Earth Day!

We're turning Earth Day into Earth Month with our new Poetry Path event!

The Willie Walsh Nature Trail has transformed into a poetry haven for this event. Walk this half-mile (round trip) trail and read nature-based poems that will be posted along the way. The poetry will be centered around nature, conservation, parks, and other similar themes. Ponder the poems as you stroll through the woods, and reflect on what Earth Day is all about!

Then, combine creative and outdoor exploration by writing your own nature-based poem! There will be a poetry station at each end of the trail where you can write and submit a poem for the chance to win a prize.

For more info and how to enter, visit the News & Events page on our website.

04/21/2026

Join us May 2nd for our next pasture walk of the season to explore and identify birds around Six Sons Farm, learn how pasture management decisions can promote grassland bird habitat, and how to attract beneficial birds to your own land. Recommended to bring: binoculars, Merlin Bird ID app, and sturdy walking shoes/boots. FREE to attend! RSVP appreciated (not required) at www.sswig.org/events

Join us May 2nd to explore and identify birds around our farm, learn how pasture management decisions can promote grassland bird habitat, and how to attract beneficial birds to your own land. Recommended to bring: binoculars, .bird.id app, and sturdy walking shoes/boots. FREE to attend! RSVP appreciated (not required) at www.sswig.org/events