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Conserve Grasslands With Us

Southern Driftless Grasslands (SDG) is a dynamic partnership of public and private organizations working together to conserve the grasslands of Southwest Wisconsin through landscape-scale change.

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We envision Southwest Wisconsin as a place with healthy grasslands, successful farms, clear streams, diverse wildlife, and people who value and enjoy this landscape. Together, we can make this vision a reality. 

We Are Here To Help You

At SDG, our job is to support and empower you - the landowner. We connect you with the people and resources essential for achieving your conservation and land management goals. 

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Whether your passion lies in grasslands, prairies, agriculture, or wetlands, we have tools you need. Connect with us today.

Your land conservation journey starts now. 

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Map highlighting the Wisconsin Counties where SDG works

Where We Serve

SDG serves people and nature in the Driftless Region of Southwest Wisconsin. This area is recognized as one of the best landscape-scale grassland ecosystem conservation opportunities in the Upper Midwest. Because of this, we must protect it. Why? Because Grass Is Good. 

Here To Help You

We are here to help you with whatever you need.

We are here to help you grow more grass, be grassland bird friendly, build habitat for pollinators, preserve prairies and save savannas, and protect your land from development. Explore our campaigns below to discover how you can get involved.

Start Your Land Conservation Journey Today

SDG Resouce Guide cover image.

Conservation Guide

A hand holding a pen above a contract. Image by Cytonn Photography via Unsplash.

Programs/Assistance

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Contacts Directory

Tall prairie grasses with blue sky and clouds in the background.

Resources

In The News

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Driftless Area Farm Returns to its Roots

Dan McGraw, with the help of the Sand County Foundation, is restoring his 240-acre farm in southwest Wisconsin to its natural oak savanna and grassland state, enhancing bird habitats and biodiversity. 

Sand County Foundation

3/19/2025

(5 min read)

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Laxey Creek Sheep Ranch: 

Growing community is at the heart of sustainable farming

SDG and USFWS work together to support Laxey Creek Sheep Ranch in combining sustainable farming, rotational grazing, and biodiversity enhancement to create a thriving, eco-friendly farm in Wisconsin’s Southern Driftless Area.

2/27/2025

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

(6 min read)

Upland Sandpiper on a post.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Features SDG & DALC in Bird Conservation Article

Former SDG Project Manager, Cindy Becker, reflects on the outreach and communication efforts from the past years supported in part by Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative Small Grant Program.

Cornell Lab,

Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative

(5-7 min read)

2024

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SDG Partnership Featured in "Partnership Power: 

A Spotlight on Federal Agencies"

"At the heart of many conservation projects is a robust partnership among landowners, land trusts, governments, businesses, universities, nonprofits and other entities coming together to contribute resources and expertise toward the shared goal of conservation."

Land Trust Alliance, Saving Land  Magazine

(8-10 min read)

Spring 2021

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Pheasants Forever

Date Unknown

Teamwork With Wisconsin's Southern Driftless Grasslands Group

"Teamwork makes the dream work."

Pheasants Forever article introduces and summarizes the SDG partnership, highlighting recent successes for conservation and community.

(1 min read)

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Legacy Trees & The  Prairie Savanna Project 

Matt Noone, Environmental Resources Planner with the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission and Cindy Becker, Southern Driftless Grasslands Project Manager with the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, introduce legacy tree and prairie savanna community science projects.

PBS Wisconsin Garden Expo

2/10/2024

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Prairie Restoration Efforts in Southwestern WI are a Bright Spot for Native Plants & Birds

Conservation professionals from The Nature Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusiasts, and Driftless Area Land Conservancy (which houses SDG) gathered with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel journalists to explore Thomson Memorial Prairie, an “extremely rare native ecosystem”, and showcase the importance of prairies and grassland birds.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

6/29/2019

(5-7 min read)

A vector graphic of prairie grasses.
A vector graphic of prairie grasses.
A vector graphic of prairie grasses.
A vector graphic of prairie grasses.
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grass is good

For more information contact the

SDG Program Manager 

(970) 406-0333 

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©2025 Southern Driftless Grasslands

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