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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

2/27/2025

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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.

(6 min read)

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

2024

Upland Sandpiper on a post.

Cornell Lab Features SDG & DALC in Bird Conservation Article

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

(5-7 min read)

Cornell Lab,

Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative

June 29th, 2019

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

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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.

(5-7 min read)

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

2/10/2024

 Legacy Trees & The   Prairie Savanna Project 

PBS Wisconsin Garden Expo

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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.

Spring 2021

Cindy Becker at Pollinator Workshop_edit

Land Trust Alliance, Saving Land  Magazine

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."

(8-10 min read)

Date Unknown

Teamwork With Wisconsin's Southern Driftless Grasslands Group

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"Teamwork makes the dream work."

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

Pheasants Forever

(1 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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