Marty Larson has agreed to assist VSN with data collection and geographic information systems (GIS) mapping activities, part of VSN’s landowner outreach and mapping project funded in part by The Paul E. Stry Foundation of La Crosse, DNR River Planning Grant and The Norcross Wildlife Foundation.

Marty recently moved to Viroqua from Le Sueur, Minnesota with wife Lisa and daughter Sidra. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Geography degree from Minnesota State University, with an emphasis on GIS and Cartography and a minor in Natural Resources Management. He recently completed his Masters in Urban Planning. As a GIS intern, he worked for the Western Slope Environmental Resource Council in Colorado, field mapping trails in support of a new recreation and access plan for three national forests.

Sidra and Marty

Marty’s initial task will be to consolidate existing data sources and convert them for compatibility with DNR data with the goal of creating an environmental corridor map of the Watershed. He will also design a Landowner Survey database so that watershed landowners who provide input may receive maps and reports to help in managing their property. As data entry proceeds, Marty will be able to create maps for citizen planning groups and local units of government to assist them in land use planning.