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New Expanded 2nd Edition Hot Off the Press
 Owning Rural Lands, 2nd Edition is published by the Valley Stewardship Network. This 2007 edition has been expanded to include more information for current land owners as well as updated information for purchasing and maintaining your land. This 26 page publication is free to perspective and current landowners in the Kickapoo Valley Watershed. To request your copy please call us at 637-3615 or email VSN. View Owning Rural Lands, 2nd Edition online by clicking here . (Format: PDF file; Size: 1200 KB)
Owning Rural Lands was published by Valley Stewardship Network in April of 2004. This 22 page publication is free to perspective and current landowners in the Kickapoo Valley Watershed. To request your copy please email VSN. View Owning Rural Lands online by clicking here . (Format: PDF file; Size: 850 KB)
The Valley Stewardship Network (VSN) has prepared this information Guide for use by individuals who choose to live in the southwest region of Wisconsin called the Kickapoo Valley. The Watershed, or drainage basin, of the Kickapoo begins in Monroe County, travels through Vernon County, includes a few townships in Richland County and concludes in Crawford County as the Kickapoo empties into the Wisconsin River near Wauzeka (see map).
The Kickapoo River is the common thread that connects numerous small towns and nearby rural areas. The unglaciated, or driftless, terrain with forested hills and spring-fed streams contributes to the unique beauty and high-quality recreational resources. This same geology and uniqueness also creates some land management issues--floodplain areas not suitable for construction, karst formations (sinkholes) that call for greater care to protect groundwater, steep slopes that when disturbed contribute to erosion and sedimentation of streams, springheads that require protection from pollutants, and more. These are issues that urban dwellers seldom need to think about.
Much of the reason for this guide is to make it easier for landowners to get the information, guidance or assistance they need in order to make the best choices for utilizing their land and enjoying the natural beauty of country living.
Wisconsin has perhaps the best University Extension system in the nation. UW-Extension offers many very useful publications that speak to the common issues of rural living, horticulture, flora and fauna. We do not intend to duplicate their excellent efforts and will recommend several of their publications here, including Country Acres, A Guide to Buying and Managing Rural Property (52 pp, UW-Extension Pub. #G3309, $7.50. Call 1-877-947-7827).
VSN intends to present a directory, organized by areas of interest, that speaks in more detail to the specifics of owning land in this "Jewel of the State", the Kickapoo Valley. Some web-based information sources will be listed; local contacts are listed as phone numbers by county.
We encourage those that are considering the purchase of land, as well as those who have already done so, but may not be living there yet, to look over some of the FAQ's we have gathered from various county agency staff, VSN members and others. Each of us is unique, but there is a lot of sameness to the activity of moving to a rural area and being responsible for what may well be the largest piece of land you will ever own. Whether your goals are to produce income, preserve resources, or enjoy the scenery, we hope that Valley Stewardship Network can be of assistance as you learn about the possibilities before you.
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