A multi-generational farming family in southwest Wisconsin has reached a landmark agreement to permanently protect nearly 2,000 acres of floodplain along the Wisconsin and Kickapoo rivers. The deal, which marks one of the most significant private conservation efforts in the state’s recent history, concludes years of struggle for the
For over a century, the family cultivated corn and soybeans on the fertile bottomland near the town of Wauzeka. However, as extreme weather events became more frequent, the land faced repeated inundation. The cycle of repairing levees and drainage ditches became increasingly unsustainable, both financially and operationally. The situation reached a turning point in 2016, when state tax regulations were adjusted to make it more difficult for farmers to claim agricultural property tax exemptions on land that could not be reliably harvested due to chronic flooding.
From Intensive Agriculture to Ecological Restoration
Following the 2016 tax policy shift, the Hoesly family faced mounting pressure to either invest heavily in further flood-control infrastructure or seek an alternative future for their property. After extensive consultations with state agencies, nonprofit conservation groups, and neighboring landowners, the family opted to transition the land away from row-crop production. The resulting agreement involves a combination of conservation easements and land donations, effectively removing the acreage from agricultural use.
The project is supported by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which will oversee the land as part of the state’s wildlife management and natural areas system. Additional support was provided by various land trusts and federal programs dedicated to habitat restoration. The restoration plan includes the removal or breaching of existing levees and drainage ditches, allowing the rivers to naturally reconnect with their historic floodplains. Crews are now tasked with planting native vegetation, including silver maple, oak, and willow, to re-establish the area’s original forest and wetland character.
A New Model for Floodplain Management
Beyond the ecological benefits, the project is intended to serve as a natural buffer for downstream communities. By providing space for floodwaters to spread and slow down, the restored landscape is expected to reduce pressure on infrastructure during high-flow events. Furthermore, the site will be opened to the public for recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, and hiking, shifting the land's purpose from private industrial farming to a public-facing environmental asset.
For the Hoesly family, the decision represents a fundamental shift in their legacy. While the transition marks the end of their traditional farming operations on the bottomland, family members have expressed that the move aligns with the changing realities of the regional climate and the long-term economic viability of the property. As extreme weather continues to impact the Midwest, this agreement is being viewed by conservationists as a potential model for how private landowners and government entities can collaborate to address the challenges of flood-prone agricultural land.
