There’s a lot of slogging along in the trenches of watershed improvement and conservation that goes largely unremarked except for the committed group that attends meetings. However, the Coon Creek Community Watershed Council (CCCWC) really stepped out of the shadows and into the limelight this year after their Celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the Coon Creek Watershed Project.
Among the many conservation luminaries that spoke at that event was USDA-NRCS State Conservationist Tyrone ‘Ty’ Larson. As if he couldn’t get enough of the infectious energy of the watershed council, he followed up with a trip out to attend the group’s regular monthly meeting on October 4 at the farm of grazier John Zinn in rural Westby.
To the dismay of many, that was to be the group’s last visit with Ty. The group later learned that he had passed away on Sunday, October 8.
At the October 4 meeting, Ty had told the group that “the celebration of the 90th was magical, and I still get goose bumps thinking about it.” He said that he was scheduled to make a joint presentation about the event with Monroe County Conservationist Bob Micheel at the upcoming Wisconsin Land+Water Conference.
Larson said he had seen clear evidence of the growth in the watershed council movement statewide.
“I was at a meeting earlier this week, and I heard that there have been record applications for DATCP’s Producer-Led Watershed Council grants,” Larson told the group. “I believe that there were 49 applications this year for $1 million in funding available.”
From his obituary, the group learned the following about this enthusiastic conservationist that had graced them with his presence;
“Ty was born and raised on Lake Waubesa in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from Oregon High School in 1991, where he played football; he graduated from UW-Platteville in 1995 with a B.S. in Reclamation. After graduation, he started as a temp with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and then climbed the ladder, becoming a Soil Conservationist, a District Conservationist, Area Conservationist, and then Assistant State Conservationist, working across Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Ty became the State Conservationist of Wisconsin in the summer of 2023. A career of service to conservation and rural America.
“Ty’s hobbies included fishing, hunting, following many sports, traveling with family, and indulging in his favorite music. He often did these with family and friends, and loved introducing people to his favorite activities. Ty also loved bringing these experiences to those who had never done them, as well as the youth. He was involved with many different conservation and wildlife organizations. Ty earned his two-gallon pin from the Red Cross for blood donation. He was involved in so many organizations, too many to list, but gave his all to each and every one as if he was a shareholder or lifetime member to many.
“In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Groundswell Conservancy.”
Ty had made a stirring speech at the group’s Celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the Coon Creek Watershed Project:
“Looking back to 90 years ago to the times of the dust bowl, and massive flooding and soil erosion, we stand here tonight in the Coon Creek Watershed, the birthplace of modern soil conservation,” Wisconsin State USDA-NRCS Conservationist Tyrone Larson said. “What was happening then is still happening now, but what is different today, as I look out over this crowd, is the amount of young people that are involved in trying to solve the pressing issues facing us. The solution today is the same as it was 90 years ago – locally led conservation.”
In other business
In other business, the group:
• heard about John Zinn’s history on his farm, beginning as a dairy, and later converting to managed rotation grazing, and the many conservation projects he had collaborated on with USDA-NRCS
• heard that the group had received a Certificate of Commendation from Governor Evers for the Coon Creek Watershed Project 90th Anniversary, and a commendation from Senator Tammy Baldwin as well
• heard that the group had filed for and received permission from the State of Wisconsin to do business as a charitable organization, which is required if the group is to have employees
• heard that the group has hired recent UW-Madison graduate Sydney Widell as a consultant for the watershed council
• learned that expenses for the 90th Celebration had totaled $17,699, and ticket sales had generated $5,120, and that the group had received a $5,000 donation for the event from Wisconsin Land+Water, and a $1,000 donation from Jon Carson, meaning that $6,548 in grant funds were used for the event
• learned that grant funding applied for to be used 2024 includes DATCP - funds for cover crops, general business expenses (meetings/field days), education and funding Sydney's position; TNC (The Nature Conservancy) - funds for planting trees and hedge rows around fields; and DNR Surface Water Grant - funds to continue work on developing our 9-Element plan (started work in 2023)
• heard a presentation from USDA-NRCS District Conservationist for Vernon and Monroe counties Justin Olson about various programs available to those interested in implementing conservation projects such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
