Division Programs
General Real Estate & Property Management
The Land Acquisition Division is responsible for county real estate transactions. These include acquiring fee interests in lands for various county projects, leasing space for offices, renting county-owned agricultural lands, acquiring easements for access to or environmental protection of privately owned lands, and selling county-owned surplus properties.
The division also oversees the management of newly acquired property. This includes a variety of tasks, from demolishing old buildings, to installing boundary signage to restoring habitat. Typically there is a transition period between the time property is acquired and development for its intended use. Often the land is leased for agriculture during this period.
Properties purchased by the County can be viewed on DCiMap by clicking on the County Lands map layer.
Parks Conservation Fund
Under construction.
Purchase of Development Rights
Dane County purchases development rights on privately owned lands to protect and preserve Dane County’s natural and agricultural resources. Through the voluntary conveyance of Conservation Easements, land owners ensure that the land is preserved for its natural beauty, its recreational or its agricultural value. Easements do not affect the ownership and do not automatically convey public access unless that is the desire of the land owner. Funding for acquisition of development rights has come from the Dane County Conservation Fund, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Land & Water Legacy Fund
Established in 2007, the Land & Water Legacy Fund seeks to enhance and protect our water resources and the
lands that influence them. There are several elements to the Land & Water Legacy Fund, including urban
water quality grants, pollution control through conservation practices and a capital equipment grant program.
Additionally the Land & Water Legacy Fund includes an acquisition component, which is currently focused on:
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Restoration Sites in the North Mendota Watershed: The County works with willing sellers to purchase
lands that were historically wet. Over time natural drainage patterns have been manipulated and the
land has lost the ability to hold and filter water. The County seeks to restore hydrological function
to lands that are purchased.
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Permanent Streambank Easements in Southwestern Dane County: The County works with willing sellers to
secure public fishing access, protect water quality, and preserve wildlife and fish habitat. Streambank
Easements typically extend 33 feet from the stream bank and are open to the general public to fish,
hike, observe wildlife and enjoy scenic beauty. The easements can be accessed by foot at designated
access points. View our map of Dane County easements
for more information.
Grant Programs
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