When the Farmland and Natural Areas Program began in 2003, the county's land protection goal was to protect 5,000 to 10,000 acres. To date, the county has protected over 12,000 acres. Several new projects are in varying stages of completion. See the most recent
Land Conservation Map Summary.
As of March 2026, the county completed 156 land protection projects, including:
- 71 permanent agricultural conservation easements, totaling 7,799 acres, including 1,300 acres of natural areas and 49 miles of shoreline
- 56 permanent natural area conservation easements, totaling 1,986 acres, including 33 miles of shoreline
- 33 fee acquisition projects with other public entities, totaling 2,396 acres. including 21 miles of shoreline
The county has spent more than $24.4 million in county funds (28 percent), leveraged more than $38.4 million in non-county funds (43 percent) and received more than $26.4 million in landowner donations (30 percent) to protect these lands valued at more than $88.3 million.
Federal source
State sources
Other sources of non-county funding include the Friends of the Mississippi River and significant landowner donations of easement value.
Examples of some of the completed natural area protection projects are: