Driftless Area Nature Nonprofits

The Driftless Area is a landscape the glaciers missed, a rugged island of steep bluffs, deep coulees, and cold spring-fed streams where the last ice sheets never flattened the terrain. The result is a region of surprising beauty in the heart of the Midwest, its hillsides threaded with some of the finest coldwater trout streams in the country and its karst geology honeycombed with caves and springs.

The organizations here protect and restore the trout streams and the fragile karst waters, conserve the blufflands and remnant prairies, and help farmers work these steep slopes without eroding them away. Their work safeguards a rare, unglaciated world that exists nowhere else in the region.

Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion

17 organizations working across this landscape.

Aldo Leopold Foundation

Baraboo, WI

Aldo Leopold's environmental philosophy of the land ethic, ecological restoration of prairie, woodlands, oak savanna, and wetlands, and education.

Land ConservationWildlife Biodiversity

Citizens For Safe Water Around Badger

Merrimac, WI

Empowering, strengthening and unifying communities whose lands and water resources have been contaminated by military or industrial pollution.

Water RiversWildlife Biodiversity

Coon Creek Community Watershed Council, Inc

Coon Valley, WI

Increasing awareness about, access to, and adoption of land management practices that build healthy soil and good lives in the Coon Creek Watershed and beyond.

Land ConservationClimate Energy

Friends of Devil's Lake State Park

Baraboo, WI

Giving back to Wisconsin's most-visited state park using our minds, muscle, and money.

Wildlife BiodiversityEducation Advocacy

Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy Inc.

Middleton, WI

Restoration, Education, and Advocacy for Pheasant Branch Conservancy in Middleton Wisconsin

Land ConservationWater Rivers

Friends of Wisconsin State Parks

Baraboo, WI

The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks (FWSP) has been committed to its mission of preserving, protecting, promoting and enhancing Wisconsin’s state parks, trails, for...

Land ConservationEducation Advocacy

Ice Age Trail Alliance

Cross Plains, WI

The mission of the Ice Age Trail Alliance is to create, support and protect a thousand-mile footpath tracing Ice Age formations across Wisconsin — the Ice Age Nation...

Land ConservationParks Trails Outdoor Access

International Crane Foundation

Baraboo, WI

The International Crane Foundation works worldwide to conserve cranes and the ecosystems, watersheds, and flyways on which they depend.

Water RiversWildlife Biodiversity

Native Women Run

Rushford, MN

The mission of Native Women Run is to empower Native women by increasing their visibility and participation in running through community support, race sponsorships, ...

Land ConservationWater Rivers

OrganicEye

La Farge, WI

OrganicEye is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity dedicated to protecting family-scale farmers and preserving the availability of authentic organic food for eaters...

Sustainable Food AgricultureEnvironmental Justice

Outdoor Recreation Alliance of the Seven Rivers Region

La Crosse, WI

ORA Trails is dedicated to building happy, healthy and resilient communities by providing access to equitable and sustainable outdoor recreation experiences.

Land ConservationWater Rivers

Seed Savers Exchange

Decorah, IA

Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange has protected the biodiversity of our food system—and our planet—by preserving rare, heirloom, and open-pollinated varieties of see...

Climate EnergySustainable Food Agriculture

The Cornucopia Institute

Viroqua, WI

The Cornucopia Institute is the premiere organic industry watchdog.

Sustainable Food AgricultureWaste Circular Economy

The Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, Inc.

La Crosse, WI

The Hunger Task Force of La Crosse, Inc. is a 1% for the Planet nature nonprofit partner associated with food systems. Based in La Crosse, WI, United States of Ameri...

Sustainable Food Agriculture

Trout Unlimited, Inc./Driftless Area Restoration Effort

Viroqua, WI
Water Rivers

WAFER FOOD PANTRY

Lacrosse, WI

Responding to God's love, WAFER provides food and works to eliminate hunger.

Sustainable Food Agriculture

Winneshiek Energy District

Decorah, IA

The mission of Winneshiek Energy District is to lead, implement, and accelerate the locally-owned, inclusive, clean energy transition in Winneshiek County. Our key s...

Climate EnergyWaste Circular Economy