February 03, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation aimed at preserving and restoring the Driftless Area, which spans parts of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI) Act provides farmers with voluntary conservation tools to reduce flood risk, improve soil and water quality, and expand recreation and tourism opportunities throughout the region.
DALCI was launched by the Department of Agriculture in 2012 to help farmers fight erosion and restore cold water stream corridors in the area. The program ended in 2017. The newly reintroduced DALCI Act will re-establish the successful program.
Howard Learner, CEO & Executive Director, Environmental Law and Policy Center, said:
“The four-state Driftless Area is the Midwest’s most biologically rich landscape, containing the largest continuous fish and wildlife habitat in the region. The Driftless Area has wonderful outdoor recreational opportunities, making it a great place to live and enjoy, and providing significant economic value for the rural, small-town communities. The Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative will deliver significant benefits, including restored prairies and cold-water streams, healthier oak savannas and barrens, improved trout habitat, and reduced flood risk. Protecting the Driftless Area is a bipartisan priority, and we appreciate Rep. Hinson’s (R-IA) and Rep. Sorensen’s (D-IL) co-sponsoring this important legislation.”
Sara Strassman, Driftless Area Director & Driftless Area Restoration Effort Coordinator, Trout Unlimited, said:
“Trout Unlimited thanks Rep. Hinson & Rep. Sorensen for re-introducing the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative. Trout Unlimited has been a supporter of the program from its beginning and has stretched the federal investments with millions of dollars in contributions from partners to double or triple the amount of work done on the ground. DALCI supports the unique conservation opportunities of the Driftless that bring private and public investments together to help producers and rural communities both improve farm operations and protect coldwater and habitat. The value of a healthy landscape that supports trout is an enormous benefit to the region, improving local recreation and providing tourism revenue to communities”.
Jessica Bizub, Acting Executive Director, The Prairie Enthusiasts, said:
“The Driftless area contains a plethora of unique habitats and is home to a rich diversity of plants, animals and insects. The area’s beauty and biodiversity is a draw to residents and tourists alike. As an organization dedicated to protecting and restoring habitats in the Upper Midwest, The Prairie Enthusiasts supports the Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative. For over 35 years, we’ve worked with other organizations, government entities and private landowners to improve habitat in this important region. DALCI is an important investment to support landowners’ conservation efforts in the Driftless Area. And those conservation efforts are critical to the future state of the waters and wildlife in Wisconsin.”
The legislation is endorsed by Driftless Trout Unlimited Chapter, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Iowa State Trout Unlimited Chapter, Iowa’s Coldwater Conservancy, Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development, North Bear Trout Unlimited Chapter, Spring Creeks Trout Unlimited Chapter, The Nature Conservancy in Illinois, The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Trout Unlimited, Wisconsin Council of Trout Unlimited, Wisconsin Division Izaak Walton League of America.