February 17, 2021

Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative

The original Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI) was a very successful program but left behind unmet needs. There is now a unique opportunity to build on that success and create DALCI 2.0 with increased funding.

The Driftless Area covers 24,000 square miles in the heart of the Upper Mississippi River Basin spanning four states and forming the largest contiguous area of fish and wildlife habitat remaining in the Central United States. The original Driftless Area Landscape Conservation Initiative (DALCI) was a conservation program for Driftless Area landowners focused on four resource objectives to reduce erosion and restore streams – which helps farmers, enhances wildlife, and improves water quality.

With increased funding, DALCI 2.0 would

• support the transition to regenerative agriculture and conservation infrastructure
• expand outdoor recreation
• reduce nutrient pollution runoff from agricultural land
• protect wildlife habitat and improve the area’s rich biodiversity
• advance climate mitigation and resilience