Analysis and graphics by Elyssa Emrich.
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is a unique way for residents in the state to give their input when it comes to how the Department of Natural Resources addresses wildlife, water, land and more. Thank you to everyone who particpated in the annual survey!
This year we had outstanding participation in the process across the board, from work on resolutions to voting turnout in early April. Want a reminder of what the Conservation Congress is? Scroll down to the background section of this introductory blog.
The results come in at the county and state level and the numbers can be hard to understand. We wanted to make sure to uplift some of the exciting stats from this year's survey in an easy-to-understand format, which you can see below!
Across all counties in Wisconsin, we helped introduce 240 resolutions in favor of good environmental stewardship. Take a look at how they fared in each county with this interactive map.
Sierra Club-supported Resolutions passed overwhelmingly, when broken down by both total number of individual votes in favor of them, and number of Resolutions themselves that passed.
Several of the resolutions we supported passed with a significant majority of votes. Taking into account all counties where each resolution was introduced and compiling data on individual votes, these four resolutions passed at extremely high percentages: Support for clean water (84.5%); Support for the Stewardship Fund (80%); Support for getting politics out of conservation (79.4%); Support for the Every Kid Outdoors program (76.7%).
Take a closer look at three resolutions that passed in all of the counties they were introduced in.
Resolutions weren't the only things on the ballot. The annual survey also includes questions that are put to a full statewide audience; these statewide questions come from resolutions that passed the previous year. Two PFAS questions passed with overwhelming support, and slightly more than half of all respondents to the question on ending wildlife killing contests voted in favor of it.
The Wisconsin Conservation Congress is an excellent opportunity for state residents to uplift the issues they care most about. Aside from helping set Department of Natural Resources policy, voting shows the broader public what our communties want to prioritize. Thank you for taking part in it all this year!