The City has an adopted Conservation Plan that identifies where priority environmental lands are found. The City reviews developments that fall into a conservation priority area on a case by case basis. Some developments result in dedication of lands to the City or placing conservation easements on areas to ensure their production.

The City also keeps a close eye on their floodplains. The City currently uses the Flood Boundary and Floodway Maps (prepared by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), panel number 550486, dated December 1, 1982) as a determination where floodplains are, although individual floodplain maps are common and can be found for specific locations. Lastly, if the possibility of wetlands exist on a property, it is the property owners responsibility to delineate the wetlands. Staff works with the WDNR and where wetlands are found, a wetland concurrence letter from the WDNR is required before final approvals.