 Cave of the Mounds, in Blue Mounds west of Madison, is one of Wisconsin's more dramatic karst formations. - Yinan Chen via Wikimedia Commons
The following article is courtesy of Scott Gordon and WisContext
Is there karst in the Rock River Basin? Yes!
Can the Rock River Recovery play a role in protecting groundwater and drinking water? Absolutely!
But, what is Karst? Karst is a geological formation that results when naturally acidic rain or surface water seeps through soluble minerals in the bedrock underneath the topsoil. Most karst consists of limestone or dolomite — the latter predominates in Wisconsin. This long-term combination of water and minerals results in an underground landscape shot through with cracks, fissures and other fragmented characteristics. Read more....
 In Wisconsin's karst regions, bedrock is often relatively close to the surface, making groundwater more susceptible to pollution. - Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey
 The following article is courtesy of Barbara Grady and GreenBiz
A major cooperative of ag retailers in the Midwest, United Suppliers, whose members supply and advise farmers who collectively grow crops on about 45 million acres, developed a program called SUSTAIN with the help of the Environmental Defense Fund. SUSTAIN is a toolbox of proven technologies and practices, data and advisory information on sustainable field nutrient management and efficiency, water management and soil health.
Farmers who provide crops to suppliers of General Mills, Unilever, Campbell Soup, Smithfield Foods, and Kellogg use the SUSTAIN program. Starting Aug. 1, SUSTAIN will be joined with the sustainability program of Land O' Lakes, itself a cooperative of farms and agriculture companies, to influence an even larger swath of the Midwest farm economy. Read more...
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Sector Team
The Ag Sector Team had a working meeting Wed July 27. A number of topics relating to implementation of NPS conservation and soil health efforts were discussed and worked through. Main points of progress include (note, some counties had conflicts and could not participate to share their progress updates):
- Counties have made excellent progress working towards watershed-based NPS reductions,
- Rock County has completed assessment for 4 watersheds, is completing a 5th, and will be partnering with neighboring counties for shared watersheds,
- Dane County is pushing ahead with participation in the Yahara WINS full-scale project, has completed a 9KE plan for Door Creek, is conducting an inventory on Badfish Creek, addressing legacy sediments in Dorn Creek, and hired an intern to support more NPS efforts in Six Mile and Pheasant Branch creeks,
- Walworth County has made excellent progress in developing and implementing numerous nutrient management plans with producers, is focusing on expanding efforts throughout the county where opportunities allow, and developed NPS reduction estimates and forecasts for the implementation plan,
- Dodge County is undertaking a groundwater and bedrock study to assess vulnerability to contamination, progress continues to grow with the Nonpoint Task-Force including building a farmer-led initiative and planning for a soil-health workshop.
- Planning is beginning for a soil health workshop to be hosted in the southern half of the Rock River basin,
- and counties are working with WDNR to bring NPS reduction estimates into the draft implementation plan.
- Next Ag Sector Team meeting will be in October - stay tuned....
WDNR Requesting Scope Approval for Changes to NR 151 and NR 243
At the Natural Resources Board meeting in August, WDNR will be requesting approval for scope and public hearing for proposed rules affecting chapter NR 151 and NR 243 related to runoff management and non-point source performance standards and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) rule revisions to incorporate by reference those performance standards. The proposed changes address agriculture performance standards and manure spreading in shallow bedrock (e.g. karst) areas of Wisconsin.
This webinar will cover updates to the
Request for Proposals (RFP) and thoroughly review proposal requirements for the
Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants for Fiscal Year 2017 funding.
We will also allow time for any RFP or application questions.
Join the Webinar Wednesday, August 3rd at 11:00 am:
DATCP is offering Nutrient Management
Implementation Work Group sessions Aug. 25, 25, 30, Sept. 1, and 13 in Richland
Center, Jefferson, Oshkosh, Eau Claire, and Antigo. These sessions are free of charge. Just show up and participate from 9:30 until
12:30.
We will be learning about the new SnapMaps software and soliciting your comments on the DRAFT NM
Checklist for the 2015-590 NM Standard.
It is meant to be used for NM plan written with version 2015-590,
Livestock Siting ordinances, and for NM plan reviews. Click HERE for the AGENDA.
If you have any questions you can contact Sue
Porter from the Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, at
608-224-4605 or sue.porter@wi.gov
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) announced farmers interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) need to apply by September 2, 2016, for funding in 2017.
Applications are being taken at all USDA Service Centers in Wisconsin.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Coupling soil quality and economics” featuring a bus tour of cover crop research at the UW Lancaster Agricultural Research Station, and a tour of farms who have incorporated cover crops into their operations to improve the bottom line.
Tuesday August 30, 9 am to 4 pm, Grant County UW-Extension Office, 916 E Elm Street, Suite A, Lancaster WI
In February of 2016, the Midwest Cover Crop Council (MCCC) hosted their annual conference in Madison, WI. Want to learn more about the conference? The agenda and selected presentations can be found here.
Four lessons learned from cover crops.
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Homeowners across the nation are building rain gardens to reduce runoff from their properties and protect water quality of our streams and lakes. Rain gardens also provide:
- critically important habitat for butterflies, dragon flies and beneficial insects,
- homes for beneficial amphibians and reptiles,
- beautify your residence and add property value,
- and attract numerous species of song birds!
If you are interested in how you might fit rain gardens into your own property, check of Rain Gardens - A How-To Manual, from UW Extension.
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E&O Sector Team
The Education and Outreach Sector Team had a busy July. We finalized arrangements for the July Quarterly Networking Forum, and held the event on July 16. See the topic below for more information on the event and to download copies of the presentations.
The E&O Team will be following up on the quarterly and developing plans for the October Forum at our next meeting. If you'd like to participate in person, join us at UW Extension Madison, Lowell Center, Room 326.
When: Wednesday August 10th
from 9-11am
Join: Global Meet Link
Via Telephone: (872) 240-3212
Agenda
- Effectiveness of Quarterly Forums
- Planning October Forum - topic stormwater
- Future activites/roll for E&O team
The latest Rock River Recovery Quarterly Networking Forum was held July 13th in Watertown. The emphasis of the forum was on the value of water quality to communities on the Rock River and how communities can take advantage of the river to drive waterfront redevelopment and economic revitalization. Presentations from the speakers are available, below:
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Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College and
American Excelsior Company Erosion Lab, Rice Lake, WI.
September 22, 2016, 8 am - 4 pm
- Morning classroom sessions will
be held at WITC beginning with registration and breakfast at 8 am.
Lunch at noon.
- Afternoon field sessions at
American Excelsior Company ErosionLab will begin at 1:15 pm.
Secure your spot now by completing the registration form and return by mail. Online Registration Opens Soon!
$140 (includes breakfast, lunch, CE/PDH)
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Central
States Water Environment Association
Please join your fellow water and wastewater
managers & supervisors for our annual seminar focused on utility and
personnel management. This year's program includes presentations on
communicating with the public in challenging times, better management of
assets, the always popular legal update and much more.
Agenda
Wednesday, August 3rd
Hilton
Garden Inn
11600 West
Park Place
Milwaukee,
WI
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