Wisconsin’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a broad overview of nutrient management activities for both point sources and nonpoint sources in Wisconsin. This strategy documents ongoing activities whether they are implemented by federal, state or local agencies. It identifies areas where further progress is needed.
The Wisconsin Nutrient Reduction Strategy Implementation Progress Report, covering activities in 2015-16 is now final and on the Wisconsin DNR website: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/surfacewater/nutrientstrategy.html
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Draft TMDL
Legal
review of the TMDL has been completed and WDNR is finalizing the TMDL
package in preparation for submittal to USEPA. As soon as this process is
complete, the full TMDL package will be submitted to USEPA. All
comments will be included and available for public review.
TMDL Implementation
We
will be scheduling the next Milwaukee River Basin TMDL Implementation meeting -
anticipated sometime in September, possibly October, depending on availability
of partners. WDNR staff are continuing to work with our basin
partners throughout the MRB TMDL basin region. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact local DNR staff or sector team leaders. Their
contact information is in the lower left section of this newsletter, under
"DNR Contacts".
NRCS Grazing Success Story - Washington County
Val Jansen, of West Bend,
Wis., wanted to improve the soil health of her 8.5 acres of cropland. Working
with NRCS, she wrote a grazing plan and utilized EQIP to transition her
cropland to a rotational grazing system. She also uses
CSP
and collects soil samples to measure her lands ever-increasing soil health. Read more (641 KB pdf)
Frequent rain and wet soils may require us to rethink Nitrogen applications to corn
crops. Corn growers may want to consider the
use of split N applications in an effort to better manage the risk of losing N
to denitrification. This field day will explore ways to account for nitrogen losses, optimizing applications for corn, techniques for application in different growth stages, and other topics. Reservations
requested by August 14th for lunch count.
UW-Extension - 920-459-5904, or
The Kroepliens - 920-467-8534
Farmers and forest landowners will want to plan ahead and sign up early for USDA conservation funding. Angela Biggs, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist in Wisconsin, announced farmers and forest landowners interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) need to apply by October 20, 2017, for funding in 2018. Applications are being taken at all USDA Service Centers in Wisconsin.
North Dakota State University Extension Service Soil Health program has developed a number of tools to facilitate communicating about the importance of soil health. One of these is their online Building Soil Health Handbook.
This conference will be geared toward helping Wisconsin farmers more successfully use cover crops on their farms.
There will be something for everyone, from farmer’s that have never tried cover crops to veteran cover croppers. Many of the presenters will be Wisconsin grain and livestock farmers speaking from experience about what has worked and hasn’t worked in their Wisconsin cropping systems.
Holiday Inn, Steven’s Point
February 27, 2018 9am – 4pm
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Monitoring Team Update
Water Resources is conducting
biological collections at nine locations on the Menomonee River and tributaries
this summer and fall. We will be sampling the fish community with aquatic
macroinvertebrates to be sampled later in fall. With this information, we hope
to get a good biological based snapshot of water quality conditions in the
watershed. This information will compliment water quality data being collected
by Riverkeeper volunteers, and allow for an overall assessment of the condition
of the Menomonee River watershed. For more information, contact Craig Helker.
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Tall Pines Conservancy is hosting their largest event of the year - and you won't want to miss out on all the fun! Tour numerous barns around Hartford, on either a 30 mile or 60+ mile loop. Enjoy delicious, locally grown food at every rest stop created by Chef Earl Gesling of The Natural Way - Mayville.
Click HERE for more information and to register
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The proposed “Compost for Storm Water Management S100” standard has been updated. This standard is being revised to more closely match s. NR 502.12(16), Wis. Adm. Code, provide certification, and broaden statewide availability for compost for storm water management.
The draft standard concerning storm water is now available for review and comment on the Proposed DNR Program Guidance Web page. “Compost for Storm Water Management S100” standard is open for comment until August 17, 2017.
The Department is soliciting comments from the public on this draft standard. Once the 21-day notice period is complete, all comments will be considered by the Department. After considering all public comments, revisions may be made to the standard document and the final standard will be made available to internal and external stakeholders. Comments related to this draft standard document should be sent to: DNRTECHNICALSTANDARDS@Wisconsin.gov.
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Permit Compliance Options and Sector Team Activities
With the Milwaukee Basin TMDLs being finalized, we are preparing to incorporate TMDL consistent limits and schedules in new and reissued permits. In addition, many communities and counties have questions about Water Quality Trading (WQT), Adaptive Management (AM), and the Multi-Discharge Variance (MDV).
Our staff are happy to participate in community meetings to further explore options and facilitate partnership opportunities. We recently met with numerous partners in Ozaukee County to discuss WQT, AM and the MDV and partnering with counties and farmers to develop watershed projects to reduce Phosphorus loading. Contact your local compliance staff or Bryan Hartsook if you would like to organize a community meeting in your area.
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 Permits Backlog
There has been ongoing interest in the reissuance of WPDES permits and the permits "backlog". Statewide, the permits backlog has been greatly reduced as vacancies have been filled and staff have focused time towards permits (figure at right). In the Rock River basin where a TMDL was published in late 2011, over 90% of wastewater permits have been reissued with new WQBEL effluent limits consistent with the TMDL (>60% are already in years 3 or 4 of their new permits).
Here in the greater Milwaukee Basin, staff will be drafting permits consistent with the TMDLs for the Milwaukee, Menonomee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers, as well as the Milwaukee Harbor/Estuary. As with the Rock, wastewater staff will work closely with our customers and the wastewater sector team to provide assistance to our communities as we work together to implement the new TMDLs.
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