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USDA's Natural Resources
Conservation Service plans to invest $10 million in the Conservation Innovation
Grants program, funding innovative conservation projects in three focus areas:
grazing lands, organic systems and soil health. Grant proposals are due Feb. 26,
2018. Learn more...
USEPA has awarded an Environmental Justice Small Grant to Midwest Environmental Justice Organization in Madison, WI. Midwest Environmental Justice Organization will develop an interactive watershed mapping tool and educate people about stormwater risks to reduce pollution to Starkweather Creek in Madison. The creek has been degraded from urbanization, airport and industrial waste discharges and stormwater runoff. The project will also engage with minority subsistence fishers in the area about contaminated fish consumption concerns. By hosting community meetings, in-person discussions, and using current EPA stormwater materials, the project will educate and recruit people to help reduce creek pollution.
Dodge County Farmers and Lake Groups Working Together to Support Farmer-Led Soil Health Workshop and Initiatives
Lake groups in Dodge County have been working side-by-side with the Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil and Healthy Water to support outreach, education, and implementation of economical agricultural practices that build soil health and protect water quality. Lake groups have provided support for the upcoming soil health workshop February 7 & 8, as well as providing cover crops cost-share incentives to help off-set the cost and risk of using cover crops. The Lake groups include;
In Fond du Lac County,
Wisconsin, meet Jessica and David Gales who grew up hunting and fishing. The
Gales’ young daughters share their love of the outdoors. That’s why they are
teaching the importance of natural resources conservation by restoring native grasses
and habitat to their land.
See the interactive story map featured nationally or read
the full feature story.
This FREE webinar series will highlight the latest Wisconsin research on cover crops and soil health.
Connection information for the webinar will be provided upon registration available at:
https://tinyurl.com/WIcovercropwebinar
Every Wednesday from January 17-February
21, 12-1pm (except Feb 7 will be 12-1:30). For more
information contact Heidi Johnson, Dane County UW-Extension, 608 224-3716
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It has been a banner year in Washington and Waukesha Counties for Clean
Boats, Clean Waters. Together both counties inspected 5,945 boats talking
to a grand total of 12,183 people. Every single contact was a fantastic
teaching opportunity!
There were some really great moments out at the launches this
summer. Particularly seeing waterfowl hunters make the connection that mud on
their decoys and dogs has the ability to spread AIS and take efforts to avoid
the spread. Read more....
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An NR 40 prohibited species, New
Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) was
discovered in samples collected during routine water quality and Water Action
Volunteer sampling. The population abundance in these locations is uncertain at
this time.
- Mount
Vernon Creek, Dane County, in the Mount Vernon Creek Fishery Area. (this
stream flows to the Sugar River)
- Rowan Creek, Columbia County at the Rowan Creek Fishery Area. (this stream flows to Lake Wisconsin)
Chelsey Blanke (Rapid Response Coordinator) will be planning a meeting in January to identify next steps. New Zealand mudsnails are known to exist in three other
stream in the state (See website).
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Madison, Wis., Dec. 21, 2017 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will add 30 new watersheds in 2018 to its premiere water quality initiative, which helps landowners improve water quality while strengthening agricultural operations. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest more than $30 million this year in 201 high-priority watersheds across the country.
The National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), now in its seventh year, focuses resources in watersheds most in need and where farmers, ranchers and forest landowners can use conservation practices to make a difference.
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Municipal storm water permit eReporting - Coming Soon!
Coming January 2018, all
municipalities permitted under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
WPDES program submitting MS4 permit documents, including the Annual Report,
will have access to the online eReporting system. External testing has wrapped
up and we are in the process of making final changes to the system!
The eReporting system is being
developed to:
- Allow for online submittal of MS4 annual reports, forms, and other
documents directly to the DNR
- Provide electronic storage of MS4 submittals
- Support DNR’s efforts to meet EPA’s electronic reporting requirement
Please watch for more
GovDelivery notifications and the MS4
eReporting webpage for additional information and resources.
- Webinar information has been added to the webpage.
- A copy of the Annual Report form has been added to the webpage.
- You may use this PDF form to begin routing for information, however,
data will be required to be entered into the eReporting system. We will
not accept an uploaded or emailed PDF.
The municipality’s authorized representative will be able to delegate
the electronic entry of data to other municipal staff and/or consultants
via upload of a Designated Signature Authority form (available on
webpage).
Notice of Public
Comment and Hearing for ch. NR 152, Wis. Adm. Code
Draft rule concerning storm water is now available
for review and comment on the proposed
permanent natural resources rules webpage. Ch. NR 152, Wis. Adm. Code,
relating to the model ordinances for construction site erosion and sediment
control and post-construction storm water management is open for public comment
until January 17, 2018.
The Department of Natural Resources announces that it will hold a public
hearing on a permanent rule to revise ch. NR 152, Wis. Adm. Code, relating
to the model ordinances for construction site erosion and sediment control
and post-construction storm water management, at the time and place shown
below.
Hearing
Information
Date: Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Room G09 at the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources, 101 S. Webster St., Madison, Wisconsin
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County participation in the MDV is completely voluntary. If counties participate, they agree to comply with the requirements of the program to the best of their ability. By participating in the MDV, counties will have access to additional financial resources for nonpoint source pollution control activities, including funds to supplement staff costs. Chapter 3 of the MDV Implementation Guidance [PDF] provides details about programmatic requirements and expectations for counties that choose to participate.
How to participate
To participate in the MDV, counties must submit a county participation form [PDF] to DNR no later than January 2:
Department of Natural Resources
Permits Section - WQ/3
Attn: MDV Point Source Coordinator
101 South Webster Street
Madison WI 53703
This form must be submitted to the department annually to continue to participate in this program.
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Since its inception in 1994, the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program has awarded more than $24 million in funding to over 1400 community-based organizations, and local and tribal organizations working with communities facing environmental justice issues.
The Environmental Justice Small Grants Program supports and empowers communities working on solutions to local environmental and public health issues. The program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks. Environmental Justice Small Grants fund projects up to $30,000, depending on the availability of funds in a given year. All projects are associated with at least one qualified environmental statute.
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