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...
The Milwaukee
TMDL report, accompanying allocations, and material were officially submitted
to EPA in mid-October. US EPA typically has 60 days to review draft
TMDL's, though this can take longer with staffing and backlog issues.
TMDL Implementation
The next TMDL Implementation meeting will be scheduled following feedback/approval of the draft TMDL from US EPA. While a specific date is not set, we anticipate it will be in March.
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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Join Sweet Water on Thursday, February 15th at Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. in Walker's Point for the 3rd Annual Love Your Sweet Water Soire'e.
Be part of a fun evening to raise funds and continue Sweet Water's work of bringing people together to protect and restore our watersheds.
- Hors d'oeuvres & Cash Bar
- Local Brewery "Beer Pull" & Raffle Prizes
- Jazz from Milwaukee High School of the Arts
- Networking with Water Professionals
- Register Now
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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 Grant Information
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.
October 2017: USEPA has awarded an Environmental Justice Small Grant to Midwest Environmental Justice Organization in Madison, WI. EPA’s Environmental Justice Small Grants program provides funding of up to $30,000 per year for non-profit and tribal organizations to partner with stakeholders in industry, government, and academia to help communities understand and address exposure to environmental harms and risks.
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.
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