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In response to feedback from conservation partners, the WDNR Waterway and Wetland Program is planning to public notice a DRAFT new general permit for waterway and wetland activities (see official notice, below). This will streamline the regulatory process for several agricultural water quality conservation activities including: grassed waterways, filter strips, lined waterways, grade stabilization structures, stream crossings, water and sediment control basins, dams, sediment basins, and constructed wetlands. This general permit will dramatically streamline the regulatory process for these activities and facilitate innovative programs including water quality trading, adaptive management and TMDL implementation. This proposed general permit is intended to be used by county, state, and federal agencies and was developed in partnership with NRCS. See the following announcement for more information;
The Milwaukee
TMDL report, accompanying allocations, and material were officially submitted
to EPA in mid-October. US EPA staff have a large workload that has slowed the review process. We appreciate everyone's patience with this large TMDL effort.
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 will share updates with stakeholders as soon as we plan the meeting.
To help improve on-farm safety
for youth, a Youth Tractor Safety Certification Course is being organized by
UW-Extension Washington and Ozaukee Counties. The 24 hour course will be held
on the following Saturdays – March 3, 7, 14, and 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The course focuses on the safety aspects of operating farm equipment. To
complete the course, youth must attend four sessions and pass a written and a
driving exam.
The cost of the course is $35.00
per student and limited to the first 25 paid participants. To register, call
the UW-Extension Office in West Bend at 262-335-4477, toll free in Wisconsin,
1-800-616-0446, ext. 4477 or 711 for Relay. Register online at goo.gl/wKuskj.
Registration deadline is March 1, 2018.
NRCS will accept applications for enrollment in the nation’s biggest conservation program, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Through CSP, NRCS helps private landowners build their business while implementing conservation practices that help ensure the sustainability of their entire operation.
Applications must be received by March 2, 2018 to be considered for this funding period. Read more
The 2018 Ag Outlook Forum was Jan 25, 2018 (agenda below). The presentation videos are now available online HERE.
- Farm Income and Cost Outlook
- Dairy Situation and Outlook
- Grain and Livestock Situation and Outlook
- Specialty Crop Situation and Outlook
- Wisconsin Economy Situation and Outlook
- Navigating the Rural Urban Divide
- The Politics of Resentment
- Myths and Realities of the Rural Urban Divide
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides Nutrient Management Farmer Education (NMFE) grants to local organizations to teach farmers how to develop their own nutrient management plans. Producer-led groups that qualify under the grant criteria are eligible to apply. Applications will be due on April 16, 2018 for 2019 funding. This funding will be available from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.
Tier 1 funding, $20,000 maximum: Provide nutrient management training to producers and plan writers to develop 590-compliant nutrient management plans.
Tier 2 funding, $2,500 maximum: Offer nutrient management training and education, but developing a 590-compliant plan isn't required. Tier 2 funding can be used for administrative, training and support costs.
Application materials can be found on our webpage
For questions, please email: Mark Jenks or Rachel Rushman
The waterway and wetland program just finalized a guidance document that might be of interest to CAFOs and others in the dairy industry. Feel free to take a look and pass along: Placing pipes and similar structures over navigable waters.
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Volunteer Training, Wehr Nature Center, Franklin; begins April 30, 2018
Wehr Nature Center will offer the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Volunteer training course beginning in April 2018. This will be the 5th Volunteer Training Course hosted at Wehr Nature Center!
The Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program is a network of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within Wisconsin communities. The Master Naturalist Volunteer Training Course provides 40 hours of coursework in natural history, interpretation, and conservation stewardship. Courses combine classroom instruction with field experiences and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalist Volunteers provide 40 hours of service and take 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain their certification and receive a recognition pin.
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We are truly happy to support Lake Districts, Lake Associations, municipalities, and
conservation organizations in applying for Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW)
grants. This year, we have had awesome CBCW grant participation with 11
municipalities, lake groups, and conservation organizations receiving grant funding for
the summer of 2018! If your interested in this training opportunities or other AIS topics, check out the February newsletter.
The Southeast Fox River Partnership is hosting their sixth annual Fox River Summit on March 23rd, 2018 at Veterans Terrace at Echo Park, Burlington, WI. The Keynote Speaker, Elizabeth Riggs, Deputy Director, Huron River Watershed Council, will speak about the Economic Impact of the Huron River. Additional topics of interest include:
- Urban Leaf Management and Stormwater Quality,
- Impacts of Road Salt and Chlorides on Water Quality,
- Changes in Oak Openings from the 1930's,
- Waukesha County Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan
- Community Planning, and
- numerous other topics! Click HERE for more information.
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The MS4 eReporting Webinar recorded on January 10, 2018, has been posted on the Municipal storm water permit eReporting web page under the User Support Tools section. The webinar provided an overview of the new MS4 eReporting system.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit is required for many municipalities to help protect public health and local waterway quality. MS4 storm water programs are to include practices to prevent pollutants from municipally-owned transportation infrastructure, maintenance areas, storage yards, sand and salt storage areas, and waste transfer stations entering the storm sewer system. Municipal field crews are on the front lines for implementation of these practices as well as the detection and elimination of illicit discharges.
This training, administered by Maureen McBroom, Environmental Coordinator for Ruekert-Mielke, will consist of short lectures and interactive elements to share experiences to highlight practical storm water management best practices for municipal staff to follow and share with seasonal staff.
TIME: Friday, March 23 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
LOCATION: UW-Whitewater campus; Esker Dining Hall Room 118 – Esker is located at 420 N. Prairie St. Whitewater WI and parking is available in Lot 4. Guest parking permits will be made available at the Visitor’s Center on Starin Road.
TO ATTEND THE TRAINING: Send an email to sustainability@uww.edu with number of registrants, and municipality represented. There is no cost to attend and all are welcome up to the capacity of the room. Participants will be asked to sign in with name and email upon arrival for tracking participation. Additional attendance verification can be provided upon request.
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There is ever-growing progress with watershed-based permitting as more and more communities and facilities choose to opt for Water Quality Trading or Adaptive Management. This map depicts WPDES permit holders that have formally selected adaptive management or water quality trading as their preferred phosphorus compliance option.
If you have questions or feedback about phosphorus implementation or the MDV, contact your regional or statewide MDV coordinator [PDF]
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 Grant Information
The Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grant Program offers competitive grants for local governments for the control of pollution that comes from diffuse sources, also called “nonpoint source (NPS)” pollution. Grants from the TRM Program reimburse costs for agricultural or urban runoff management practices in targeted, critical geographic areas with surface water or groundwater quality concerns.
All application materials for projects beginning in 2019 are due April 15, 2018.
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