Ag/NPS

UW Discovery Farms Shares Nitrogen Efficiency Research

Assessing the efficiency of N application on a per field basis is a valuable first step in evaluating N fertilizer management. From multiple years of data collection, UW Discovery farms have established Wisconsin-specific benchmarks for NUE measurements in corn grain and corn silage. See their work in this peer-reviewed publication. 

Columbia County: Wetland Management Landowner Workshop

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Wisconsin Wetlands Association partnered to hold a free wetland management workshop for landowners. The workshop focused on the benefits of the NRCS Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and NRCS Agricultural  Conservation Easement Program-Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE). The evening started at Cascade Mountain, where experts met with landowners to discuss management challenges and techniques faced by local landowners. Next, participants spent
time in the field, moving across the road to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS) Baraboo River Waterfowl Production
Area (WPA), a successfully completed WRP easement.

NRCS and 8 Northeast Wisconsin Counties Launch New Upper Fox-Wolf Demonstration Farm Network

The NRCS in Wisconsin and Waupaca County Land & Water Conservation Department, in partnership with Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Outagamie, Portage, Shawano, and Winnebago counties and the Green Lake Association, have entered an agreement to launch a new network, the Upper Fox-Wolf Demonstration Farm Network. The partnership will support a network of farms that will demonstrate the best conservation practices to reduce phosphorus entering the Great Lakes basin. 

Monitoring

Wildcat Creek Water Quality Monitoring to Begin

Dodge County and DNR staff will begin the monitoring component of the Wildcat Creek watershed project this summer.  Staff will be collecting information on fish communities, habitat, and macroinvertebrates in preparation of implementation efforts.  There may be opportunities for interested citizens to assist in these team efforts by participating via citizen monitoring program.  For more information, contact:

• Jim Amrhein, Water Qaulity Biologist, WDNR
• 608 - 275-3280

Save the Date - Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Training

The date is set! Paul Skawinksi, a State-wide coordinator for the Citizen Lake Monitoring Network (CLMN) will be visiting Waukesha County to give a training for volunteers interested in the program. Learn how to identify aquatic vegetation and monitor lakes for aquatic invasive species! 

The training will be held on June 5th at the Oconomwoc Community Center on Lac La Belle:

220 W Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc, WI 53066

The training will begin at 9 AM and will last for approximately 2 - 3 hours. Bring a writing utensil, paper, and some clothes you don't mind getting wet!

For more information, email Cassie Taplin, AIS Coordinator Washington and Waukesha Counties

Water Quality Standards Open for Public Comment

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is currently developing the following two water quality standards rules, which are now available for public comment on their economic effect:

• WY-23-13: Revision of chs. NR 102, including processes for waterbody assessments and impaired waters listing, biological criteria for water quality standards, and biological confirmation of phosphorus impairments
• WT-17-12: Creation of ch. NR 119, establishing procedures for developing site-specific criteria for phosphorus.  This rule cross-references revised portions of ch. NR 102, contained in rule WY-23-13 above.

These rule revisions are expected to have minimal economic impact. The department has developed a draft economic impact analysis and is holding a public comment period to solicit any additional information or advice on the economic effect of the proposed rules. Note that a separate public comment period on the rules themselves will be held after the economic impact analyses have been finalized. This notification is being distributed to those entities that may be interested in or affected by the proposed rules.

Materials for review may be found on the DNR's website at https://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/ProposedPermanent.html under rules numbered WY-23-13 and WT-17-12. Comments will be accepted from April 16 to May 16, 2019, and may be emailed to Kristi.Minahan@Wisconsin.gov

Volunteer Stream Monitors Awarded

News from Extension has posted a new item, 'Volunteer Stream Monitoring Award Winners Announced'

Four individuals and two citizen monitoring groups from across the state were recognized last week for their contributions to volunteer stream monitoring and sharing their knowledge about the health of Wisconsin’s streams.

You may view the latest post at

https://fyi.extension.wisc.edu/news/2019/04/18/water-action-volunteer-awards-2019/

Outreach

Rock River Coalition Recruiting New Board Members

Have you ever considered joining the Rock River Coalition Board?  It’s an opportunity to help shape the future of the Rock River Coalition. As a working board, members help with fundraising and create a newsletter like the one you’re reading now.

• One, two, and three year terms are available.
• Meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of the month (3rd Wednesday in November and December) at 5:15pm and usually at the UW Extension building in Jefferson.
• For more information, please contact a current board member or email

The latest quarterly edition  of the Rock River Coalition newsletter includes more information and may be downloaded here:

• Rock River Reflections Spring Edition

Rock River Coalition Annual Meeting

The Rock River Coalition Annual Meeting will be Monday, May 13, 5:00 – 8:00 pm at Keystone Grill 206 W Main St, Cambridge, WI 53523 (map).  All RRC members are encouraged to attend, enjoy and meet with others involved in RRC activities. The public is also  welcome!

Plan for our evening:

• 5:00 – 5:30 Mingle time. With members, friends, board of directors and guests
• 5:30 – 6:30 Meal time. This year we have three great meal options:
• 1. Beef (gluten free)
• 2. Chicken
• 3. Veggie
• Soft drinks and cash bar available for purchase. Price includes tip and tax.
• This is a good time to talk about the Coalition and what we should be doing together to protect and improve our Rock River Basin.
• 6:00 – 6:30 Annual Meeting. Yep, while we’re still eating. Updates and voting in new board members.
• 6:30 – 7:30 Awards Presentations

Please register by May 3rd by:

1. Cost: $25/person.
2. Use the form on the Coalition's website (www.rockrivercoalition.org) and pay using Paypal or choose to pay at the door
3. Use ye olde snailmail and send your registration info (name(s), meal choice) to: RRC Annual Meeting, 864 Collins Rd, Jefferson WI 53549.

Stormwater

MMSD Yahara WINS Accepting Grant Requests

You all may have received this press release about the Yahara WINS grant availability. I wanted to also add another note to encourage you all to please consider pushing the information in the press release below through your channels.

This grant program is a great way for pilot projects to get started or try new ideas and verify that they can work to reduce phosphorus in the watershed! So please spread the word!

Affordable technology at the right scale is one way to expand the suite of urban and agricultural practices that improve water quality. Yahara WINS can help make technology affordable and work to accelerate and scale technology to keep up with the scope of the challenges we face. We can do this through our innovation grant program that  can help fund pilots and promote adoption and deployment of technology to help make it affordable and make it work at all scales.

You can find the grant application materials here:

Applications will be accepted by email to kathyl@madsewer.org  until close of business May 3rd, 2019. Please include with your submittal email the subject line “Proposal for 2019 Yahara WINs Innovation Grant.” 

Wastewater

Public comment period extended on DNR’s surface water bacteria criteria and effluent limits

The extended public comment period runs from Mar. 4 to May 15, 2019

The comment period has been extended for the DNR’s proposed revisions to bacteria criteria for the protection of recreation and associated permit effluent limits, which were public noticed on March 4.  The comment period, previously slated to end on April 30, has been extended to May 15, 2019. 

The extension is provided due to a revision to rule language outlining effluent limit requirements in ch. NR 210.06(2)(a)2., based on discussion raised during the current comment period.  The proposed permit limits in that paragraph contain both a monthly geometric mean and a second expression of the limit to provide short-term protection of the surface water quality criteria.  In the version noticed on March 4, the short-term limit was a weekly geometric mean.  However, the department is now proposing to replace the weekly limit with the following limit: “No more than 10 percent of E. coli bacteria samples collected in any rolling 90-day period may exceed 410 counts/100 mL.”  This directly corresponds to the surface water quality criteria proposed in ch. NR 102.04(6)(a).  This approach, recommended by EPA, allows for variability in effluent samples, addresses concerns raised about the weekly limit, and is protective of water quality.

The updated Board Order containing the new rule language can be obtained at https://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/ProposedPermanent.html, under rule number WY-17-15.  In addition, a “track changes” version is attached to this email for your convenience in reviewing the changes.  A few additional updates are also shown in track changes in response to earlier comments received.  Comments may be submitted until May 15 to DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov .   

Revised-WDNR_BWQC_Board OrderTrackChanges_WY-17-15_2019-04-17.pdf