Ag/NPS

Gov. Evers Directs Agencies to Address Nitrate Contamination in Ground and Surface Water

WATERTOWN — Gov. Tony Evers today announced additional efforts by the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to address nitrates in ground and surface water.

“I am committed to protecting Wisconsin’s waters and ensuring every Wisconsinite has access to clean drinking water,” said Gov. Evers. “In the Year of Clean Drinking Water, I’m proud that my cabinet is working with the agricultural and environmental communities to address nitrate contamination.”

As part of the announcement, Gov. Evers directed DNR to pursue rulemaking through NR 151 to reduce nitrate contamination by establishing targeted nitrate performance standard for soils that are most likely to experience nitrogen contamination.  Read the entire news release...

2019 Small Grains Conference

Registration is open for Practical Farmers of Iowa’s third annual small-grains conference, “Rotationally Raised: Making Small Grains Work,” which will take place Aug. 15-16 at the Wintergreen Resort and Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

The two-day conference starts at noon on Thursday, Aug. 15, and will feature:

• twelve breakout sessions on topics ranging from integrating animals into a small-grains operation to marketing, rebuilding the small-grains economy in the Midwest, agronomic issues and more
• a plenary by University of Wisconsin-Madison grassland ecologist Randy Jackson,who will speak on “The Case for Diversity: Extending the Crop Rotation”
• ample time to network -- including at a networking reception to help connect small-grains buyers and sellers with one another
• a closing plenary by John and Halee Wepking,of Meadowlark Organicsnear Ridgeway, Wisconsin, on bringing the next generation to the farm with small grains

BA news release with more details is attached and copied below. The full conference program can also be accessed on our small grains conference webpage.

Please note that registration is required by Monday, Aug. 12 -- but those wishing to access the discounted hotel rate PFI has reserved must book their rooms by July 20.

Monitoring

Public comment sought on proposed rules to assess the health of Wisconsin water bodies

The public has until September 20, 2019 to provide feedback on two proposed rule revisions related to assessing the health of lakes and streams in Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comment on two proposals that would update Wisconsin Administrative Code.  These rules describe how the biology of a lake or stream—such as its fish, insect, plant and algae communities—are used to assess its overall health.  The rule updates also establish how algae and plants will be used to determine whether a water body is responding to elevated phosphorus levels and whether it may need a different phosphorus criterion.

The first rule (Natural Resources Board order WY-23-13) addresses water quality standards that the department uses to assess waterbodies for impairments.  These standards include biological criteria and indicators that a waterbody is responding to elevated phosphorus levels.

The second rule (NRB order WT-17-12) would establish a process for determining when an individual waterbody needs a higher or lower phosphorus criterion than the statewide target in order to meet its water quality goals.

The proposed language can be found on the DNR’s website for proposed permanent rules by looking up each rule’s NRB order number. 

A joint public hearing will be held for both rules at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, with simultaneous telepresence in Madison and Green Bay.

Second Public Comment Period on Pathogens Runs Through Aug. 20, 2019

A second public comment period is being held for the public to provide feedback on proposed revisions to water quality criteria for pathogens (bacteria) to protect recreation in lakes, rivers, and streams.  The revisions proposed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources follow EPA recommendations to change from the current state criterion based on fecal coliform to one based on E. coli, as E. coli is a better indicator of the risk of gastrointestinal illness.  The rule revisions will change certain permit requirements for sewage treatment facilities accordingly.  The DNR is adding a second comment period because of changes based on comments received during the first comment period held in April.  These changes include adjustments to how permit limits are expressed and the time frame during which E. coli permit limits are required.  The previous economic impact analysis has also been updated, and the rule is expected to have a moderate economic impact.  The updated economic analysis and responses to previous public comments are available with the posted materials.

The second public comment period for this rule will run through August 20, 2019.  An additional public hearing will also be held during this period on Wednesday, August 7 at 2:00, in Room G27 at the Madison Dept. of Natural Resources Bldg., 101 S. Webster St., Madison, WI.  Materials for review may be found on the DNR’s website at https://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/ProposedPermanent.html, under rule number WY-17-15. 

Comments can be submitted to: DNRAdministrativeRulesComments@wisconsin.gov.  This notification is being distributed to those sewage treatment facilities that may be affected, the department's distribution list for impaired waters and water quality standards, the WPDES permit notification list, and other entities that may be interested in the proposed rules.

Outreach

DNR asks boaters to be good neighbors & limit damaging wakes

Contact(s): Joanne Haas, DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement public information officer, joanne.haas@wisconsin.gov, 608-209-8147

MADISON -- Boaters, paddlers, anglers and swimmers, as well as shoreline property owners, are put at risk when boat operators throttle up and leave wakes in their paths - forcing others on the water to react quickly to the sudden rough water that slams other vessels and crashes into the shorelines.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is joining the Minnesota DNR in a public campaign urging all boaters to be aware of the risks and problems caused by boat wakes and to take steps to reduce big wakes.

Driven by a growing number of calls and complaints about excessive wakes, both states launched an educational effort urging people to "Own Your Wake - for everyone's sake." The to spread the word about the importance of minimizing wakes that might pose a nuisance or hazard to others.

Anyone with information regarding natural resource violations, may confidentially report by calling or texting: VIOLATION HOTLINE: 1-800-TIP-WDNR or 1-800-847-9367. The hotline is in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained staff relay information to conservation wardens.  Read the full article...

Stormwater

Two MS4 general permits reissued

The DNR has reissued WPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Individual Permit No. WI–S058416-4, effective July 1, 2019, and this permit covers 21 municipalities in Dane County.  

The DNR reissued WPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit No. WI–S050075–3, effective May 1, 2019, which replaces previous coverage under expired WPDES MS4 General Permits No. WI–S050075–2 and WI–S050181–1.

Two hundred and forty five municipalities in Wisconsin including cities, villages, towns and counties have coverage under an MS4 permit in accordance with NR 216, Wis. Adm. Code [exit DNR]. Use the links below to find out who is affected, how municipalities comply with permit requirements, and technical assistance documents. Learn more about storm water runoff.

Within the Rock River Basin, there were 48 MS4s listed as permitted when the TMDL was published, and two more have been added bringing the total to 50 municipalities covered by an MS4 permit.  Within the new General Permit, Appendix A specifically addresses TMDL implementation for municipalities in the Rock River Basin.  For more information, please see the General Permit via the link here:

• Appendix A: MS4 Permittees Subject to a TMDL Approved Prior to May 1, 2014

Wastewater

Wastewater WPDES Permit Progress Update

Periodically throughout the year, WDNR Wastewater Staff update the status of WPDES Wastewater Permits to track progress on permit issuance and TMDL Implementation.  Currently within the Rock River Basin, over 95% of WPDES permits that existed at the time of the Rock River TMDL Publication in 2011 have been reissued with TMDL limits (see below).  Given WPDES permits last 5 years, we already see that over 20% of permits in the Rock River Basin are already in the second term with TMDL limits.