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Checkout the new DNR Road Salt Resource - the Salt Wise website featuring Chloride reduction tools and trainings for municipalities and private contractors.
The DNR has launched a new “Salt and Storm Water” web page! Check it out here:
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/learn_more/salt.html
The web page lists upcoming winter salt certification trainings being held by our partners, as well as additional resources on helping reduce chloride pollution while keeping roads, parking lots, and sidewalks safe.
Wisconsin winters cause us to rely heavily on salting our roads, parking lots and sidewalks. But high salt use causes Wisconsin’s lakes, streams and drinking water to suffer. The growing salt problem threatens our fish and other aquatic life, and our groundwater that supplies our drinking water. We can continue to keep our roads, parking lots and sidewalks safe by using the right amount of salt. Take action by participating in one of the winter salt certification trainings held throughout the state.
Water Quality Improvement Planning Update
Work on a draft Water Quality Improvement Plan for the greater Milwaukee River Basin (including the Menomonee, Kinnickinnick, and Harbor/Estuary) continues. Members of the drafting team are meeting this week to discuss progress and how to best capitalize on watershed-based planning and compliance options to facilitate a "basin community" approach to not only meeting TMDL goals, but most importantly, restoring designated uses of impaired waters, and continuing to protect non-impaired waters. The current timeline goal is to have a draft ready during 1st quarter of 2020.
Wastewater permitting is progressing according to WPDES statutes and existing compliance schedules. An update on permits is provided in the Wastewater Section of this newsletter.
Milwaukee River Watershed Planning
Cedar, Pigeon, Mole, Ulao, L. Michigan Frontal Lobe Watersheds
The latest revisions to the nine-key element plan for these watersheds was received by DNR and review comments returned. A great deal of work has gone into these plans and further efforts are targeted at meeting the last few elements.
The planning team met and presented the draft plan on Sept 10. The draft plan has been shared with stakeholders for comments. Comments are being returned and incorporated, with an anticipated final draft being ready in November.
The current strategy of updating the previous Menomonee River Watershed Restoration Plan will also incorporate the communities and memebers of the Menomonee Watershed Group permit. DNR staff are working with communities to strategize how they might address TMDL goals and targets within MS4 permits. While work on the WQIP and other planning efforts has taken precedence, as these are wrapped up, we anticipate continued progress and completion of the updated Menomonee River Watershed plan.
The Kinnickinnic (KK) River Watershed Restoration Plan is being updated to meet the nine-key elements. This "renewal" process will update the plan for another ten years and allow the region to receive highest eligibility for federal water quality and restoration grants (e.g. Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and Section 319 Nonpoint Grants). While work on the WQIP and other planning efforts has taken precedence, as these are wrapped up, we anticipate continued progress and completion of the updated KK River Watershed plan.
Wisconsin’s Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan (FFY 2021-2025)
A draft of Wisconsin’s Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan (FFY 2021-2025) is available for public review and comment until October 1, 2019. The Management Plan is a 5-year plan that governs how the state uses its Section 319 (federal NPS Program) grant. The plan must meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Act requirements to ensure Wisconsin’s eligibility for Section 319 funding.
The Management Plan was last fully updated in September 2015. It outlines the state of Wisconsin’s approach to addressing water quality impacts from nonpoint sources of pollution. The updated draft version of the plan covers the projected management activities and efforts from federal fiscal years (FFY) 2021 through 2025. The draft is available for review at: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/nonpoint/npsPlanUpdates.html.
The existing plan for FFY 2016-2020 is posted on the Department’s website at: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Nonpoint/aboutNPSprogram.html.
Once the comment period is complete, all comments will be considered by the Department. After considering all public comments, revisions may be made to the document, and the final draft will be submitted to EPA for review and approval. The final EPA-approved version of the plan will be made available to internal and external stakeholders. Comments related to this draft document should be sent by October 1, 2019 to: DNRNPSPROGRAM@wisconsin.gov.
Wisconsin Land & Water
This course is for planners and technicians and will run through the tools used to determine resource concerns in a farmstead setting. The goal is to help planners and technicians work together when identifying resource concerns. Participants will visit one farm and evaluate resource concerns and discuss alternatives and another farm that has applied several practices. There is no charge for this training, and lunch will be provided. 4.5 Soil & Water CEUs and PDHs will be offered.
Monday, October 7, 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Find out more at https://wisconsinlandwater.org/training/statewide-training-events
NWF created a program in 2013 for cover cropping farmers and agricultural professionals, called the “Cover Crop Champions.” This program is specifically designed for people who want to try new types of outreach to reach farmers who are more hesitant to adopt cover crops. The champions receive grants to cover the costs of the outreach plan.
We are continuing this program in 2020 and have just opened the application for this grant. The deadline for applications is November 22 2019. All of the details can be found here: Champion RFP
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The Washington and Washington Counties AIS Program has published an important update on Starry stonewort in lakes in the region.
In 2019, there have been 3 lakes in Waukesha County now confirmed to have starry stonewort: Pewaukee, Lower Nemahbin, and Okauchee. On Pewaukee Lake, the starry stonewort was found at the public access in Naga-Waukee County Park by a volunteer participating in the AIS Snapshot Day on August 17th. On Lower Nemahbin, the starry stonewort was found by the public access by a citizen lake monitor (the same gentleman who found it in Pewaukee on Snapshot Day). In Okauchee, the starry stonewort was found by a private consultant. All specimens have been verified and confirmed to be starry stonewort.
Monitoring and Survey Efforts:
Lower Nemahbin Lake - in response to the confirmation of starry stonewort, on 9/9/19 the DNR conducted both a point intercept survey and an early detection survey. Starry was only found at the public access.
Upper Nemahbin Lake - Upper Nemahbin had a point intercept survey conducted earlier in the summer by a private consultant. No starry stonewort was found during this survey. Since both Lower and Upper Nemahbin share a public access, the DNR conducted an early detection survey on Upper Nemahbin during the week of 9/16/19. No additional starry stonewort was detected.
Pewaukee Lake - in response to the confirmation of starry stonewort, the DNR is conducting an early detection survey on 9/18/19.
Okauchee Lake - a point intercept survey was conducted by a private consultant earlier in the summer. Starry stonewort was found in the southwest portion of the lake in a navigational channel that flows under the W Lake Drive bridge. The DNR is planning to conduct an early detection survey in late September.
For more information on these efforts, Read the full newsletter
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Join Milwaukee Riverkeeper at A Flowing Tradition: Annual Member Gathering as we provide dedicated river stewards with updates on our thriving programs and celebrate the people that made it all possible – YOU. Enjoy food and fellowship with other river lovers, hear from the Milwaukee Riverkeeper crew yourself, and celebrate this year’s successes!
Location: School of Freshwater Sciences (600 E Greenfield Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53204)
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MS4 Newsletter
The DNR publishes a quarterly Municipal Storm Water newsletter (MS4) to share information with MS4 communities and stakeholders. This newsletter is the source for news, updates and information relating to MS4 permitting, and stormwater, in general.
Subscribe HERE
Permittees are reminded to update their storm water management programs and submit to the DNR no later than March 31, 2021! That is a year and a half away!
Here’s what you can do:
The DNR reissued WPDES Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit No. WI–S050075–3 on May 1, 2019, which replaces previous coverage under expired WPDES MS4 General Permits No. WI–S050075–2 and WI–S050181–1. The reissued general permit is available on DNR’s website at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/municipal
MS4 program updates webinar
Join us for a MS4 permit program webinar on October 30, 2019. The purpose of the webinar is to provide a statewide summary of 2018 MS4 annual reports and a brief overview of the MS4 general permit updates. Mark your calendar and watch for GovDelivery announcements for more details.
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DNR staff have compiled a progress update of WPDES Wastewater permits to be included in the Statewide Nutrient Reduction Update Report. While the report is being finalized, we can share some highlights. The approved TMDL included 34 specific permit holders in the basin. Due to the ability to switch to a general permit or discharge to sanitary, there are currently 27 permit holders subject to TMDL limits, of which, 23% now have TMDL limits in their permits.
While exact numbers are subject to change, we can extrapolate based on permit compliance schedules and roughly estimate the schedule for future permits to incorporate TMDL limits:
- 2019 = 23%
- 2020 = 30%
- 2021 = 50%
- 2022 = 85% (numerous permits being reissued)
- 2023 = 96%
- 2024 = 100%
Two facilities/communities have affirmed they are choosing watershed-based permit compliance options - adaptive management or water quality trading. An additional six communities have expressed sincere interest in these alternative permit compliance options. As these permit compliance options are formalized, we will update the permit compliance map to help track and report utilization of these options.
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Grant Information
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the launch of the updated Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Potential partners are encouraged to submit proposals that will improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.
RCPP eligible partners include private industry, non-government organizations, Indian tribes, state and local governments, water districts and universities. Partners may request between $250,000 and $10 million in RCPP funding through this funding announcement. Leveraging of this NRCS funding is a key principle of RCPP; partners are expected to make value-added contributions to amplify the impact of RCPP funding.
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