 In 2019, 289 projects located in 60 Wisconsin counties were awarded $5.8 million in grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The projects include planning and management actions that improve water quality, reduce runoff, create aquatic habitat and target aquatic invasive species.
Grant applications for the following categories of DNR Surface Water Grants are due February 1.
- Lake Protection
- AIS Control
- River Protection
The Surface Water Grant Program offers competitive, cost-sharing grants for surface water protection and restoration. Grants are available to support surface water management from start to finish. Whether your organization is interested in education, ecological assessments, planning, implementation or aquatic invasive species, there is probably a grant program that can help you accomplish your goals.
The draft Water Quality Improvement Plan was reported as being complete and is being reviewed. Once complete, the draft will be presented to DNR for review. We anticipate a TMDL Implementation Team meeting will be held to share review comments and suggested revisions in April/May of this year.
Milwaukee River Watershed Planning
Cedar, Pigeon, Mole, Ulao, L. Michigan Frontal Lobe Watersheds
The draft nine-key element plan for these watersheds has been submitted to DNR. DNR staff will be reviewing this plan for meeting the 8 Key Elements required in the EPA Watershed planning process.
Fredonia-Newburg Nonpoint Source Watershed Restoration
DNR staff are working with MMSD to begin the nine-key element review process. The final draft reports are available for download via the MMSD website:
The Menomonee River Watershed Restoration Plan is the next in line to being updated to meet the EPA nine-key elements. The and Kinnickinnic (KK) has been submitted to DNR and is under review.
DNR staff presentations on implementation of the Milwaukee River Basin TMDLs were given at the Clean Rivers - Clean Lakes Conference in November. These can be viewed here:
Farmers for Lake Country are hosting a free seminar on manure management, manure management regulations, and nutrient management planning (NRCS 590 and NR 243). Topics will include discussion of what is actually required in regulations, clearing up confusion over how and when manure may be applied, considerations and options for more flexibility in manure application, and open question and answer session with DATCP and WI-DNR partners.
When: Thursday, January 9, 2020, 9 am - 2:30 pm
Where: Ashippun Town Hall, W1266 County Road O, Ashippun
Register: It's FREE (lunch provided)
Sponsored by Farmers for Lake Country, PDPW and DATCP
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension will host workshops in seven locations in January 2020, providing information and resources on farm succession and estate planning. The workshops will run from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Participants will have an opportunity to meet individually with speakers, including attorneys and tax specialists to ask specific questions about their situations.
Local workshops include:
- Jan. 21: Walworth County Government Center, 100 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. Contact Jim Versweyveld, Extension Walworth County agriculture educator at Jim.Versweyveld@wisc.edu or 262-741-4951.
- Jan. 28, 2020 – Kewaskum, location to be determined. Contact Stephanie Plaster, Extension county agriculture educator Stephanie.Plaster@wisc.edu or in Ozaukee County at 262-284-8288 or in Washington County at 262-335-4477
Read more...
Madison, Wis. – December 17, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) seeks public comments on its interim rule for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), USDA’s flagship program that helps producers plan and implement 150-plus conservation practices on working lands. The rule – now available on the Federal Register – takes effect upon publication and includes changes to the program prescribed by the 2018 Farm Bill.
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Ice fishing tournaments are fun, popular, family friendly events that allow us to enjoy our lakes throughout winter across Wisconsin. However, did you know that, despite the cold weather and lake ice, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) such as invertebrates, exotic bait fish, and plant material can still be introduced into lakes? It is important for anglers to continue following bait laws and to not move water from one lake to another, and to also clean all equipment and not contaminate lakes by introducing muck or plant residue from outside sources. In Washington County, the AIS Coordinator spoke to the Nabob Prairie Riders, a snowmobile club in Washington County, at their meeting at the Mueller Linden Inn on Big Cedar Lake. They will be hosting an ice fishing tournament on Big Cedar in January 2020. With Little Cedar Lake (which contains the invasive macro-algae starry stonewort) only a few miles away, the AIS Coordinator wanted to ensure that they were familiar with the species and encouraged them to knock any sediment and materials off of their equipment and make sure their gear is clean before moving to another lake. For more information on AIS on your area, contact your local AIS Coordinator:
AIS Coordinator County Contacts
The DNR has established limits on the size and number of tournaments on some lakes and rivers to minimize concerns such as crowding, the spread of invasive species and indirect fish mortality. Additionally, an application fee is required to cover the increasing cost of implementing the tournament fishing program.
How does the DNR regulate fishing tournaments?
The DNR has specific regulatory authority over fishing tournaments in Wisconsin.
How to schedule or find a Wisconsin fishing tournament
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View a calendar with all scheduled Wisconsin tournaments to make sure your waterbody and dates are available, or to find a tournament you'd like to attend.
- Apply for a tournament permit.
For more information
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The Clean Water Association, representing lakes in Washington and Waukesha Counties, will be holding its debut quarterly meeting for 2020 on Thursday, January 16 from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Oconomowoc Community Center. This meeting's topic is one that has been frequently requested - Enforcement and Prevention of Aquatic Invasive Species in Local Waters. Full agenda
We encourage you to share the attached invitation with your neighbors and fellow members of your lake groups. The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is appreciated for our planning purposes. If you have any questions, please feel free to respond to this e-mail or call 262-369-0500.
The Southeastern Wisconsin Regeional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) is the federally delegated local planning authority for southeastern Wisconsin. This includes responsibility for drafting and updating the Regional Water Quality Management Plan. The Commission has initiated a federally required interim review and update of VISION 2050, which is expected to be held in mid-2020. The first of two rounds of public involvement was completed in December 2019. A second round will take place in early spring 2020.
Every four years, the Commission conducts an interim review and update of the regional land use and transportation plan, in part to address Federal requirements. The 2020 Review and Update assesses implementation to date of VISION 2050, reviews the year 2050 forecasts underlying the plan, and monitors current transportation system performance. The review will also examine whether it remains reasonable for the recommendations in VISION 2050 to be accomplished over the next 30 years, given the implementation of the plan to date and available and anticipated funding. As a result of the review and update process, recommendations may be added or updated, and the financial analysis will be updated to reflect any changes in anticipated funding or expenditures. An outline of the 2020 Review and Update along with draft chapters prepared to date can be reviewed on the here.
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Submit the 2019 MS4 Annual Report by 3/31/2020; Use eReporting System
The 2019 Annual Report online form is now available in the MS4 eReporting system. The Annual Report is due March 31, 2020, and the online form is required to be filled out and submitted electronically via the eReporting system. How to access
Water Permit Portal, choose Storm Water: dnr.wi.gov/permits/water/
A copy of the 2019 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Annual Report PDF form is available on the department's Municipal storm water eReporting web page. Permittees may use this PDF form to route for information collection for calendar year 2019, however the PDF form cannot be uploaded or emailed. The Annual Report must be submitted via the eReporting system.
Notable changes to the 2019 Annual Report form
- Home Tab updated
- Evaluation Tab: Total maximum daily load questions for general permittees subjected to Appendix A
Storm water management program documents
General permittees and Madison area (MAMSWaP) permittees shall submit their storm water management programs to the department by and begin implementing any updates no later than March 31, 2021 (ref: WPDES Permit No. WI-S050075-3, section 3; WPDES Permit No. WI-S058416-4, section 5). Storm water management program documents describe in detail how the permittee intends to comply with the permit's requirements for each minimum control measure. A document will need to be submitted separately for each of the programs through the eReporting system. The written storm water management program can be submitted with the "Annual Report" or "Other" MS4 compliance document options.
Additional eReporting resources
Find User Support Tools and the Delegation of Signature Authority form: dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/municipal/eReporting.html
More information about MS4 permits: dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/municipal/
Waukesha County's Land Resource Division will be hosting a Spring Stormwater Workshop at UWM-Waukesha on March 17, 2020. The workshop typically includes about 14 half-hour presentations and will likely draw 100-150 people. If you are interested in being a presenter, please contact Leif Hauge at lhauge@waukeshacounty.gov, and provide a brief (i.e. 3-4 sentences) synopsis of the topic you would like to discuss. Presenters have the workshop registration fee waived.
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(excerpted from: KEN THOMAS/Daily Citizen)
As with most communities throughout the Rock River Basin, updated water-quality-based effluent limits (to meet the Rock River TMDL) have been incorporated into the latest wastewater discharge permit (WPDES permit) for the city of Waupun. After going through the Facility Alternative Compliance Planning process and exploring the cost/benefits of various compliance options, the city of Waupun has decided on a $23 million facility upgrade to meet new phosphorus and nitrate discharge limits.
"Alternatives includes chemical addition, multi-discharger variance, adaptive management and water quality trading. All are deemed unfeasible or ineligible for funding. A facility upgrade has been deemed the best choice."
With the timing of their permit schedule, the city was able to take advantage funding through the United States Department of Agriculture.
"The Waupun facility treats an average of 1 million gallons of water per day. Wastewater (effluent) ends up in the Rock River... Options to reduce those limits include mechanical filtration or Waupun’s chosen method of algae growth and harvest. Algae will actually add revenue to the equation rather than simply adding to rising costs. Waupun’s upgrade is an advanced biological nutrient recovery system. The system will produce two tons of algae per day."
Read the full article
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