 Wisconsin’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a broad overview of nutrient management activities for both point sources and nonpoint sources in Wisconsin. This strategy documents ongoing activities whether they are implemented by federal, state or local agencies. It identifies areas where further progress is needed.
Wisconsin’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy: A framework for nutrient reduction and management
The Wisconsin Nutrient Reduction Strategy, developed with partners and finalized in 2013, envisioned that implementation progress would be measured, tracked and reported to the public. This Implementation Progress report provides a comprehensive description of the substantial and widespread efforts to reduce nutrient losses to Wisconsin rivers, lakes and streams. Nutrient reduction is being accomplished through existing programs at the local, state and federal level that either regulate point sources or promote conservation practices by agricultural non-point sources. Most importantly, implementation is occurring at the watershed scale through partnerships between municipalities/sanitary districts, county land and water conservation departments, farmers, environmental/watershed groups, UW Extension and state/federal agencies to improve water quality. With partners working together, outreach and education are provided, planning is accomplished and practices are implemented that lead to measurable reductions in nutrient losses.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Distract (MMSD) submitted the draft Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) to DNR on February 28th. DNR staff are reviewing the plan and will be providing feedback.
The Menomonee River Watershed 9-Key Element Restoration Plan is being finalized and will be reviewed for 9-Key Elements once submitted to DNR.
Milwaukee River Watershed Planning
Cedar, Pigeon, Ulao, & Mole Creeks Watersheds
The draft nine-key element plan for these watersheds was reviewed by DNR and submitted to the EPA for review of the 9 Key Elements required in the EPA Watershed planning process. SWWT staff are finalizing some additional content to address feedback received. Once this material is received and EPA review is complete, EPA will return the plan, results of the review, and any comments that might need to be addressed.
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 Kinnickinnic River Watershed Nine Key Element Plan was reviewed and received EPA approval March 4, 2020. The plan focuses on strategic implementation, consolidation, education, and accountability in order to localize and strengthen watershed improvement projects. It is the product of a multi-year effort to collect and analyze data, establish diverse stakeholder collaborations, and implement best management practices in the Kinnickinnic River Watershed. If you would like to talk more about how this plan will be implemented, please email Jake Fincher .
Gov. Tony Evers extended the Safer at Home order to "help slow the spread of COVID-19 so we can flatten the curve to ensure our doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers have the opportunity to do their important work." The order is now effective through 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, 2020, or until a superseding order is issued.
In light of COVID-19, the DNR is canceling, adjusting and postponing an array of in-person public events and meetings consistent with guidance provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Department of Administration. As state agencies continue operations, please understand that most staff are teleworking and have limited access to files and delayed online connectivity. We are still available to serve you and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Thank you for your patience during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Wisconsin State Parks And Forests To Reopen May 1
Effective May 1, most Wisconsin State Park properties will be open to the public. Admission fees will be required and there will be various property conditions in place including new hours of operation. Properties may be limiting admission based on capacity. Please make sure to seek out current property information on our website before visiting. For the most up to date information on property access, facility closures, campground closures, event cancellations and more, please see:
COVID-19 Information Webpage.
Learn more about the park changes here.
Download and print the open properties map here.
More info: visit the DNR COVID-19 website for more information on how we are continuing and adapting services during the pandemic.
Sector Team Updates
Improved drinking water protection and reduced flooding rise to the top of a long list of positive impacts that will result from a newly awarded $7.5 million collaborative effort with federal, state and local partners to carry out land and water conservation work in the Milwaukee River Watershed for five years, starting in 2021.
NRCS Successes from the Field - April
Welcome to Successes from the Field! You asked, we listened. Success stories directly from the field related to topics farmers and landowners care about, like: What works for cover crops in my area? What is available to help pollinators? How can I help my soil and water quality?
You’ll find answers in these stories, from local farmers and landowners who successfully partner with NRCS to receive assistance in putting conservation to work on their land. Look for more stories each month.
Sauk County: Learning on the Fly Mary Nachreiner and Rob Hare were tired of tilling the soil on their organic heritage grain farm, so they decided to make the switch to help their soil health by implementing rotational grazing.
Walworth County: Forest Management is Key Mary Rauh wanted to conserve her land and be a better steward by increasing pollinator habitat and managing her forest. She partnered with NRCS to plant a 25-species mix on her acreage
The NRCS welcomes you to the Conservation Connections video series! We're connecting you to local farmers who partner with the USDA-NRCS to reach their unique conservation goals.These agriculture leaders are sharing their personal stories to help you learn and grow as land stewards in your community, so we can all create a more regenerative future together.
VIDEO: After a hard day’s work out in the orchard, there’s nothing like enjoying a glass of cider from the apple trees you hand grafted yourself. Deirdre Birmingham can do just that; she owns and operates an organic orchard in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. She partnered with NRCS to install a variety of conservation practices to meet her farm's needs.
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Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has released their "Baseline Water Quality Monitoring, Milwaukee River Watershed, Phase One - 2020 Final Report". The baseline information collected and summarized under this phase one project is intended to address areas within the Milwaukee River watershed where there is limited historical monitoring information. Several impairments have been identified as preventing achievement of water use objectives by surface waterbodies in the Milwaukee River watershed. These impairments include degraded biological communities, degraded habitat, elevated water temperatures, low concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), recreational use restrictions, and water quality use restrictions. The impairments are all related to one or more of the following pollutants: sediment, total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), and fecal indicator bacteria (fecal coliform, or FC and Escherichia coli, or E. coli), and several stream reaches within the watershed are impacted by one or more of these impairments.
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Restrictions relating to COVID-19 have caused the Department of Natural Resources and the UW System to restrict staff travel and require working remotely. Most Department monitoring activities have been suspended until further notice, including water quality monitoring. The Governor’s announcement yesterday further restricts travel and activities of all residents of Wisconsin.
Because of these developments, please discontinue all WAV monitoring and activities that require travel and/or contact with others who are not part of your household.”
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Many stormwater best management practices (BMPs) are now reaching the age that they need maintenance. This three-day webinar partnership with Waukesha County offers stormwater professionals a chance to hear experts from around the state share their experiences in maintaining a variety of BMPs in a diversity of urban settings. Also included are some updates to DNR stormwater BMP technical standards, as well as tips on BMP construction, municipal WPDES permits, and invasive species control. So, earn some PDH credits while you work from home
- Tuesday, May 5, 1:00-3:10 p.m: Regulator Perspective, Dewatering, BMP Filters, Vegetation Management & Home Owner Associations
- Wednesday, May 6, 1:00-3:10 p.m: Dredge Spoils, Artificial Wetlands, Green Infrastructure & Rain Gardens
- Thursday, May 7, 1:00-3:00 p.m.: Muskrat Control, Constructed Wetlands
Registration
Sign up for individual webinars or the whole three-day series. Fees: $50/day or $130 for the three-day series. Register at https://conta.cc/2z6VKtR There is a limit of 250 participants per day, so register early! If you do not receive a confirmation email after registering, contact Penny at Penny@wisconsinlandwater.org to get registered!
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We at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources want you to know we are here for you and our great state as we go through the COVID-19 public health emergency together. We also recognize the potential hardships the pandemic may cause. As always, to the maximum extent possible, conditions and requirements of WPDES permits should still be adhered to, but first and foremost a facility should focus on operations (to maintain effluent quality) and other crisis management actions.
All deviations from "normal" operations should be fully documented and communicated to DNR. As a facility's situation changes, please communicate any changes with your DNR compliance staff by email. If there are delays or missed samples, please provide a comment on the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) form explaining whether missed requirements were due to COVID-19 issues and be clear if the issues were the result of staffing issues at the facility or laboratory challenges. Additional information can be found on the DNR's compliance assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As always, please reach out to your Wastewater staff contacts if you have any questions or requests for assistance.
As state agencies continue operations during the "Safer at Home" order and COVID-19 pandemic, please understand that most of our staff are teleworking and may have limited access to files and delayed online connectivity. With this in mind, we ask that our customers:
- Email whenever possible to communicate with staff.
- Set-up conference calls or Skype meetings in lieu of in-person meetings.
- Request electronic public records online using our standard system, whenever possible.
- State staff are not currently available to access physical files and no staff are available on-site to allow physical inspection of files by the public until the Governor's COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
- Submit documents electronically, preferably via a download link (ftp servers, DNR system, etc.). Note: If that option is not available to you, DNR staff can receive emails up to 20 MB.
Our staff will keep their voicemails and out-of-office messages up to date and will respond as they are able.
For the most up-to-date information, please visit our COVID-19 information webpage. For program-specific information, please search keyword "COVID19."
Additional COVID-19 Resources
The 54th Annual WWOA Conference is scheduled for October 20 - October 23, 2020 at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center Wisconsin Dells, WI. Exhibitor Registration is NOW OPEN!
- To register online, click here.
- Book your hotel accommodations today at our 2020 headquarters, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. The Kalahari is located at 1305 Kalahari Drive, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965. Reservations may be made online HERE.
However, if you prefer to make your reservations by phone, you may call the Kalahari at 877-525-2427. Remember to specify that your reservation is part of the group: WI Wastewater Operators, in order to receive the group rate.
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Grant Information
The next deadline in Wisconsin for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for funding this year is May 29, 2020. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages adoption of new technologies and management techniques.
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