 Sweet Water is committed to restoring the Greater Milwaukee watersheds to conditions that are healthy for swimming and fishing. We bring diverse partners together and provide the leadership and innovation necessary to protect and restore our shared water resources.
Sweet Water is bringing together local experts that know how to turn “watershed planning” into action in a series of workshops funded by a WDNR’s River Planning Grant. The input from experts will help develop a systematic approach in combining crucial information from existing water quality improvement plans, municipal capital plans, and other technical documents. The input of planning experts and project implementation experts alike will help develop a systematic approach to turn planning into action - this will be known as the Watershed Playbook. The playbook will help guide Sweet Water in its mission to facilitate collaboration that results in improved water resources. The four-part series of workshops focus on:
- Communication
- Facilitation
- Implementation
- Reporting
The first virtual workshop was held on Wednesday, July 22nd. The remaining workshops will be held in the ensuing months before the end of 2020. If you are interested in joining in on these conversations, please contact Kristin Schoenecker, Watershed Coordination Manager, at kristin@swwtwater.org.
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Distract (MMSD) submitted the draft Water Quality Improvement Plan (WQIP) to DNR as part of their WPDES permit renewal. DNR staff are reviewing the plan and will be providing feedback. Associated outreach efforts have begun and are described above.
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:
This Nine-Key Element Watershed Plan covering the six HUC12 watersheds was approved in July 2020. This great news means this area is now eligible for EPA nonpoint (section 319) and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding grants for TMDL Implementation and Water Quality Improvement projects.
The Menomonee River Watershed 9-Key Element Restoration Plan is being finalized and reviewed for 9-Key Elements.
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.
Sector Team Updates
In Wisconsin’s Great Lakes Region, Dave and his three sons, Matthew, Ross and Derek, manage New Horizons Dairy. Matthew and Ross work closely with the cattle and Derek works closely with his father to explore cropping opportunities on over 2,500 acres.
Derek works to ensure their farm continues to thrive, focusing on conservation that is environmentally sound and profitable. He partnered with NRCS through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to install a variety of conservation practices to meet his families farm needs. Watch the video to hear his journey..
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USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2020-5035
This comprehensive report publishes the results of a multi-year effort by numerous local, state and federal partners to assess and evaluate the ecological health of stream communities inthe greater Milwaukee region.
"A total of 14 wadable streams in urban or urbanizing watersheds near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, were sampled in 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013 to assess the ecological status of aquatic communities (biota), including benthic algae and invertebrates, and fish. To assess temporal variation, additional community sampling was also done at a subset of three sites in 2011 and 2012. Relative abundances of each type of organism were used to calculate biological metrics, such as richness and diversity, percentages of intolerant and tolerant organisms, and indexes of biotic integrity for invertebrates and fish. Selected environmental (physical and chemical) data in the streams were collected to evaluate potential relations to the biota and the ecological health of the stream. Physical and chemical data included land use/land cover, stream discharge from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages (except at 2 creeks that were not gaged), stream habitat, microhabitat at invertebrate collection locations, water quality (except at 2 creeks that were not gaged), field measurements of several water-quality constituents, measures of benthic algal biomass, and toxicity and chemical tests on extracts from passive samplers deployed at a subset of 6 sites." Read more...
You may have noticed Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteers checking boats at a local boat landing, or maybe you are a volunteer or are interested in learning more. Clean Boats, Clean Waters includes teams of volunteers, as well as some paid staff from the DNR, Sea Grant and other organizations. Boat inspectors help perform boat and trailer checks, disseminate informational brochures and educate boaters on how to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Read more...
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You are invited to participate in the third Stakeholder group meeting for rulemaking efforts related to PFAS surface water quality criteria. This meeting will be a virtual listening session held on August 27, 2020 beginning at 9:30 am, and can be accessed via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/93244087180.
During the previous stakeholder meeting on March 23, 2020, DNR staff presented the approach used to calculate water quality standards using the formula in NR 105, including the calculated range of potential values for PFOS and PFOA. Presentations and a recording of that meeting can be found on the NR105 rule webpage.
At the meeting on August 27, DNR would like to hear from stakeholders on recommended approaches to implementing these criteria, as well as alternative or supplemental approaches to minimizing PFAS in surface water. While continuing to develop surface water quality standards, DNR is also considering:
- How to most accurately calculate costs of compliance with PFOS/PFOA criteria. (DNR has data on Michigan’s experience with effluent levels, treatment costs and source reduction, but similar information for Wisconsin permittees is very limited);
- A statewide (multi-discharger) variance;
- Developing guidance to implement the existing narrative standard for “no toxics in toxic amounts”; and
- A technology-based effluent guideline for industrial sources.
You are invited to share your thoughts on implementation either verbally, via a PowerPoint presentation, or through informal comments. If you wish to make a presentation, please coordinate with Meghan Williams at meghanc3.williams@wisconsin.gov by August 24.
The Water Quality Bureau is committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to ensure all options for effective regulation and control of these compounds to protect public health and the environment are considered during the rulemaking process.
Ride to the Barns has grown to be a significant fundraiser for Tall Pines Conservancy thanks to loyal support across lake country. In today's challenging times, your participation this year means more to our organization than ever before! With your help this year, we can bring back the ride you know and love in 2021 - bigger and better than ever before! Tall Pines Conservancy is continuing this event for the 12th year as a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) ride event.
Registration Fee
$75 per person
Special pricing for teams of 6 or more.
Contact Beth at beth@tallpinesconservancy.org for more information.
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Salt Symposium shapes the chloride conversation, presenting developments in salt use optimization for people and the environment. Presentations on Day 1 will focus on chloride use in water softening, fertilizer, and dust suppressants. Day 2 will be all about the latest developments in chloride reducing approaches for winter maintenance. Keynote addresses and award presentations will be given both days.
Go to https://fortinconsulting.regfox.com/salt-symposium-2020 to register.
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Yahara Watershed Improvement Network (Yahara WINS) is a groundbreaking initiative to clean up the local watershed in Madison, Wisconsin. A collaborative strategy called watershed adaptive management, led by Madison Metropolitan Sewage District, brings together various stakeholders in the community and government to reduce phosphorus pollution in the watershed. While an essential nutrient in soil, excess phosphorus runoff into surface waters causes severe algae blooms that can destroy ecosystems. By facilitating projects on the landscape engineered to reduce phosphorus runoff, along with removing legacy sediment, Yahara WINS was able to prevent more than 50,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering local waters in 2019. Yahara WINS, which started as a pilot program, has been successful enough to receive funding for the next 20 years.
Read more here.
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