 The WDNR is seeking data on the water quality of lakes, streams and rivers in our state. Along with Department data, submitted data will be used to assess the quality of our state's water resources and pinpoint problem areas.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking data on the water quality of lakes, streams and rivers in our state. Every two years, the DNR requests Wisconsinites and interested groups submit their biological, chemical and physical surface water data.
Along with Department data, submitted data will be used to assess the quality of our state’s water resources and pinpoint problem areas. In accordance with the Clean Water Act, the DNR uses these assessments to prepare a statewide Integrated Water Quality Report which includes an updated list of impaired waters.
Data will be accepted from Dec. 7, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021.
The DNR is especially interested in data that:
- Documents improvement due to implementation of pollution control practices;
- Documents healthy waters;
- Supports planning for restoration or protection of water bodies;
- Identifies public health risks;
- Is from water bodies in the Fox River (Southeast) basin, or Grant, Platte, Sugar or Pecatonica River basins; and
- Could be used for water quality criteria development in addition to assessments.
Data must be submitted electronically, and the information must be submitted in specific Excel spreadsheet formats, along with quality assurance documentation.
Required elements include:
- A Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP);
- Data in the specified Excel spreadsheet format (template provided);
- Locational information in specified spreadsheet format (template provided); and
- General information about the submitter.
Templates and further instructions are available on the Surface Water Public Participation webpage. Data received as PDF files or in other hard copy formats will not be accepted.
Guidance on minimum data requirements and how the DNR evaluates data is available in the draft 2022 Wisconsin Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM). This guidance is currently undergoing revisions for the 2022 reporting cycle, and the 2022 version is on the DNR website.
Please contact DNR staff with any questions at DNRWYWaterbodyAssessments@wisconsin.gov
Sector Team Updates
Rolling Into Soil Health - Dodge County Farmers for Healthy Soil & Healthy Water 5th Annual Soil Health Expo
Feb 10, 2021
This year's theme is 'Rolling Into Soil Health' featuring talks from Rick Clark and Dr. Erin Silva. There will be in-person and virtual attendance options. Check back here for more updates
Rolling into Soil Health
DATE: February 10, 2021
LOCATION: Juneau Community Center
*(We will be offering both “in person” and “virtual” attendance)
SPEAKERS:
Rick Clark
Rick Clark uses no-till and cover crops in a 5 crop rotation on his Indiana farm. His goal is to build the soil health on his farm to the point that he doesn’t need to apply any herbicides or fertilizers.
Dr. Erin Silva
Dr. Erin Silva is an Associate Professor in the plant pathology Department at the UW. Her focus is on using cover crops to reduce herbicide use.
This year’s Wisconsin Cover Crop Conference may look a little different, but we promise to still bring you the valuable content you have come to expect from this conference.
Topics include moving forward through adversity, cover crops for weed management, growing small grains, and the economic and environmental benefits of rotational grazing.
Last year’s conference was a huge success with 400 attendees – while we can’t get together in-person, we hope to reach as many people with this year’s content.
Jointly sponsored by UW Madison Division of Extension's Conservation Professional Training Program and Wisconsin DNR, these workshops are designed for livestock operations near or at WPDES permit size (CAFOs) -- owners/management and key staff, their agronomic and engineering consultants, and agency staff and others who work with these operations.
NEW FOR 2021: The format has changed due to the pandemic. There are four sessions that you can join remotely. Each session is held 9:30 - 11:30am. The full agenda can be found here: (LINK TO BE POSTED).
- Feb 2 is for farms who do not yet have a permit but might consider one in the next few years.
- Feb 3 focuses on Nutrient Management
- Feb 4 focuses on Production Area Management
- Feb 5 focuses on Managing for the Future
Cow College meetings and farm tours have been offered as in-person events during prior years. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cow College 2021 meetings and tours have moved to a virtual format.
Tune in on Jan. 13, 2021 from 12-1 p.m. to hear Dr. James Salfer, University of Minnesota Extension, discuss the economics of automated milking systems and learn if robotic milking is right for your farm.
Dairy heifer management will be the topic on Jan.20, 2021 from 12-1 p.m. Tina Kohlman, UW- Madison Extension Fond du Lac County, will focus on heifer inventory management practices. Tina will help your farm decide which heifers to keep and which heifers to cull. In addition, you will also learn about the importance of achieving the correct heifer maturity from the second speaker of the day, Dr. Gavin Staley, Diamond V.
More information...
This program is sponsored by UW-Madison Division of Extension Shawano and Outagamie offices and Fox Valley Technical College.
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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:
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.
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Apply for a tournament permit.
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LCCW will kick the year off by sharing a short presentation on setting objectives for 2021, including how we plan to move forward - together - with addressing aquatic invasive species, grants, funding, and partnerships.
We will then break participants out into small groups and use a technique called “liberating structures” for you to discuss the main issues on your lake with someone from a different lake in Southeast WI.
As an organization dedicated to promoting communication between lake and river organizations, we hope you will be able to discuss issues with your “lake neighbor” and present to the group as a whole.
Clean Lakes 101 Online registration is now open for the January 13th Clean Lakes 101: Awards, Accomplishments, & Ambitions
This special event will feature a presentation from Clean Lakes Alliance staff and recognize our 2021 Clean Lakes Community Award winners! The Clean Lakes Community Awards recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of individuals and businesses working to protect our Yahara lakes. The awards honor the dedication of individuals and…
Due to safety concerns for large gatherings, Clean Lakes Alliance has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Frozen Assets Festival, Fundraiser, 5K run/walk, and evening events. CLA hopes to be back at The Edgewater and on Lake Mendota with a full slate of activities in 2022! Clean Lakes Alliance is currently working on a safe activity to take place on Lake Mendota in February 2021. Please watch this page for future updates.
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Annual Reports
The 2020 Annual Report online form is now available in the MS4 eReporting System. The annual report is due March 31, 2021, 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: http://dnr.wi.gov/permits/water/
A copy of the 2020 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) Annual Report PDF form is available on the DNR Municipal storm water eReporting web page. Municipalities may use this PDF form to route for information collection for calendar year 2020, however the PDF form cannot be uploaded or emailed. The annual report must be submitted via the eReporting system.
Notable changes to 2020 Annual Report form
- Updated Public Education & Outreach and Public Involvement & Participation question format for more accurate tracking
- Evaluation Tab: Total maximum daily load implementation status questions
Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) 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 permit compliance documents can be submitted with the “Annual Report” or “Other” MS4 compliance document options.
Learn more: “What’s due March 31, 2021?!” video tutorial (17 min.) on what permit compliance documents are due and how to submit them.
Additional information and resources for MS4 eReporting
Includes User Support Tools and the Delegation of Signature Authority form: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/municipal/eReporting.html
More information about MS4 permits: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/stormwater/municipal/
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently updating NR 216, Wis. Adm. Code regarding storm water permitting. The rule amendment proposes to address the omissions and deviations from federal storm water requirements, codify other federal storm water requirements in effect since 2003 and address any additional rule changes necessary and reasonable relating to federal requirements or state statute.
As part of this effort, the DNR is preparing an economic impact analysis (EIA) for proposed rule WT-09-19 relating to storm water discharge permits. A preliminary draft of the EIA and a draft of the board order are available for download as a clickable link by going to the following webpage and scrolling down to WT-Watershed Management.
If you cannot access or download the information, please send an email to the following address: DNRNR216Revisions@wisconsin.gov.
The DNR will accept written comments on the EIA until Jan. 20, 2021. Please see the notice for additional detail on the input requested. A separate public comment period on the rule itself will be held after the EIA is finalized.
Comments may be submitted electronically to DNRNR216Revisions@wisconsin.gov or mailed to: Amy Minser – WT/3, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707.
April 20, 21: 8-1030 am
Waukesha County’s Land Resources Division plans to hold its Spring Stormwater Workshop on April 20-21, 2021, from approximately 8:00-10:30 am. The workshop will be virtual, hosted by WI Land + Water. If you are interested in attending, please mark these dates on your calendar. Further information on registration and agendas will be sent by the beginning of February.
Call for Presentations
The workshop will tentatively include about 10 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. Any topic pertaining to stormwater management or erosion control will be considered.
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Join the City of Oconomowoc and their project partners to review the many achievements of the Oconomowoc Watershed Protection Program during the past five years. Ononomowoc POTW chose Adaptive Management as their permit compliance option over 6 years ago and began planning and working with watershed partners to make this happen. Learn about how the facility works with partners on the implementation of innovative agricultural best management practices to the removal of phosphorus from our rivers, lakes and streams. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A with speakers.
Wednesday, January 27th from 11 am - 1 pm
Followed by a Q& A Session at 1:15 pm
REGISTER
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