Wisconsin’s Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan outlines the state’s approach to addressing water quality impacts from nonpoint sources of pollution. The latest version of the plan covers the projected management activities and efforts from federal fiscal years (FFY) 2021 through 2025. This statewide management plan meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Act requirements and ensures Wisconsin’s eligibility for Section 319 (federal NPS Program) funding.
Download the Wisconsin Nonpoint Source Program Management Plan
Wisconsin's Nonpoint Source Program Overview
Wisconsin is a recognized leader in efforts to control nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Since 1978, Wisconsin’s NPS Program has made significant progress in addressing runoff-related water quality problems that, in many cases, have existed for decades. In 2011, the DNR and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection allocated nearly $20 million in state and federal funds to counties for nonpoint source pollution abatement activities. Even with this work, successfully managing polluted runoff remains a challenge to improving and protecting the state’s water quality.
Wisconsin’s NPS Program, through a comprehensive network of federal, state and local agencies working in partnership with other organizations and citizens, addresses the significant nonpoint sources in the state. This program combines voluntary and regulatory approaches with financial and technical assistance. Abatement activities include agriculture, urban, forestry, wetlands and hydrologic modifications. The core activities of the program — research, monitoring, data assessment and management, regulation and enforcement, financial and technical assistance, education and outreach and public involvement — work to address current water quality impairments and prevent future threats caused by NPS pollution.
Sector Team Updates
Wisconsin Farm Stories
We have collected the following series of videos that provide real world examples of our amazing Wisconsin Farmers working hard and being innovative to protect our soil, landscape, and water resources across our beautiful state. If you have any additional examples to share, please feel free to email them to us here.
It's no surprise we have so many innovative farmers in Wisconsin; we have a long history of farmers helping to develop conservation methods that are now used across the entire nation! Some of the earliest efforts began in southwestern Wisconsin, in Coon Creek Watershed, the "cradle of conservation". Video
Today, we have demonstration farms networks growing up around Wisconsin, where farmers working together, and with conservation partners, are innovating and perfecting more sustainable farming practices. These practices help improve soil fertility, profitability, and address growing challenges from climate change. The Lower-Fox Demonstration Farm Network is a great example - Video
Dairy
The Klinkner family has farmed in Monroe County for generations. Today, two brothers manage adjacent organic dairy farms and have worked with Monroe County's Land Conservation Department on various conservation projects over the decades. Video
Steve Adrian explaining ryelage in his dairy forage rotation. Steve started growing cereal Rye not only as a cover crop, but to have more hay for dairy forage rations. Video
David Geiser, a Calumet County dairy farmer, is the 2018 recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award in Wisconsin. Video
Jim Koepke and his son, John, discuss how important conservation and the utilization of a land ethic are to their farming operation. Soil and water management are at the forefront of their efforts. Video
And, just across the river in southeastern MN, Kevin Connelly shows how he grows no-till corn silage and cover crops for the dairy and beef cows on their 600 acre farm in Olmsted County Minnesota. Videography by Dan Balluff and 2nd camera by Dan Nath. Video
Cash Grain
John and Melissa Eron’s conservation story is one of innovation and ingenuity. Their farm’s heavy clay soils were often wet during the spring planting season, dry by summer, and wet again by fall. John devised a common sense plan: he’d capture and store runoff water and use it later to irrigate crops. Video
Dunn County farmer, Jeff Lake, received the 2019 Wisconsin Leopold Conservation Award for his voluntary efforts to improve soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat. Video
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Waukesha & Washington Counties Monitoring and AIS Updates
Meet the new AIS Corrdinator, Erik Hanson.
Erik Hanson was the AIS Coordinator for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Western Montana. Working with the Tribes and other partners he ran mandatory 24 hour a day highway watercraft inspection stations with dedicated enforcement, conducted early detection monitoring, instituted rapid response and control programs, developed the Flathead Lake Mussel Walk educational event and provided local input to advance Montana's AIS effort.
He has a Master's degree in Environmental Management, for which he co-authored the Oregon AIS Management Plan. He has served on professional panels to guide AIS efforts for Montana, Yellowstone National Park and the use of environmental DNA techniques for monitoring and early detection.
Lake Country Citizen Monitoring Training
Wednesday, May 26th: 9:30am-11:30am / VIRTUAL
Email Erik Hansen for Link
If your lake group has multiple individuals interested in CBCW training, please reach out to the new AIS Coordinator to schedule a private group training focused on your own lake!
Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) Volunteer Trainings:
May 26th: 9:30 am VIRTUAL (Email Erik Hansen for Link)
June 1st: 4:30 pm Washington County: 333 E. Washington St. West Bend, WI 53095
June 3rd: 5 pm Waukesha County: 515 W. Moreland Rd. Waukesha 53188
June 5th: 9 am VIRTUAL (Email Erik Hansen for Link)
Project RED: Riverine Early Detectors
June 1st: 1 pm 333 E Washington St. West Bend, WI 53095
June 3rd: 1 pm 515 W. Moreland Rd. Waukesha, WI 53188
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The Rock River Coalition will be hosting the 2021 Rock River Coalition Online Auction this year! This is a great opportunity to bid on some awesome prizes, support local businesses, all while helping us continue our award winning programs and projects!
The online auction will open for preview of auction items on June 24, until July 1. The bidding will be open from July 1-14, 2021 with winners announced on July 15, 2021.
If you would like to make an in-kind donation for the auction, please contact us: kara@rockrivercoalition.org
The Lake Country Clean Water Festival, hosted by the Pewaukee Lake Water Ski Club in conjunction with the Pewaukee Kiwanis Beach Party, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year! Since 2011, the festival has focused on raising awareness for the increasing need to preserve Lake Country’s waterways and raising money for clean-up efforts so we can all enjoy the fun and beauty that the lakes bring to our community. The festival has also provided opportunities for all to enjoy the many recreational activities that our lakes afford from learning to water ski, to fishing, to pontoon boat rides, to ZUMBA and bootcamp on the beach, to paddle sports. Learn More
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DNR Updates - MS4 Permits
Permitted MS4’s submitted their 2020 MS4 Annual Reports and Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) documents that were due March 31 through the department’s Water Permit Applications (ePermitting) system. MS4 Annual Reports provide a status of the permittees progress towards implementing permit requirements, meeting measurable goals, and compliance with permit schedules. SWMPs describe in detail how the permittee intends to comply with the current permit’s requirements for each minimum control measure.
Interested in viewing other permittees’ materials? Navigate to the Water Permit Applications (ePermitting) “Track” page. Narrow the search criteria by entering “SW-MS” or using the left-hand filter results to sort MS4 specific documents.
MS4 Permit Dashboard: Additionally, we are in the process of piloting a ‘one-stop-shop’ online dashboard for MS4 permittees to organize all their items submitted through the ePermitting system, permit compliance schedule and audit files. The project is expected to be finalized during 2022.
Salt Symposium celebrates the minimization and optimization of salt use. Learn from professionals from across industrial and economic sectors by examining state-of-the-art research developments and advanced best practices for reducing salt use.
LIVE-STREAM ONLY
Join us online August 3rd & 4th starting at 8:30 CST for Salt Symposium 2021.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
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A "certified operator" is an individual who has met the requirements of Chapter NR 114, Wisconsin Administrative Code [exit DNR], and has been issued a certificate by the DNR to operate one or more of the classifications of wastewater treatment plants. Ch. NR 114, 499 and 524 Wis. Adm. Code require an operator to earn continuing education credits to maintain an active certification. These continuing education requirements are designed to help operators keep current on new requirements and technical innovations as well as acquire additional knowledge and skills. The training calendar has numerous opportunities for virtual and in-person trainings, available here.
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USDA to Invest $15 Million in Conservation Innovation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing up to $15 million to support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program.
CIG partners use creative problem solving and innovation to address our nation’s water quality, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while improving agricultural operations. This year, funded CIGs will focus on climate-smart strategies for water resources, soil health (focused on carbon sequestration and climate resilience), nutrient management, grazing lands conservation and strategies to increase conservation adoption.
“Through Conservation Innovation Grants, we’re able to co-invest with partners on the next generation of agricultural conservation solutions,” said Angela Biggs, NRCS Wisconsin State Conservationist. “Using creative problem solving and innovation, CIG partners work to address our nation's most pressing natural resource concerns, all while helping to ensure the health and longevity of American agriculture.”
All U.S.-based non-Federal entities and individuals are eligible to apply. Proposals must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 19, 2021. Learn MORE...
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