 Dane County is embarking on a massive dredging project to remove dozens of years worth of sediment that has been choking the Yahara River and reducing its ability to efficiently convery flood waters.
Currently, water comes into the Yahara Lakes faster than it goes out. Therefore, after repetitive and heavy rainfall events, the lake levels increase and can lead to flooding. The efficient movement of water through each lake is undermined by sediment build-up in the Yahara River. While sediment movement is a naturally occurring process, the accumulation of sediment in the Yahara River and Lakes is greatly increased by human activity, including urban development and winter sand operations. Today, two inches of rain takes over two weeks to leave the Yahara Lakes system due to its sluggish nature.
"Goal: Our goal is to improve water flow so that the delivery of two inches of rain that normally takes two weeks to travel through the Yahara Lakes system will take half as long, or one week."
Dane County’s sediment removal project in the Yahara Lakes system will take place in five phases, with each phase carried out as Dane County secures permitting - see Phase Map (PDF). The benefit to reduce flooding for all lakes is realized when sediment accumulation has been removed along the Yahara chain, thus it is critical that the phases are planned as timely as possible.
Project Status Updates: Regular project status updates, including photos and videos, can be found here.
Sector Team Updates
Balancing water quality trade-offs from farm management decisions
The Discovery Farms Annual Conference is back. This year we will utilize our robust dataset from water quality monitoring over the last 20 years to assess trade-offs of on farm management decisions. Mitigating risk to water quality might look different on every farm but every farm has areas that can be improved.
Agenda preview
Balancing phosphorus trade-offs– Eric Cooley, Discovery Farms
Conservation practice effectiveness quantified– Margaret Kalcic, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Water quality risks and benefits of low disturbance manure applications– Eric Young, USDA ARS
Management trade-offs from low disturbance manure applications– Farmer Panel
Balance your nitrogen budget for better outcomes– Matt Ruark, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Beyond the root zone– Ryan Heiderman, Discovery Farms and Kevin Masarik, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Lessons from Minnesota’s nitrogen strategies– Panel
December 15, 2021
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Glacier Canyon Conference Center Wisconsin Dells, WI
Register here!
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This notice is to inform you that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold a public comment period and public hearing on a proposed rule pertaining to adding narrative surface water criteria with numeric thresholds for poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) for the purpose of protecting public health.
This rule also proposes revisions to the procedures in the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permitting program to implement the new water quality criteria. Finally, this rule adds specifications for the preservation and holding times of aqueous, biosolids (sludge) and tissue samples that will be analyzed for PFAS.
The hearing will be held via Zoom at 1 p.m. on Dec. 10, 2021. The deadline to submit comments on this rule is Dec. 15, 2021. Please see the attached notice for more information and a link to join the hearing.
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Wisconsin Wetlands Association invites you to the 27th Annual Wetland Science Conference, to be held February 15-17, 2022, at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Join other professionals from the wetland and water community of Wisconsin and the upper Midwest to share your wetland research, restoration, management, or outreach program; learn new identification and assessment approaches and techniques; hear about approaches to incorporating wetlands into watershed & community planning; discuss the latest in wetland science, planning, and protection issues; and look ahead to the future of wetland science and practices in Wisconsin and the Midwest.
The 3-day conference, which is expected to draw more than 350 attendees, will include plenary sessions, organized symposia, topical oral sessions, a poster session, workshops, a banquet, and field trips to area wetlands. The conference will also offer many opportunities for engagement and networking. While we hope to hold this conference in person, we are also laying the groundwork to hold it virtually if need be to keep our community healthy and safe. If we are able to go in-person, we will also offer a way for people to attend and present virtually.
Abstract submissions for oral or poster presentations at the conference must be submitted by November 10, 2021. More information about submitting abstracts.
Check out conference.wisconsinwetlands.org for more details. Registration for the conference will open in December 2021.
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December 1-2
This two-day course is designed for those who perform site management duties, supervise or direct construction activities, install best management practices, and/or inspect sites for compliance relating to erosion/sediment control and storm water management. This course is offered around Wisconsin semi-annually. We encourage those who have not attended for the past 3 years to do so in order to be informed of the latest regulations and practices.
Virtual via Zoom or On-Site at Holiday Inn Pewaukee-Milwaukee West N14 W24140 Tower Pl, Pewaukee, WI 53072
The revised Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water (UNPS&SW) Construction Grant application instructions for construction projects beginning in 2023 are now available for public comment on the DNR’s UNPS&SW webpage. The revised Small-Scale Urban TMDL TRM Grant application instructions for projects beginning in 2023 are now available for public comment on the DNR’s TRM Grant Program webpage.
Send comments to Joanna Griffin, Runoff Management Grants Program Coordinator at Joanna.griffin@wisconsin.gov by Nov. 5, 2021.
Once the final instructions and application forms are posted, cities, villages, towns, counties, regional planning commissions, tribal governments and special purpose lake, sewage, or sanitary districts will have from Jan. 15, 2022 until April 15, 2022 to submit applications for 2023 projects. Urban Nonpoint Source Planning grant applications will not be solicited in 2022 but will be solicited again in 2023.
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Advanced Biological Phosphorus Removal
Date: 11/08/2021 at 7:30 am — 11/12/2021 at 11:20 am
Location: ONLINE
Course Title: The Advanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Instructor: Greg Paul
This five-day advanced course is designed to assist operators in better understanding and optimizing their biological phosphorus removal systems. We go through the theory of BPR and then how to apply this theory in the real life. Numerous case studies are used throughout the class as examples of how BPR theory is applied and problems are analyzed and resolved. Receive ½ point toward Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification or 20 hours of continuing education credits for DNR certification. Classroom space is limited.
Class Outline
1-Introduction
2-The Biology of Phosphorus Removal – Who Does the Work and How
3-Creating Biological Treatment Environments
4-Detailing Fractions of Phosphorus in the Effluent
5-Treatment Process to Remove Each Fraction of Phosphorus
6-Setting Phosphorus Treatment Goals
7-Tools Used to Measure System Performance
8-Benchmarking/Analyzing System Performance
9-Achieving System Performance Goals
10-Common Problems/Resolutions
11-Case Studies
Location: Virtual
Date: November 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th 2021
Schedule: Class time each day is 7:30 A.M. to 11:20 A.M. With breaks every hour
Cost: $240 - Checks please, NO credit cards
To Sign Up: Please email or call Greg Paul greg@op2myz.com or 608-738-5748
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Grants
Farmers and forest landowners will want to plan ahead and sign up early for USDA conservation funding. Angela Biggs, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist in Wisconsin, announced farmers and forest landowners interested in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) producer contracts need to apply by Nov. 19, 2021, for funding in fiscal year 2022.
Although NRCS accepts applications year-round, please apply NOW for fiscal year 2022 funding consideration. Applications are being taken at all USDA Service Centers in Wisconsin.
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