 The Evansville site in Rock County is being restored as part of Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust, a wetland mitigation program administered by the Wisconsin DNR. The black lines seen here show broken drain tiles and filled drainage ditches completed to restore wetland hydrology. (Photo - WI DNR)
from NBC15
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced Tuesday that it will soon complete three restoration projects to improve wetland hydrology and vegetation across more than 150 acres of land, including in Rock County.
The restoration project will take place on 74 acres of land within the Evansville State Wildlife Area in Rock County.
The Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust, a DNR wetland mitigation program, teams up with landowners including farmers, municipalities and conservation groups who all collaborate on the projects to protect the wetlands and ensure that they are being properly preserved for longevity, the DNR explained.
DNR Wisconsin Wetland Conservation Trust Program Coordinator Josh Brown said the program is a great example of how different landowners and the DNR work together. Read more...
Sector Team Updates
from Sand County Foundation
John and Dorothy Priske of Fall River, WI have been nominated as the 2020 Leopold Conservation Farm of the Year. John and Dorothy Priske liken their fields and pastures to sons and daughters.
They’ve worked shoulder to shoulder to improve their farm’s environmental and economic resilience with conservation practices and direct marketing.
Both were born on Wisconsin farms, but their path back to farming was hard won. They worked off-farm jobs out West before saving enough for a down payment on 280 acres in Columbia County in 1986. After growing asparagus with John’s brother, their first years of raising livestock and row crops were met with struggle due to low commodity prices.
A visit to a grass-fed beef and sheep station in New Zealand convinced them to change course.
The Priskes began transitioning their crop fields to pastures. Deep- rooted grasses benefit soil health by accumulating soil organic matter, infiltrating water, and sequestrating carbon. A continuous living cover reduces the risk of soil erosion. Read more...
Farm Ready Research is Extension’s agriculture winter webinar meeting series for farmers and ag professionals. Learn the most up-to-date information on topics from dairy and livestock production to forage and farm management resources from Extension experts. Sessions begin December 2021.
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Badger Dairy Insight: Bi-weekly, Tuesdays, 1:00 pm
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Farm Management Fridays: Bi-weekly, 11:00 am–noon
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Focus on Forage: Wednesdays, 12:30–1:30 pm
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Small Ruminants: 2nd Tue per month, 7:30–8:30 pm
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is awarding $1,092,317 for innovative approaches and technologies to improve conservation in Wisconsin under the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. CIG is a competitive program that supports the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. Read more about this year’s awarded projects.
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comment on revised water condition lists included in the draft 2022 Impaired Waters List.
Updates include moving 48 waterbody pollutant listings from the draft 2022 Impaired Waters list to the Restoration Waters list by adding them to the following three Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plans: Milwaukee River Basin, Upper Fox-Wolf Basins and Wisconsin River Basin. By moving the 48 listings to the Restoration Waters List, they will no longer require a TMDL.
Pollutant listings placed on the Restoration Waters list have fulfilled a Clean Water Act requirement of having a TMDL for identified pollutants. Application of the TMDLs’ pollution limits over time is intended to reduce pollutant load and its negative impacts on the waterbody.
The three TMDL plans will be sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval prior to submittal. The TMDL appendices and list of waters can be found on the DNR’s website.
The DNR sought public comment on the draft 2022 lists in fall 2021. During this process, the 48 waterbody pollutant listings were determined to be part of the Restoration Waters list.
The public is encouraged to submit comments regarding the 48 waterbody pollutant TMDL additions by Jan. 7, 2022 to:
Department of Natural Resources
C/O Ashley Beranek, Water Quality
P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707 DNRWYWaterbodyAssessments@wisconsin.gov
More information about water quality and impaired waters is available on the DNR’s website.
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Tall Pines Conservancy Announces 625 Acres of Conservation Easements
Tall Pines Conservancy has announced two monumental land trusts during the week of December 13th!
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The Mary and Ron Preserve at Beaumont Farm: a 94-acre parcel of rolling farmland adjacent to Beaver Lake, was owned by the Siepmann Family for many years. The project included the placement of a conservation easement on the property and the purchase of development rights made possible through a generous donation by the new owners, the Bell Family, and a bargain sale offered by the Siepmann Family.
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The Dukelow Farm: a 530+- acre Organic Valley dairy farm located in the towns of Hustisford and Rubicon in Dodge County. The Dukelow brothers, Joe, Dave and Bill, made an incredibly generous donation of a conservation easement on the property - a gift to Tall Pines that was eight years in the making. The property features southern mesic forest, wetlands and prime farmland, with the Rubicon River meandering through it.
What is a Land Trust? Land trusts are private, community-based, non-profit organizations established to protect land and water resources for the public benefit.
What is protected? Land that has a clear natural, recreational, scenic, historic or productive value (like farmland). TPC utilizes selection criteria before we accept a donation of land or a conservation easement to ensure we apply our conservation values to protect the most important properties.
What do land trusts do? One of the most important roles of a land trust is to help landowners understand the options and methods available to help them conserve their land for generations to come. TPC provides advice on protection strategies that best meet the landowner’s conservation and financial needs. We also have long term responsibility for managing and overseeing conserved land. Like many land trusts, TPC is involved in public education and other outreach activities such as our annual Ride to the Barns.
For the second consecutive year, Lake Country Clean Waters has presented the LCCW Lake Recognition Award to recognize the worthy actions lake groups are taking to protect water quality by promoting citizen involvement through education and advocacy.
In 2021, the award was given to Silver Lake Management District. During the award presentation, LCCW Director Brad Steckart shared the many achievements of the organization, which include how Silver Lake Management District:
- Has effectively managed the EWM population by conducting a diver-assisted hand pull for many years
- Has a coordinated CBCW watercraft inspection effort each year
- Has even prevented Starry Stonewort from entering their lake!
- Encourages residents to have a healthy shoreline and promotes native vegetation landscaping
- Helps coordinate planning efforts beyond their own lake onto other Lake Country Lakes
- Participates in Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, Point Intercept Surveys, AIS Snapshot Day, Promote Enforcement, and much, much more!
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December 27, 2021
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the issuance of the modified municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) general permit, WPDES General Permit No. WI-S050075-3-1.
This general permit covers storm water discharges to waters of the state from MS4s owned, operated and maintained by municipalities located throughout Wisconsin.
The permits are issued under the statutory authority granted to the DNR pursuant to ss. 283.33 (storm water discharge permits) and 283.35 (general permits), Wis. Stats.
Pursuant to ss. 203.12 and 205.08(10)(e), Wis. Adm. Code, the DNR has made a final determination to reissue the modified general permit. The modified permit became effective December 7, 2021. The general permit will expire on April 30, 2024.
The general permit has been modified to update the total suspended solids wasteload allocation (WLA) in Appendix A Table A2 for the City of Green Bay within the Lower Fox River Main Stem subbasin (see page 44 of the modified permit). The final modified general permit is available on the DNR webpage here.
The DNR did not receive any comments on the modified permit. Further information concerning the DNR’s response to comments, the final modified general permit and related documents may be obtained by emailing Amy Minser, DNR Storm Water Engineer,:
Mail: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
Feb 9-10, 2022 8 am-4 pm
Join NASEC-WI at the beautiful Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, WI or virtually for NASECA-WI's 19th Annual Conference & Tradeshow.
Each year, NASECA-WI hosts the state’s largest event focused solely on erosion control and stormwater management. NASECA-WI strives to offer topics that enhance attendees professional development including a mix of regulatory topics, best management practices, project reviews, and other industry information.
Monona Terrace, Madison, WI -or- Virtual via Zoom
Register HERE
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The Department of Natural Resources recently undertook a review of the first 5-year implementation period of the MDV, as required under s. 283.16(3m) Wis. Stats. The purpose of the review is to evaluate pollution reductions achieved by the MDV and determine whether they are consistent with highest attainable condition requirements found in federal code at 40 CFR 131.14. The evaluation includes a summary of all facilities covered under the MDV, interim effluent limitations assigned to those facilities, and nonpoint source phosphorus reductions funded by the MDV. Prior to completing the evaluation, the Department is seeking public comment on the evaluation and will consider any additional information provided during the public comment period. A virtual public hearing has also been scheduled for January 25 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Please visit DNR’s Calendar Webpage for more information on the hearing. The Department will also accept written comments through January 25 ,2022. A copy of the draft evaluation is available for download at this link.
Thank you for your ongoing interest in our State’s water quality programs. Your input and involvement is valuable to these programs. Should you have questions, please email Matt Claucherty, DNR Statewide Phosphorus Compliance Coordinator.
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Applications due April 15
The Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grant Program offers competitive grants for local governments for the control of pollution that comes from diffuse sources, also called “nonpoint source (NPS)” pollution. Grants from the TRM Program reimburse costs for agricultural or urban runoff management practices in targeted, critical geographic areas with surface water or groundwater quality concerns.
The surface water grant program provides cost-sharing grants for surface water protection and restoration. Funding is available for education, ecological assessments, planning, implementation, and aquatic invasive species prevention and control. With many different projects eligible for grant funding, you can support surface water management at any stage: from organization capacity development to project implementation.
Learn about available surface water grants and find out if you meet the requirements to apply by downloading the complete Surface Water Grant Program Applicant Guide and Program Guidance [PDF]. This document will help you understand what makes an eligible project and outline how to apply for funding, manage your project, and seek reimbursement. In addition, the tabs below outline basic information that will help you navigate to the appropriate section with the guidance document and other helpful resources.
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