 Funding supports eight projects to improve habitats, green space and water quality
from National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
A unique Wisconsin-based partnership under the Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) program today announced $1.8 million in conservation grant funding. The grants support eight projects that will restore and preserve natural areas and biodiversity in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan watershed. The grants announced today will leverage approximately $2.2 million in additional project support from grantees, generating a total on-the-ground conservation impact of $4 million.
This additional funding under SOGL is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Caerus Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Walder Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with additional support this year from the Bezos Earth Fund. This unique funder collaboration leverages funds and expertise from public agencies and private philanthropy to significantly increase regional investment in Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan watershed and drive meaningful change in the region’s habitats, waters and greenspace to benefit wildlife and human communities alike.
“The Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Watershed Partnership is an example of how public-private partnerships can improve the quality and resilience of habitats and waterways at a regional scale,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “The eight grants announced today will provide support to local entities in Wisconsin to restore habitat, enhance biodiversity and improve water quality.”
“We are proud to work in close collaboration with our funder and nonprofit partners to leverage impact in the Watershed,” said Katie Hanson, program officer, environment of Crown Family Philanthropies.
The eight grants awarded today will support projects across Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan watershed that will work to restore and preserve habitats and natural landscapes and improve water quality. The projects will enhance the quality and connectivity of streams habitat, control invasive species, restore wetland habitat, and improve nearshore health and water quality through green stormwater infrastructure to enhance biodiversity and safeguard habitat for critical species.
Collectively, the eight projects receiving grants will:
- Control invasive species on 400 acres of wetland, upland and riparian habitat
- Add 18 million gallons of stormwater storage capacity
- Install more than 46,000 square feet of green stormwater infrastructure
- Create or improve 45 acres of green space
- Plant more than 4,700 trees for green infrastructure and habitat benefits
“The Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Watershed Partnership has been a great partnership to leverage funds to support efforts to achieve a climate resilient region,” said Kevin Shafer, executive director of Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. “The eight projects being funded in 2022 will accelerate habitat and species recovery along with protecting Lake Michigan and our communities.” Read more...
Sector Team Updates
Dates: Tue 12/13/22 - Wed 12/14/22
Location: Glacier Canyon Conference Center - Wisconsin Dells, WI
Make sure to mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information on these outstanding conference and outreach events. More details will be coming soon from the event sponsors, including DATCP, DNR, UW Discovery Farms, and UW Extension. This year, the following three events will be coordinated and co-located for ease of planning and participation:
Sharing lessons learned to keep soil healthy, water clean and farms resilient.
from The Nature Conservancy
One of the best things about living in Wisconsin is the food—from summer sweet corn to the delicious cheese made by Wisconsin cheesemakers using milk produced by Wisconsin dairy cows.
But with food demand expected to increase by more than 50% by 2050 as the world’s population grows, how will farmers meet that demand in Wisconsin and elsewhere?
And how can they grow the food we need while protecting the health of their soil and keeping our waters clean?
A small, but growing, number of Wisconsin farmers are working together to help find the answers. They have formed groups focused on their local watersheds and are implementing agricultural practices that build soil health and help improve water quality. Some of the practices they are using, such as cover crops and reduced tillage, will also help capture and hold carbon in the soil. Read more...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2022 Contact: Morgan Cavitt, Public Information Officer, (608) 852-7438, morgan.cavitt@wisconsin.gov
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is reminding farmers and manure applicators to check the runoff risk advisory forecast before spreading manure on fields. The tool helps determine the potential for manure runoff from a field depending on weather conditions and soil temperature.
The runoff risk advisory forecast includes maps showing short-term runoff risk for manure application planning. The maps account for soil saturation, temperature, and precipitation on a scale of 4km grids. The National Weather Service updates the forecast four times daily.
“A nutrient management plan helps determine where to spread and the proper application rate while the runoff risk advisory forecast helps determine when to spread. Assessing current field conditions is just one step in the process farmers should use to make decisions," said Andrea Topper, DATCP soil and watershed management training and outreach conservation specialist. "Farmers who don't have a plan can talk to their crop consultant or county conservationist to develop one."
For more information about nutrient management planning, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/NutrientManagement.aspx.
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The Water Action Volunteers (WAV) citizen stream monitoring program is an ongoing partnership between the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and Wisconsin citizen volunteers.
The program aims to preserve, protect and restore Wisconsin’s 86,000+ miles of streams and rivers by educating and empowering volunteers to (1) gather high-quality stream data useful for decision-making and natural resource management, and (2) share their data and knowledge.
Annually, more than 500 volunteers and an estimated 2,000 supervised students monitor 600+ stream locations throughout the state.
Fall is here and our 2022 monitoring season is wrapping up. If you are a new volunteer interested in joining WAV as a stream monitoring volunteer in 2023, here’s how to get started:
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Complete the Online Introduction to WAV course to become familiar with our volunteer program and the baseline stream monitoring methods.
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Contact a WAV Local Coordinator in your county. Ask about field training opportunities they are offering in your area this spring. Don’t delay! WAV field trainings for new volunteers typically run from mid-April through early June.
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Sign up for a field training. Some field trainings for new volunteers are public events and some are one-on-one opportunities – it depends on the WAV Local Coordinator. Check out the public volunteer trainings below happening across Wisconsin and register! Trainings are open to people of all ages and abilities – everyone is welcome! Minors must be accompanied by an adult who can provide supervision and support.
- Don’t forget to subscribe to our WAV news email list to stay in the know.
November 1, 3, 8, 15, 17 (10:00 - 11:00 AM)
WI Land+Water is hosting a series of Climate and Conservation webinars featuring climate experts that will share important climate mitigation and adaptation strategies, tools, and resources to help county conservation staff and board supervisors integrate climate into local programming.
More information here.
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DATE: Wed, Nov. 16th, 2022
TIME: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: School of Freshwater Sciences (600 E Greenfield Ave)
This fall, we’re celebrating 50 years of the Clean Water Act. This landmark legislation paved the way for groups like the Milwaukee Riverkeeper to form to protect and force change for our rivers and communities. Join us for an evening of fun and fellowship with our friends and supporters while listening in as we share exciting updates on important work being done, honor a few special River Heroes, and share the state of our rivers.
PROGRAM:
- Food, Drinks and Socializing
- Welcome & Executive Director Address
- River Hero Award Presentation
- State of the Rivers with the Riverkeeper
- Raffle Drawing
- Adjourn
REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT
While most of us are thinking about Halloween costumes and family gatherings, a team of extension professionals in the North Central Region are already looking ahead to next summer. The mentors for the Watershed Management Outreach and Research Internship Program are busy planning the internship program for summer 2023. The project, led by John McMaine, Griffith Chair in Agriculture and Water Resources at South Dakota State University, is a Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates (REEU). It is funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to help students from all backgrounds pursue careers in water resource management. Read more ...
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The revised Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management (UNPS&SW) Planning Grant application instructions for projects beginning in 2024 are now available for public comment on the DNR’s UNPS&SW webpage. The revised Small-Scale Urban TMDL Targeted Runoff Management (TRM)Grant application instructions for projects beginning in 2024 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. 21, 2022.
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. 13, 2023, until April 15, 2023, to submit applications for 2024 projects. Urban Nonpoint Source Construction grant applications will not be solicited in 2023 but will be solicited again in 2024.
Monday, November 14 (11:00 a.m. - Noon)
WI DNR published a new technical standard providing criteria for projects using horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The standard includes procedures and practices to protect water quality by reducing sediment discharge and the potential for runoff to carry materials into waters, and clarifies expectations for spill prevention and response. More information here.
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Thursday, November 10, 2022
Lakeside Park Pavilion
71 Promen Drive, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
CLICK HERE for flyer and further details.
WI-DNR CEC WASTEWATER CREDITS (Maximum 6 Hours Estimate Pending DNR Approval): Meeting = 5 Hours WWTP Tour = 1 Hour
Schedule
| 7:15 - 7:55 AM |
Registration & Refreshments (sponsored by Xylem/Sanitaire) |
| 7:55 - 8:00 AM |
Welcome Operators & Guests – Cody Schoepke, Fond du Lac WTRRF |
| 8:00 - 8:45 AM |
Digester Gas Monitoring – John Maslowski, William/Reid Ltd. |
| 8:45 - 9:30 AM |
Overview of Sludge Drier Technologies – Strand Associates, Inc. |
| 9:30 - 10:00 AM |
Break (sponsored by Xylem/Sanitaire) & Vendor Displays |
| 10:00 - 10:45 AM |
OSCAR- Advanced Aeration Controls – Dennis Barnes, Xylem/Sanitaire |
| 10:45 - 11:30 AM |
Biorem’s Approach to Biogas Stream Management – Dean Parker, Biorem, Inc. |
| 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM |
WWOA Board Update, Wisconsin DNR Update, and WWOA-Southern District Business Meeting |
| 12:00 - 1:00 PM |
Lunch & Vendor Displays |
| 1:00 - 1:45 PM |
Anammox - Side Stream Ammonia Removal – Benjamin Propson, Fond du Lac WTRRF |
| 1:45 - 2:30 PM |
Fond du Lac Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Overview – Alex Krause, Fond du Lac WTRRF |
| 2:30 - 3:30 PM |
Fond du Lac Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour – Located at 700 Doty St. Fond du Lac, WI 54935 |
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