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Lend Your Voice for Better Runoff Regulations-After holding public hearing throughout the state earlier this year, the Natural Resources Board approved proposed revisions to several rules that govern polluted runoff. The purpose of these revisions is to reduce toxic blue green algae blooms, fish kills, contaminated wells and other problems associated with runoff from urban areas and farm fields. The proposed changes seek to reduce nonpoint source pollution, particularly phosphorus, and to fairly balance controlling runoff between urban and agricultural sources that enter Wisconsin lakes, rivers and groundwater. The next step in the rule approval process is for the Legislature to consider the changes, and both houses have scheduled hearings starting July 21 at the Capitol on two of the rules. Both the Assembly and Senate Agriculture Committees will hold hearings on NR 151, which deals with agricultural runoff. In addition, the Senate Environment Committee will hold a hearing on NR 217, which sets phosphorus standards for point sources through permitting. Hearing Dates and Locations: July 21, 2010 - 11:00 AM: Phosphorus Runoff Rule (NR 151) Hearing, Assembly Agricultural Committee - 417 North (GAR Hall), State Capitol, Madison The approval of these revisions is crucial to helping alleviate water quality issues associated with runoff. If you value clean water but are unable to attend these hearings, please email or phone the committee members and tell them you support these revisions! Read more about these revisions.
State board Approves Phosphorus Regulations - The Natural Resources Board of Wisconsin approved new rules to reduce the pollution of phosphorus. Commonly found in fertilizers and human waste, phosphorus is discharged from sewage treatment plants, farms, and industries. These new regulations will limit the amount of phosphorus discharged from treatment plants, as well as the amount in runoff caused from farms. Phosphorus pollution causes weed and algae growth in lakes and rivers, including the growth of blue-green algae. Prior to the new approval, there were no regulations in place to moniter the disposal of phosphorus. This recent approval is a step forward in the efforts of conserving all Wisconsin waters, including Green Lake and its watershed. Read more about this recent development from the Wisconsin State Journal. JACLUM Weighs in about Lake Street Marina—Mid March, several GLA members contacted us about their concerns about the construction of a marina on Lake Street. Their concerns were promptly referred to Steve Wood, a member of the GLA Board of Directors and our representative on the Joint Advisory Committee on Land Use Matters (JACLUM), for the purpose of having them assess the possible environmental impacts of this proposed development. Representatives of JACLUM (including Steve, a representative of the GLSD, and an independent land engineer) have twice met with the property owner and his builder to discuss concerns regarding the appropriate control of stormwater runoff and other environmental issues. As a result of those meetings, the property owner and his builder have agreed to cooperate with JACLUM in this endeavor, and the independent land engineer will be reviewing the building plans for ways to improve the stormwater challenges facing this project. Mr. Steve Wood (as the GLA representative to JACLUM) will continue to monitor this matter and work with the property owner and his builder to mitigate our concerns. Marina Plans Move Forward—On April 19th, the City of Green Lake's Plan Commission members unanimously granted a conditional use permit for Silver Creek Ventures LLC to construct a one-story building at 463 Lake St in the RB zoned area. While never previously used as a formal marina, this property already has a large pier with many boat slips. However, the new business will include gas sales. The commission, however, delayed approving the site plan due to concerns about incomplete information. Therefore, the conditional use permit approval is contingent upon the site plan approval, which could happen next month. Read the Ripon Commonwealth's article. Hey Rosendale, in case you didn’t know, Here come the cows—The DNR approved a request by Rosendale Dairy to modify its wastewater permit, allowing dairy owners to expand its herd to 8,000 cows and 300 steer. Read More DNR: Some valid concerns out of scope of review— Some of the concerns aired by those at December’s public hearing about modifying Rosendale Dairy’s wastewater permit were deemed irrelevant or outside the scope of matters addressed in the final draft. Read More NR115, Wisconsin's revision to it's minimum shoreline zoning standards, passed the Legislature and is now waiting publication by the Legislative Reference Bureau, its final step before becoming official. Publication is expected early 2010. Learn more about NR115 January 5—Representative Joan Ballweg is helping to introduce to the state legislature a bill which would allow anglers to buy a one day fishing license. Currently on inland waters, the only option Wisconsin residents have is to purchase an annual license. Ballweg believes that this bill would give more people the chance to try fishing if one day fishing licenses were available. Neighboring states including Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois offer both resident and non resident one day fishing licenses. Read the bill AB-577. |