December, 2009

Dairy Gets Ok from DNR on Alternate Manure Spreading Plan—The DNR has granted preliminary approval to Rosendale Dairy to utilize a never-before-tried method of determining whether it can spread manure on fields with shallow groundwater. Read More

Town Residents Fed Up With Odor. Residents of rural Rosendale and beyond may have a measure of relief coming from that level of odor: Rosendale Dairy could become the recipient of funds toward a manure treatment facility, which could have the effect of reducing the odor created by as many as 8,000 cows slated to live there (4,000 live there now). Read More

August, 2009

In May, 2009, approximately 45 owners of residential properties within the Green Lake Conference Center (“GLCC”) filed a lawsuit against the Town of Brooklyn seeking to have the Court review and reverse the Town’s approval of the final plat for the Estates of Lawsonia. Read the latest Lawsonia Estates Update

April, 2009

Governor Doyle Signs O-Phosphorus Bill—On April 14, Wisconsin took a large stride towards protecting our environment with Governor Doyle’s signing of Assembly Bill 3, a measure that prohibits the use of phosphorus in lawn fertilizer. The unanimous passage of this legislation in the Senate, following its passage in the Assembly, shows the bipartisan commitment of the legislature to protect our environment.

Assembly Bill 3 prohibits the use of phosphorus in lawn fertilizer with limited exceptions. The bill exempts new lawn development, agriculture land or land deficient in phosphorus. Animal manure and sewage sludge fertilizers are also exempt from the restrictions of the bill. How does this law protect Green Lake? This bill is a great win for Green Lake and all of Wisconsin's waterways because it helps reduce excess phosphorus in our lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands.  Restricting residential fertilizer is one step toward helping to protect and preserve the integrity of Green Lake for safe swimming, boating, fishing and general enjoyment. Why should we care about eutrophication? Excess phosphorus can cause dangerous algae blooms, excessive aquatic growth and a decrease in dissolved oxygen availability for aquatic life. These plants and the water quality problems that occur when they decompose, can kill fish and other organisms. Also, these toxic lake conditions limit human use and enjoyment of the lake. This process is known as eutrophication. 

The bill was introduced with bipartisan support, authored by Senators Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Representatives Spencer Black (D-Madison) and Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay).

March, 2009

100 Feet Slow-No Wake Bill Protects Green Lake’s Shoreline—On March 27, 2009 the Assembly passed a bill (SB 12) that would establish a statewide slow-no wake zone for motorboats within 100 feet of a lake’s shoreline. The Senate passed the bill in early March and now waits for Governor Doyle’s signature to become law. This bill is a positive step forward to preserve water quality, protect sensitive shorelines, and improve public safety for citizens who are fishing, swimming, and paddling on our shorelines. How does this bill protect Green Lake? Boating too close to shorelines contributes to many problems including: shoreline erosion problems, reducing water clarity by stirring up lake bed sediments, releasing phosphorus—the nutrient responsible for algae blooms—from lake bed sediments, harming fish habitat when propellers uproot shore land plants. While this law mandates that all motorboats on Wisconsin lakes adhere to a slow no wake zone within 100 feet of Wisconsin’s shorelines, communities can choose to adopt local, stricter slow- no wake zones if deemed necessary.  Pick up and drop off areas for water skiers are excluded from this bill.

February, 2009

February 24—The "Clean Lakes" bill (AB 3), passed the Assembly on an unanimous vote 96-0, with no additional amendment to weaken the bill. The bill will now proceed to the Senate for approval.

AB 3 would prohibit the display, sale, and use of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorus, with certain reasonable exceptions. This bill—introduced by Rep. Spencer Black and Rep Garey Bies—is modeled after Dane County's existing and successful county ordinance. Call Representative Joan Ballweg and thank her for supporting this important bill, 608-266-8077.

February 22—JACLUM representative/volunteer attends the Rosendale Dairy/DNR Informational Session at Royal Ridges in Ripon WI on January 22, 2009. Click here for GLA's update about the Rosendale Dairy.

February 12—After negotiations stalled for property in the Estates of Lawsonia, the Conference Center agreed to donate land to the school on the opposite side of the grounds. The approximate eight acres are located on the west side of the Conference Center grounds. The gift includes woods, wetlands and waterfront on Norwegian Bay. As part of the agreement, the school will drop the idea of pursuing land within the Estates of Lawsonia. In addition to the estimated eight acres the school will own, the school will have access to the historic Tea House for classroom use, but the Conference Center will keep ownership. Read More

January, 2009

DNR to hold Rosendale Dairy hearing at Royal Ridges, January 22, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. The Department of Natural Resources has produced an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed wastewater discharge (WPDES) permit for the Rosendale Dairy facility in Fond du Lac County. The public is invited to comment on the EIS and Draft Permit in writing or at a public information hearing January 22 at 5 p.m. at the Royal Ridges in Ripon. An informational open house will also be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the same location. Comments are due by Feb. 4, 2009.

Rosendale Dairy is proposing to construct a large dairy facility capable of housing and milking up to 4000 dairy cows and 150 beef cattle (combined 5,750 Animal Units or AUs). There is a possible Phase II of similar size in the future. The facility will include: freestall barns, a milking parlor, manure handling, storage equipment, feed storage, leachate collection and stormwater basins.

The GLA will continue to follow these events because part of the fields on which the farm plans to spread manure is within the Green Lake watershed.  In fact, one of the areas for manure spreading falls within the wetlands at the head of Silver Creek, one of Green Lake's main tributaries.

—Learn More
—View Manure Spreading Map

January 8—Negotiation costs keep climbing, Ripon Commonwealth Press. What began as an opportunity for the Green Lake School District to receive donated land in the Estates of Lawsonia is becoming an expensive and time-consuming situation for both parties.  The district has already spent more than $9,600 on legal fees for negotiations about land to be dedicated to the school. Now the developer, Lindenwood Development, indicates it may pursue legal options if the matter isn’t resolved soon. Read More

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