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Defendertheclean water • clean air • clean energy

Summer 2011

join

us

Read more about the greenPhosphorus Cycle, pg 7The Tainter-Menomin, pg 8

Wisconsin is blessed with an abundance of lakes, rivers and streams, yet they face major challenges. Pollution and runoff turn can these gems to stinking, foul waters

and overusing our groundwater can lit-erally drain them dry. Clean Wiscon-sin has prioritized the most important water issues to protect our way of life;

we’ve focused our work on polluted run-off, water conservation and efficiency, and

protecting and restoring our Great Lakes. But beyond those priorities, there are is-sues unique to various regions of the state.

Throughout this issue of The Defender, we’ll focus on our state’s water issues, from the priorities we focus on for statewide pol-icy approaches to the unique issues around the state.

Give us your ThouGhTs!

We’d like your input to help us better fulfill our mission. Help us by completing our online survey!

our water our way of lifeBy Melissa Malott, Water Program Director

For decades,Clean Wisconsinhas helped leadefforts to protect and restore our state’s waters. By fighting for our water, we’re fighting for our way of life.

After many long weeks of uncertainty, we were heartened on June 3 to learn that that Joint Finance Committee removed a provision from the state budget that would have delayed the implementation of Wisconsin’s phosphorus rule by two years. The longer we wait to clean up our waters, the more costly solutions become.

Nearly half of Wisconsin’s listed impaired water are due to phosphorus and sediment runoff and, on average, 80 percent of the phosphorus in our waterways comes from agricultural lands. This excess phosphorus in waterways results in the unsightly and smelly algae blooms frequently seen in summer, with a single pound of phosphorus having the capacity to create over 500 pounds of algae. At its worst, blue-green algae can form, which is toxic to humans, pets and wildlife. In some parts of the state, algae blooms have become so bad that the air becomes unhealthy to breathe and people are developing serious illnesses.

The phosphorus rules were just enacted in December 2010. And they’re smart. These rules allow dischargers to work together to find the most cost-effective ways to clean up the waterways. Communities across the state are already coming together to figure out how to clean the green out of their local waterways.

Though the delay of the phosphorus rules was taken out of the budget, that might not be the end of the attempts to delay it. Our work will continue, with your help, to protect these manageable soltions to the problems facing our waters.

clean the green

phosphorus rules victory

inside starting on pg 6The State of our WaterConserve!Fund for Lake Michigan

2 Summer 2011

Executive Director Mark Redsten

Development Director Becky Bains

Accounting Manager Mary Coughlan

Staff Scientist Tyson Cook

Membership Assistant Jenny Lynes

Water Program Director Melissa Malott

Grants Manager Tracy Marks-Geib

Director of Programs & Government Relations Amber Meyer Smith

Water Resources Specialist Ezra Meyer

General Counsel Katie Nekola

Senior Policy Director Keith Reopelle

Midwest Clean Energy Coordinator Sarah Shanahan

Chief Financial Officer Roger Sneath

Clean Energy Specialist Katy Walter

Creative Director Amanda Wegner

Communications Director Sam Weis

Staff Attorney Elizabeth Wheeler

Office Administrator David Vitse

Chair Carl Sinderbrand (Madison)Vice Chair Margi Kindig (Madison)Treasurer Gof Thomson (New Glarus)Secretary Gary Goyke (Madison)

Belle Bergner (Milwaukee)Phyllis Dube (McFarland)Sue Durst (Verona)Shari Eggleson (Washburn)Luke Fairborn (Whitefish Bay)Scott Froehlke (Montello)Paul Linzmeyer (Green Bay)Chuck McGinnis (Middleton)Lucia Petrie (Milwaukee)David Wandel (Madison)

Board Emeritus Kate Gordon (Washington, D.C.)

The Defender is owned and published quarterly by Clean Wisconsin, 634 W. Main St., #300, Madison, WI 53703,608-251-7020.A one-year subscription membership is $35. Please direct correspondence to the address above.Volume 41, No. 3 Issue date: July 2011©2011 Clean Wisconsin. All rights reserved.ISSN # 1549-8107

This spring, we heard from legislators time and again that they value the input they receive from all the action emails that were sent during the state budget process. We know that the vast number of messages we sent to legislators helped create the support needed to change devastating budget provisions that would have decimated the phosphorus rules and Wisconsin’s recycling program.

We want to continue this momentum and add your voice! The quickest, most affordable way for us to contact you when we need your help is via email. When you join our Action network, you’ll get a weekly email with simple and quick actions you can take on the issues you care about most. Head to our website or email jlynes@cleanwisconsin.org to join our Action network and be a part of our winning team!

We were disappointed to see that the state budget included huge cuts to Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program, the incredibly cost-effective energy conservation fund that saves ratepayers money on their energy bills. Luckily, we still have a chance to come to a compromise and make sure parts of this program stay in effect in Wisconsin. Please submit a letter to the editor to show the legislature that Focus on Energy and energy conservation is important to their constituents. We’ll even assist you with the writing! Email Katy Walter at kwalter@cleanwisconsin.org to get started.

Thanks to your financial generosity, we are able to work to protect Wisconsin’s special places and advocate for our clean water and clean air. You can help us reduce paper and staff costs by joining our monthly donor program. This way, you can support our work with small, monthly contri-butions of any amount that will recur automatically.

If you want to support our campaigns year-round, become a monthly donor by visiting www.cleanwisconsin.org, clicking “Donate Now” and selecting, “I want to make a recurring donation.” Or, call or mail in your preferred monthly amount, Visa or Mastercard information, and full name and address and we can take care of the rest in office.

our Action network is on fire!

Tell your federal representative to vote no on dirty water

Clean Wisconsin protects Wisconsin’s clean water and air and advocates for clean energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and by holding elected of-ficals and polluters accountable.

Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade, Clean Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and businesses.

On behalf of its 10,000 members, supporters and co-alition partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make Wisconsin a wonderful place to live, work and play.

Make each donation go further

Printed with soy ink on unbleached, recycled paper.

634 W. Main St., #300 • Madison WI 53703Phone: 608-251-7020www.cleanwisconsin.org

Actions you can take for clean water, clean air and clean energy

TAKING ACTIONTaking Charge&

sTAFF

BoArd

Thanks for your support of our

online auction!

Thanks to our wonderful donors and generous bidders, our inaugural online auction was a success, raising over $3,500 for Clean Wisconsin! We already have some great items for our 2012 auction,

so stay tuned for details.A huGe ThAnKs to our donors: Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Monona • Alterra Coffee, Milwaukee • Amanda Wegner Yoga, Madison • Jake Barns • Bergner Associates, Milwaukee • Birchwood Lodge, Sister Bay • canvasondemand.com • Capital Brewery Co., Inc., Middleton • Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Madison • Shari and Mark Eggleson • EZ Office Products, Madison • Carol and Luke Fairborn • Food Fight Restaurant Group, Madison. Fresco and John Jerabek, Madison • Scott Froehlke • Green Bay Packers • Holland's Family Cheese, Thorp • Ian’s Pizza, Madison • Jamie M. Swanson Photogra-phy, Fond du Lac • Landmark Theatre • Milwaukee Madison Mallards • Hans Meyer • Milwaukee Brewers • Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee • Overture Center for the Arts, Madison • Pete and Lucia Petrie • Keith Reopelle • Returning Home Reiki - Marcia Hal-ligan, Viroqua • Rivergate Gardens, Cazenovia • Schonheit Gardens, Sun Prairie • Shoo Inc., Madison • Vermont Valley CSA, Blue Mounds.

www.cleanwisconsin.org 3

from theexecutive director

Like so many people across the state of Wisconsin, summer is a time when I love to get out and enjoy Wisconsin’s beautiful lakes, rivers and streams. Whether it’s enjoying time with the family on the boat, canoeing the lower Wisconsin River or simply enjoying the views of a beautiful sunset over the lake on an evening run, some of the best moments of the season happen next to water.

Lately, however, I have found it impossible to ignore the foul-smelling and unsightly algae near the shores of Madison’s lakes as I run along my favorite path. These algae blooms occur annually and significantly detract from our enjoyment of our water. They close beaches, keep us off the water and inundate the shoreline with the smell of rotting vegetation.

And Madison’s lakes aren’t alone; algae blooms have become a common sight throughout the state of Wisconsin.

The good news is that we have solutions to clean up our waters, and reduce smelly, unsightly algae blooms. All we need to do is reduce phosphorus in our waters, and new rules Clean Wisconsin helped pass last year will help cities and farmers work together to do just that. The bad news is that some legislators are threatening to stand in the way of these important new provisions. We will need your help in the coming weeks and months to fight back against short-sighted proposals that will block cost-effective solutions and roll back essential clean water protections.

Algae blooms are only one example of the many threats to Wisconsin’s waters. In the pages ahead, I invite you to read about the many problems our waters face, and how Clean Wisconsin is working to clean up and protect them. From Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River and all the lakes, rivers and streams in between, at Clean Wisconsin we put your generous contributions to work every day, fighting to clean up, preserve and protect the waters we all love so much.

Thank you for continuing to make this important work possible!

For the Love of Lakes

Mark RedstenExecutive Director

Clean Air Progress

By Katy Walter, Clean Energy Specialist

Clean Wisconsin has been working with the Cleaner Valley Coalition, a broad and di-verse coalition urging We Energies to clean up its old, dirty Valley Power Plant in Mil-waukee’s Menomonee Valley. This spring, we had news of progress when We Energies announced they would begin the process that would allow the plant to burn natural gas.

Natural gas has significantly lower emissions of particulates, mer-cury, and other types of pollution that make coal so dangerous for humans. The conversion of Valley Power Plant to natural gas has the potential to significantly improve Milwaukee’s air quality and the health of its residents. The announcement by We Energies to build the needed natural gas pipeline to the plant is a great step in the right direction. We will continue to follow the process to make sure the switch happens as quickly as possible and with the least impact on the surrounding community.

A &

Two Ways to Help Clean Wisconsin

one dime at a Time,Whole Foods Market, MadisonThrough september 30

Fresh Faces event at Graze restaurantGraze patio, 1 s. Pinckney, MadisonMonday, Aug. 29, 5:30p (rain date Aug. 30)

Your $10 donation includes one complimentary drink ticket and a one-year Clean Wisconsin membership. Talish Barrow of Graze will also give a brief talk about Graze’s commitment to local farmers and agriculture.

Join us for a celebration of people, places and pastures!

The One Dime at a Time program provides an incentive to Whole Foods Market customers to eliminate single-use plastic bags and develop stronger communities by donating 10¢ for each reusable bag you use to the designated charity.

next time you’re at Whole Foods in Madison,bring a reusable bag and give your dimes

to Clean Wisconsin!

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest Clean Wisconsin events and happenings?

Send your email to Jenny Lynes at jlynes@cleanwisconsin.org to get on our Actions for

the Greener Good email list or support us on Facebook. In both places, you’ll find the latest

Clean Wisconsin news!

4 Summer 2011

Our environmental priorities, at work in the CapitolBy Amber Meyer Smith, Director of Programs and Government Relations

LeGisLATive uPdATeClEan WiSConSin’S

• Watch live and recorded legislative floor sessions, committee hearings and interviews at wisconsineye.org

• Sign up to receive notifications about action on bills you care about at http://notify.legis.state.wi.us

• Learn more about your legislators by entering your address or using the interactive map at http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/waml/waml.aspx

• Most importantly, join our Action network! Find it online at www.cleanwisconsin.org.

Stay informed on what’s

happening in our state

government

After months of work, the biennial budget was finally signed into law in June. For better and for worse, some changes were made to Gov. Walker’s original budget proposal. Below are only some prominent issues that we worked on and asked members to engage in. The bud-get is 1,300-plus pages and includes many issues important to our natural resources. Clean Wisconsin fought for many environmental provisions impacted by the budget and will continue that work as the Legislature moves on to tackle other issues. To keep up-to-date on

the most important environmental policies in Wisconsin, follow us on Facebook and join our Action network!

RECyClingWhile Gov. Walker’s effort to end Wisconsin’s recycling program as we know it was thwarted in the Legis-lature, the funding for local recycling was still cut by 40 percent, which will result in communities making cuts to their services or charging fees to make up for the lost revenue.

PhoSPhoRuSEfforts to delay Wisconsin’s phosphorus rule, which was just adopted last fall to help keep algae-causing phosphorus out of our waterways, were removed from the budget but will likely be debated in separate legislation.

FoCuS on EnERgyThe budget-reviewing Joint Finance Committee rolled back increases approved late last year for the popular Focus on Energy program, which helps homeowners and businesses make energy-efficient upgrades. De-spite efforts of hundreds of businesses and numerous last-minute press accounts of the cost savings and job creation the Focus on Energy program brings to Wisconsin, Gov. Walker ignored requests to veto the cuts made to the program.

EnERgy EFFiCiEnCy FoR StatE BuilDingSThe final budget approves Gov. Walker’s commitment of $100 million for energy-efficiency upgrades at state buildings, including the University system.

StEWaRDShiPFunding for this program, which protects precious lands and open spaces for future generations was re-duced by $26 million during legislative review. On the bright side, poison pills included in the Governor’s original budget that would have made purchasing land all but impossible were also removed.

PuRChaSE oF agRiCultuRal ConSERvation EaSEMEnt PRogRaMThe Legislature approved Walker’s plan to eliminate the PACE program, which keeps farmland in produc-tion and away from development pressure. They did decide to honor commitments to farmers that had already been made for easements in 2011.

While Wisconsin currently has laws on the books that ensure the public has a voice in the process and environmental impacts of proposed mines are adequate-ly considered, out-of-state mining interests are in the midst of trying to rewrite Wisconsin’s mining laws. A draft bill released in May included dangerous provi-sions, including measures that would reduce public input and eliminate critical environmental protections.

Luckily, with the help of our supporters, Clean Wisconsin was able to help slow down the process before this dangerous bill was introduced. Meanwhile, Gogebic Taconite, the mining company, has said that it will stop moving for-ward on the proposed mine until new legislation is passed.

Clean Wisconsin is eagerly waiting for the next version of the bill and stands ready to fight to maintain strong laws in Wisconsin that ensure mines are safe.

Please stay tuned, as we’ll bring you any and all new developments on our Facebook page, in The Defender

and through our Action network emails!

iron Mine Legislation update

www.cleanwisconsin.org 5

Of all the industries that affect water quality and supply, metal-lic mineral mining has the greatest potential to harm water qual-ity and draw down groundwater resources. Any mining operation, whether underground or open pit, involves clearing woodlands, blasting through layers of rock, and dumping mine waste in large piles nearby. Mining operations require a great deal of water, which can draw down local water sources and jeopardize drinking water. Mine waste also can generate acid drainage, which is toxic to aquatic life in nearby water bodies.

Earlier this year, Gogebic Taconite, a Florida-based coal mining company, leased the option to mine for iron ore along a 22-mile stretch of land in the Penokee Range in Ashland and Iron counties. They intend to construct an open pit iron mine and pelletizing fac-tory on the site, and have received an exploratory drilling permit from the state Department of Natural Resources.

Ensuring that the natural resources will be protected is especially critical due to the area’s ecological sensitivity. The watershed in the Penokee range contains 72 rare and endangered plants and animals, and houses one of the largest undeveloped freshwater estuaries in the world.1 There are also sensitive plant and animal species in the area, including wild rice, which is considered a sacred plant by the Anishinaabe people. Protecting this important natural resource area of the state while mining this particular ore will be challenging. Due to the position and depth of the iron ore, an unusually large amount of waste rock must be removed and disposed of in this environmen-tally-sensitive area of the state.

In January, company representatives told a standing-room-only crowd at Ashland’s Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center that they intended to comply with Wisconsin’s mining laws and permitting re-quirements and promised that the mine would not harm Northern Wisconsin’s forests, lakes, rivers or tribal resources. However, Goge-bic Taconite has been working behind the scenes to rewrite Wiscon-sin’s mining laws to dodge its responsibilities to Wisconsin.

Draft legislation was recently circulated that would weaken Wis-consin’s protections against contamination of streams and wetlands and give special treatment to iron mines. The authors of the draft legislation claimed that iron mining does not have the potential to create acid mine drainage (it does), and therefore iron mining pro-posals should not receive the same level of DNR review or public input as other metallic mining proposals. The proposal would signifi-cantly limit protections to surface and groundwater, including but not limited to: changing wetlands protections; allowing mining waste to be dumped on lake shores, stream shores or within a floodplain; weakening groundwater quality regulations; and removing some protections against excessive ground and surface water withdrawals. The changes are sweeping, and if such a proposal would become law, Gogebic Taconite will not be held accountable for the impacts of its mining operations on ground and surface water.

So far, this proposal is on hold, but indications are that it will resurface this fall. Call your state representatives and let them know that there is no need to change Wisconsin’s existing mining and environmental regulations.

Gogebic Taconite has said that it can mine without sacrificing our trout streams, clean drinking water and

the wildlife that depends on them.

Let’s hold them to that promise.

Water Facts� The Bad River Watershed, which drains of the

proposed mine, contains 72 rare and endangered plants and animals.

� The Bad River empties into Chequamegon Bay through 16,000 acres of wetlands, woodlands and sand dune ecosystems, is one of the largest undeveloped freshwater estuaries in the world, and is home to waterfowl, songbirds and several species of fish.

� This area of the state is home to Class A trout streams, high-quality wetlands, pristine parks, such as Copper Falls State Park, and national forests, including the Nicolet and Chequamegon national forests.

� Rivers and streams in the are of the proposed mine flow north to Lake Superior, leaving this Great Lake vulnerable.

� Mining causes erosion that could degrade water quality.

� Runoff from mine waste carries potentially toxicsubstances into surface waters as well as groundwater.

� Tailings or mine waste may be placed in high-quality wetlands, ruining their ecological value.

Bad river, Tyler Forks and Chequamegon Bay:No Place for Open Pit Mining By Katie nekola, general Counsel, and Elizabeth Wheeler, Staff attorney

exploring the banks of the Bad river at Copper Falls state Park

Current law: What’s at stakeWisconsin’s hard-fought mining moratorium law

protects people and the environment. Existing law:

• Requires mining companies to work with local communities to ensure local interests are protected.

• Protects against acid mine drainage.• Ensures that mining companies comply with all other

environmental laws that protect our water and wetland resources.

• Protects citizen’s rights to public participation and enforcement of the law.

1. Sack, C. 2006. Potential Environmental Impacts of a Penokee Mine. Pollution Biology.

6 Summer 2011

The state of our Water

Where there are problems, Clean Wisconsin offers solutions

A glance at water-related issues around the state

and how Clean Wisconsin is working to improve

our waters for future generations.

1. Proposed iron mine in Northern WisconsinThroughout the country, metallic mining poses a severe threat to rivers, lakes and groundwater. The proposed low-grade iron mine in North-ern Wisconsin’s Penokee Range could potentially degrade drinking water, trout streams and rivers and lakes , including Lake Superior. Clean Wisconsin is prepared to fight for the Northwoods pristine waters by pushing back on mining legislation that would gut important water protec-tions. (Read more on page 5.)

2. Water supply in Central WisconsinIf improperly located or managed, wells can draw down groundwater, forc-ing water levels in nearby lakes and streams to drop. Nowhere has that been more apparent than in Central Wisconsin, where overpumping has caused the Little Plover River and several lakes to dry up. Clean Wisconsin recently joined an amicus brief in a state Supreme Court case to protect Wisconsin water from overpumping groundwater. Additionally, we work for policies to protect the connection between groundwater and surface waters.

3. Well contamination in Brown CountyIn recent years, drinking wells in Brown County became so contaminated from improperly managed manure that it drew national attention when the New York Times covered families becoming ill. Everyone deserves clean water to drink, and Clean Wisconsin is fighting hard to make this a reality by advo-cating for common-sense controls for agricultural runoff and better manure management.

4. Water contamination from coalCoal plants not only spew toxins into the air, but also can contaminate water in nearby lakes, rivers and streams. A 14-mile section of the Sheboygan River is one of the most contaminated areas in the Great Lakes drainage basin — the pollution due, in part, to discharges from the nearby Edgewater coal plant. In Oak Creek, coal ash is suspected to have caused groundwater contamination so severe that We Energies provides residents with bottled water to drink. In Madison and Milwaukee, a toxic substance that leaches from coal ash called Chromium VI has been found in the drinking water. As a major part of our work fighting to keep our state’s air and water clean, Clean Wisconsin fights to clean up and retire the oldest and dirtest coal plants in the state’s fleet, holds polluters accountable for their actions, and advocates for policies that support clean, renewable energy.

5. Cladaphora on Lake Michigan’s shoresFor several years, large quantities of decaying algae have been fouling Wisconsin´s Lake Michigan shoreline. While this nontoxic green algae, called cladaphora, is naturally found along Great Lakes coastlines, phosphorus run-ning off lawns, fields and streets have made this algae a stinking, foul nuisance for beachgoers and lake enthusiasts. Clean Wisconsin has been a leader for policies that reduce phosphorus in our waters. We also helped obtain funding for the Fund for Lake Michigan which provides funds for on-the-ground Great Lakes projects, including restoration and water quality improvement.

6. Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust (Sweet Water)This unique partnership was established in 2008 to achieve healthy and sus-

tainable water resources throughout Southeastern Wisconsin. As a partner, Clean Wisconsin helps bridge state and local policies to im-prove water quality, leads on the implementation of priority projects, and assists with communications and outreach.

7. Waukesha’s application for Lake Michigan WaterPlagued by water quality and quantity problems, the City of Waukesha is seeking approval for a first-of-its-kind application to divert water from Lake Michigan under the Great Lakes Compact. With other interested groups, Clean Wisconsin is closely tracking this application to ensure it meets the standards set in the Compact. The process for environmental impact review and public input on Waukesha’s diversion application begins this summer. Stay tuned!

8. Partnering with Madison’s water utilityOver the past two years, Clean Wisconsin has worked with municipalities to create programs that encourage water conservation. We recently worked with the city of Madison to develop a water rate structure that rewards those who use less water; we are also working with the utility to build a program to help industrial and commercial users save water and are assisting with its water-quality reporting.

9. Yahara LakesMadison’s city motto “Lake. City. Lake.” captures the importance that water plays to the city’s residents, visitors and economy. Unfortunately, Madison’s lakes frequently experience algae blooms in summer that close beaches and keep boaters off the water. Laws banning phosphorus in dish detergents and lawn fertilizers that Clean Wisconsin helped pass in recent years will help reduce the influx of phosphorus running into Madison’s beautiful lakes. Ad-ditionally, by working together with the county and Madison Metropolica-tion Sewerage District, Dane County has become a leader in implementing the recently passed phosphorus rules and in constructing community manure digesters, which help keep phosphorus-heavy manure out of our waters. To-gether these efforts help ensure a cleaner future for Madison’s lakes.

10. Increased flooding in WisconsinFollowing intense, prolonged storms in June 2008, major portions of the state suffered heavy floods; the southwestern portion of the state was particularly hard hit several years in a row, forcing entire towns to rebuild or move. As models show climate change will continue to affect the state’s weather pat-terns into the future, Clean Wisconsin advocates for smart energy policies to mitigate the effects of climate change and fights for wetlands protections, which help absorb flood waters.

11. Toxins in private wellsIn the Eau Claire area, 63 percent of private wells are contaminated by Atra-zine, a controversial chemical found in herbicides associated with birth defects when consumed at concentrations below government standards. Clean Wis-consin is in the early stages of developing a program that will provide expertise and leadership to build the connection between smart agricultural practices and clean water.

12. Toxic algae is making people sickToxic algae blooms like those in Lakes Tainter and Menomin result from too much phosphorus in our waters. Clean Wisconsin worked for years to help pass the Phosphorus Rule Package, which was approved in 2010 and enables farmers and municipalities — the two largest contributors of phosphorus pol-lution — to work together to find cost-effective ways of reducing phosphorus pollution. Clean Wisconsin is now fighting to keep the phosphorus rule in place as some legislators threaten to repeal this important solution. By reduc-ing the amount of phosphorus entering our waters, we can reduce the fre-quency and severity of toxic algae blooms throughout the state.

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www.cleanwisconsin.org 7

Clean, plentiful water is one of Wisconsin’s greatest natural resources, but without proper action, our state could face devastating shortages in the coming years. Just this spring, the U.S. Geologic Survey released a federal analysis warning that the Great Lakes region could experience water shortages due to increased demand and climate shifts.

Surrounded by lakes, rivers and streams, it’s hard to imagine running out of water, but Wisconsin has already seen streams and lakes run dry as a result of unsustainable water use. In recent years, Wisconsin has become a leader in water conservation, and Clean Wisconsin has helped. A critical requirement of the Great Lakes Compact, which we helped pass in 2008, is that large water users must work proactively to use water more efficiently. Last year, we helped the Wisconsin DNR create detailed rules spelling out Wisconsin’s water conservation and efficiency requirements for those large users.

We’ve also engaged several Wisconsin municipal water utilities in negotiations over water conservation and efficiency measures, notably water pricing structures that encourage efficient water use by customers. Through that work, we have secured lower water rates for most customers and rates that will encourage excessive water users to find efficiencies and stop wasting water. Our water conservation efforts continue on the local and state levels.

It is estimated that by 2013 over 36 states in the United States will face water shortages; that is a list Wisconsin does not want to be on. With simple conservation practices, we can avoid that and meet our needs in a sustainable way.

Conserve! Reduce your environmental impact,utility bills with water conservationBy Ella Schwierske, Communications intern & Ezra Meyer, Water Resources Specialist

The average person uses about 63 gallons of water a day. Here are 5 easy water-saving tips to reduce that amount:

1. Water smart: In the summer, outdoor watering can account for 60% to 70% of all household water use. Watering early in the morning helps reduce the water lost from evaporation. And water deep, not often.

2. Turn it off: Turn off the shower while you lather your hair or shave to reduce your water usage. Many of us practice this while we brush our teeth or do dishes, so extend this good habit to the shower!

3. Go low flow: Replace old showerheads with newer low-flow ones to reduce your household water usage by 45 gallons a day and about 16,000 gallons per year. Low-flow toilets save 25 gallons a day and 9,000 gallons a year.

4. Full loads: Make sure your dishwasher and washing machine are full before running them to save water and electricity. If doing dishes by hand, fill up the sink instead of running water for each individual dish.

5. Water pitchers: Keeping a pitcher of water in your refrigerator is a cheap and easy way to have ice cold water on hand. Turning on the tap for each glass wastes water as you wait for the tap to get cold. These are small savings, but it all adds up.

The Phosphorus Cycle It’s slow & overburdenedEveryone knows how the water cycle works: water evaporates from the Earth, it condenses into clouds, and those clouds

pour rain back down, starting the cycle over again.

Phosphorus, a nutrient needed to grow food, moves in a cycle as well, but it is the slowest of the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. While phosphorus naturally enters our waters as rocks erode and plants break down, tons of phosphorus is added to the cycle each day. Because the phosphorus cycle is such a slow process, our waters are paying the price.

Phosphorus gets into the water in a variety of ways

Once it's in the water

The phosphorus settles into thelake bottom, feeding noxious

aquatic weeds...

...as the noxious aquatic plants die and decay, they

suck oxygen out of thewater and block sunlight fromgetting to the lake bottom...

...called eutrophication, this matof algae and decay makes it

di�cult for �sh, bene�cial plantsand other organisms

to survive.Excess phosphorusis turning our lakes

and rivers intostinking, foul waters!*

Completing the cyclePhosphorus does recharge into rocks, but it takes 10-15 million years for phosphate rocks, the source of phosphorus foragricultural and residential fertilizers, to form. Experts estimate the world will use up its existing supply of phosphate rock by 2030.

We have solutions for reducing and preventingthese sources of phosphorus in our waters!

Excess fertilizer runso� �elds & lawns

Leaches out of animal(and human!) waste

Discharge from food-processing plants

Decaying plant matterDischarge from watertreatment plants

Summer2011

Erodes from rocks

*Think this is just a local problem? Most of Wisconsin’s waterways drain to theMighty Mississippi and excess phosphorus has caused a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico!

8 Summer 2011

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By amber Meyer Smith, Director of Programs & government Relations

22nd Senate District, Kenosha

district phone: 262-694-7379 office phone: 608-267-8979

sen.wirch@legis.wi.govlegis.wisconsin.gov/senate/sen22

Since 1992, state Senator Bob Wirch has been a strong advocate for the environment. From mercury regulations to the Great Lakes Compact, wetlands protection to recycling, and the land-purchasing Stewardship program, Sen. Wirch has been a leading voice on important natural resource issues.

Elected to the Assembly in 1992 and the Sen-ate in 1996, he is a longtime member of the Natural Resources committee, and has thus been involved in many issues that impact our environment. His environmental voting record earned him the Clean 16 award from Clean Wisconsin predecessor organization, Wiscon-sin’s Environmental Decade.

Wirch really became an environmental cham-pion when his son was diagnosed with asthma. “It just really hit home how important clean air is to our basic needs, and to see my son suffer because of too much pollution was more than enough to convince me.”

Wirch is especially an advocate of renewable energy, and his commitment goes beyond just lawmaking. He walks the talk; he’s had solar panels and a solar water heater on his house since the 1970s. “I see every day the benefits of

investing in renewables every day.”As a member of the Senate Energy, Biotech

and Consumer Protection Committee, Wirch also understands the value that renewable en-ergy brings to Wisconsin, but has fought hard against efforts to expand the use of nuclear power.

“The 22nd Senate District is a stone’s throw from the old Zion Nuclear power plant, which has had many safety issues. The expansion of nuclear power is very concerning to me.”

Prior to being elected to state office, Sen. Wirch worked at American Brass in Kenosha and as a job training liaison. He also served on the Kenosha County Board and in the Army Reserve. But Sen. Wirch is especially proud of his membership in the Kenosha Area Sport Fishing and Conservation Alliance.

“I love going to meetings to hear what our sportsmen and women are doing every day to help keep our natural resources healthy, and what they see as the obstacles to those recre-ational opportunities.”

Clean Wisconsin looks forward to working with Sen. Wirch on renewable energy and other important natural resource issues this session.

SenatorBob Wirch

in Action! The Fund for Lake MichiganThe Fund for Lake Michigan, which provides significant financial re-

sources for direct, on-the-ground restoration projects to improve the health of lake for the next 24 years, has hit the ground running. Created through a legal settlement among Clean Wisconsin, Sierra Club and owners of the Elm Road power plants, here are a few of the projects that received fund-ing in the first round of awards.

From Kenosha County north to Ozaukee County, organizations are working hard to improve water quality:

Kenosha County Division of Parks The Fund is supporting the design and engineering phase of the removal of a non-functional dam in Petri-fying Springs Park and the stabilization of the streambank following its removal. The dam is the only remaining physical barrier to fish passage on the Pike River, and the implementation of this work will improve habitat and water quality in the watershed.

Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) The Fund is providing support for Root-Pike WIN’s Watershed-Based Grant Program, which funds small, local projects to address water quality and habitat issues in the watershed. In addition, the Fund is supporting Root-Pike WIN’s efforts to develop a watershed restoration plan for the Pike River that gathers input from a diverse group of stakeholders and provides a pri-oritized action plan to improve water quality.

In the Greater Milwaukee metro area, the Fund supported many differ-ent projects. One notable project is:

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) MMSD will plant 25,000 trees on 33 acres of land on the Menomonee and Milwaukee Rivers. The reforestation projects will convert agricultural lands into vegetated floodplains, reducing pollutants and improving water quality while providing critical habitat for wetland and migratory species.

Continuing north, the Fund supported innovative management practic-es on agricultural lands and habitat restoration efforts in coastal areas.

Ozaukee Washington Land Trust, Inc. (OWLT) OWLT is conducting a habitat management campaign along the Lake Michigan Flyway, an important route for migratory songbirds. With the Fund’s support, OWLT is removing invasive species and planting native vegetation; stabilizing coastal bluffs, gorges and stream banks; and monitoring re-stored habitat for use by wildlife.

Ozaukee County Land and Water Management This organization is implementing an agricultural buffer and field border initiative de-signed to reduce the levels of pollutants in the Sauk and Sucker creeks, while restoring and preserving usable habitat for wildlife.

For more information on the Fund for Lake Michigan, visit http://bit.ly/FundLakeMI. A new round of grant applications will

be accepted beginning August 1.

In June, three Clean Wisconsin staffers traveled to Menomonie, Wisconsin to tour the Tainter-Menomin watershed — one of Wisconsin’s most impaired waterways. Our plan was to talk to locals about the impact of the lakes’ frequent algae blooms and to catch it on tape so that we could share their stories and convey the importance of clean water policies.

After only a couple interviews, it became clear that this was not just another project. We listened in disbelief as residents told stories of algae diminishing property values, causing asthma attacks and blistered legs, sickening children and ruining retirement plans. As we listened, on the shores of beautiful, shim-mering waters, it became difficult to believe that these lakes were ticking time bombs; in a matter of weeks they would go from beautiful and scenic to green, toxic and dangerous.

However, it was a moment after all the official interviews were over that will stick with me forever.

Our guide for the day, a veteran and retired business man living on Lake Tainter, was giving us a tour of the lake on his boat when I asked him an im-promptu question: “Why do you fight so hard to clean up these lakes?”

His eyes teared up as he explained that he has a son who has undergone a liver transplant and his doctor says it is unsafe for him to go in or near these lakes. Even his grandchildren are not allowed to swim or play in these waters as they are too dangerous.

This man is pouring his soul into cleaning up the lakes just enough so his chil-dren and grandchildren can enjoy the waters without fearing illness. If everyone could take a boat ride with this man, to see the passion in his eyes, and hear the determination in his voice, I have little doubt that they would do their part to help our waters and keep them clean for future generations.

To see the videos and hear unbelievable stories that demonstrate the urgent need to clean up our waters, visit

www.cleanwisconsin.org/tMvideos.

The Tainter-MenominTrue stories of dangerous water

By Sam Weis, Communications Director

www.cleanwisconsin.org 9

Welcome Tracy & Tyson

In April, we said good-bye to former grants manager Rosie Bell, who returned to her hometown of Chicago. But with every good-bye comes a hello; this spring we welcomed Tyson Cook as our staff scientist and Tracy Marks-Geib as our new grants manager. Instead of rehashing their biographies, we’ve asked them to write their own introductions.

Tracy Marks-GeibGrants Manager

Summer in Wisconsin is a captivating time of year, enticing us outside to explore the lakes, state parks and natural beauty all around. I think it is especially fitting that at the start of this season dedicated to all things outdoors, I joined the Clean Wisconsin staff, an organization dedicated to protecting all things outdoors. A new adventure to be sure, I come to Clean Wisconsin with a background in fundraising, mainly for the arts. With experience in annual fund development, major gift work and grant writing, I have raised funds for Chicago Botanic Garden and Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, and most recently served as the executive director of Madison Youth Choirs.

Here at Clean Wisconsin, my role as grants manager involves raising foundation, corporate and government support for our many programs dedicated to clean water, clean air and clean energy. And while it is true I have a bit to learn about environmental advocacy, the mission of Clean Wisconsin resonates deeply as I enjoy a long hike along Lake Michigan or take in a Wisconsin River sunset.

Away from the office, I can be found enjoying the summer with my husband and one-year old daughter, curled up with a good book or taking a yoga class.

Tyson CookStaff Scientist

I remember one day, as part of a class project in early elementary school, writing my dream job on a construction-paper star: I wanted to be a naturalist. Actually, I think it was something to the effect of “½ football star, ½ naturalist.” The first half didn’t pan out; I ended up playing hockey instead of football. But I’ve always loved being in the great outdoors.

Later on in life, a couple less-than-thrilling biology courses in high school caused me to lose that direction a bit. I spent my time in college bouncing around the physics department studying everything that seemed interesting: industrial engineering, computational neuroscience, plasma fusion, complex systems. It wasn’t until my senior year that I took an “Environmental Science” course and got back on track; I went on to get a master’s in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University.

After finishing school, I headed to an energy efficiency consulting firm, where I worked to increase the production of solar electricity through the statewide California Solar Initiative and pushed for advancements in efficient LED lighting. After some other career twists and turns that included a summer in rural Tanzania installing a solar water system, I landed as the staff scientist here at Clean Wisconsin.

You won’t see me in the Monday Night Football line-up, but I’ve finally found my dream job — working across Clean Wisconsin’s wide range of programs to protect the clean air and clean water we all rely on, and to help move us toward clean energy that will keep them that way for generations to come.

Growth opportunity: Our new office

At Clean Wisconsin, we pride ourselves in “walking the walk,” and our new office exemplifies that. Among other environmental benefits, our new office features recycled maple floors, stormwater runoff control in the parking lots, highly efficient heating and cooling systems, and water-saving restrooms. All this is in the remodeled Kroger grocery warehouse, originally built in 1917 and conveniently located on one of Madison’s many bike paths. This new location will help us exemplify an eco-conscious business ethic by significantly decreasing the environmental impacts of our operations.

The new location signifies a larger transformation at Clean Wisconsin. The new office will house a new legal department and science program. Together, these departments will provide tools for our organization to monitor and enforce state and federal environmental laws and protect

Wisconsin’s wonderful environment and natural resources.

This investment comes at an important time; recent political changes will certainly bring environmental challenges and attacks. The new leadership has proposed rolling back environmental policies and sharp budget cuts that will result in staff cuts to agencies charged with enforcing and implementing environmental regulations. Increasing our in-house legal and scientific capacities will enable us to quickly and effectively prepare for environmental attacks and monitor polluters and leaders to ensure they are held accountable for their actions.

By Sam Weis, Communications Director

our new address634 W. Main st., suite 300

Madison, Wi 53703

10 Summer 2011

Since 1970, Clean Wisconsin has been protecting Wisconsin´s clean water and air. We are driven by our mission to protect the special places that make Wisconsin such a wonderful place. This work isn’t always popular or easy. By including Clean Wiscon-sin in your estate planning, your gift will reach across genera-tions, ensuring a clean Wisconsin long after your lifetime.

Your gift can make a difference; even a small amount will have a big impact over time. Gift planning can take many forms, such as including Clean Wisconsin in your will or beneficiary of your IRA. We encourage you to contact your financial advisor or Becky in our development office at 608-251-7020 ext. 17 for more information.

PlannedGiving

Member Profile: interview with Marilyn ChesnikBy Jenny Lynes, Membership Assistant

Earlier this spring, Marilyn Chesnik, co-owner of Wild River Outfitters in Grantsburg and Clean Wisconsin member, contacted us with an idea: She wanted to sell Clean Wisconsin water bottles at her business. As a way to replace plastic bottles, she wanted to save on resources and spread the word about Clean Wisconsin. I caught up with Marilyn mid-summer to learn more about her business and how this idea came about.

Jenny lynes: Can you tell me a little bit about your business?

Marilyn Chesnik: We are a canoe and kayak rental and shuttle service Upper St. Croix and Namekagon rivers in the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway Park. We bought it in 1990 because my husband always wanted to own a business. It was already established at the time, but we’ve owned it the longest and grown it the most.

Jl: How has this season been?

MC: We’ve gotten off to a pretty slow start because of the weather. But it’s really picked up. Now we just had straight line winds and there’s a lot of damage and there’s a lot of clean up to be done.

Jl: Why do you donate to Clean Wisconsin?

MC: We believe in what you’re doing. We’re very concerned with the environment, my husband and I. We try to do some educating with our customers. We teach them about pack it in and pack it out, recycling, and give them bags. Clean Wisconsin is very much geared toward what we believe in.

Jl: Do you have one particular environmental issue you care about the most?

MC: No, there isn’t just one. There are too many we need to be concerned about. Water is important because we have a business on the water. We are very fortunate that our river stretch is so pristine, but the Lower St. Croix is in trouble.

Jl: Do you have any advice to people who what to be more involved in environmental issues?

MC: Get yourself educated on what’s really the issue and not what they’re telling us in mainstream news. […] Become aware and start small. We have always recycled forever. Things like that.

Jl: How did you get the idea to sell the waterbottles?

MC: I was reading an article about water and just thought it would be a neat idea. I was also talking to my niece about it […] and she was talking about the importance of […] trying to get people to collaborate in programs regarding environmental issues. Then I thought, ‘Why don’t we stay local?’ and picked Clean Wisconsin.

Learn more about Wild River Outfitters at www.wildriverpaddling.com. If you are interested in a partnership like this for your business,

please contact Jenny at jlynes@cleanwisconsin.org.

www.cleanwisconsin.org 11

scenes fromClean Wisconsin’s Open House

June 24, 2011

gary goyke and Mary & gof thomsen Mark Redsten and Rep. Mark Pocan

Keith Reopelle, amber Meyer Smith, Rep. Brett hulsey and Melissa Malott Spencer Black and Sarah ann Shanahan

Melissa Malott and Caryl terryl

Ella Schwierske, Erika Padgett and Jenny lynes

Paul Kent and Brad Motl

Ezra Meyer and Mike Carlson Mark Redsten and the Cory Family, Pat, ann and sons

Dan Mostaza and Sam Weis, not hard at work

tracy Marks-geib