Tag Archives: Phosphorus Rule

Dane County Launches Innovative Pilot Project to “Clean the Green”

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Lake Waubesa

Today, Dane County launched a pilot project designed to help reduce phosphorus pollution entering the county’s Yahara chain of lakes. This project uses the innovative phosphorus rules that Clean Wisconsin helped pass in 2010 and upon successful completion, will serve as a model for cleaning waters across the state.

Following is a video explaining phosphorus pollution and the pilot project, as well as our press release on today’s announcement.

Dane County Announces Project to Clean Up Lakes     

Pilot project is first to use innovative phosphorus rules, could become model for nation

 

MADISON – Dane County leaders announced the creation of a pilot project today that will use tools provided in Wisconsin’s recently passed phosphorus rules to clean up the county’s lakes.

“By allowing farmers and municipalities to work together to clean up phosphorus pollution, Wisconsin’s phosphorus rules offer an entirely new approach that holds great promise to fix Dane County’s decades-old water quality problems,” said Melissa Malott, water program director at Clean Wisconsin and chair of the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission.

The smelly and unsightly algae blooms that plague many Wisconsin waters every summer are primarily the result of phosphorus pollution. Phosphorus pollution comes from two main sources: farm fields and point sources such as municipal sewerage districts and food processing factories. Previous laws have treated these sources as separate entities, requiring point sources to install expensive technologies. The adaptive management program of the phosphorus rules allows point sources to instead work with farmers to achieve even larger pollution reductions at a lower cost.

“Everyone wins under Wisconsin’s adaptive management program,” said Malott. “Point sources avoid installing expensive technologies, farmers receive financial assistance to make improvements that reduce pollution running off their farm fields, and residents get to look forward to a future of cleaner lakes.”

Wisconsin’s adaptive management program is a first-of-its-kind in the nation. Dane County leaders are optimistic that this pilot project will become a model for cleaning up waters throughout the state and across the nation.

“Through this project, we hope to clean up Dane County’s lakes, and show other communities across the state that the phosphorus rules provide a cost-effective way to clean up our lakes, rivers and streams,” said Malott. “If successful, Wisconsin’s innovative phosphorus rules could become a model for states struggling with water quality issues across the nation.”

The Environmental Impact of the Budget

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After months of work, the biennial budget has finally been signed into law. For better and for worse, some changes were made to Governor Walker’s original budget proposal.  Clean Wisconsin fought for environmental provisions impacted in the budget, and we wanted to let you know what the final budget bill includes:

Recycling: While Governor Walker’s effort to end Wisconsin’s recycling as we know it was denied in the Legislature, the funding for local recycling was still cut by 40%, which will result in communities making cuts to their services, or charging fees to make up for the lost revenue.

Phosphorus: Efforts to delay Wisconsin’s phosphorus rule were removed from the budget.

Focus on Energy:  Despite 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, Governor Walker ignored requests to veto the cuts made to the program.

Stewardship: Funding for this program, which protects precious lands and open spaces for generations was reduced by $26 million, but also removed were the poison pills included in the Governor’s budget that would have made purchasing land all but impossible.

Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Program:  The state will honor commitments to farmers that had been jeopardized by Walker’s budget, but no future funding for this program that keeps agricultural land in production will be made available.

What’s next for Clean Wisconsin?  There are still a lot of issues to work on with the legislature and the administration.  We expect to continue working on high profile issues like mining and nuclear power yet this session, as well as continuing to push for policies that promote clean water, clean air and clean energy for Wisconsin.

To keep up to date on the most important environmental policies in Wisconsin, make sure to follow us on Facebook and join our action network!

Contributed by Amber Meyer Smith, director of programs and government relations.

Phosphorus Pollution: A Drag on Wisconsin’s Economy

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A couple of weeks ago, we shared Peggy’s story with you, which speaks to the devastating health impacts of blue-green algae blooms caused by excess phosphorus pollution in our waters.

Peggy’s story was one of many that we heard while we visited Menomonie, Wisconsin, a community that experiences foul algae blooms in lakes Tainter and Menomin every year.

Today we bring you part two of our video series highlighting the impact of phosphorus pollution on Wisconsin — As you’ll see in the video, phosphorus pollution is a serious drag on the economies of communities throughout Wisconsin that, like Menomonie, experience algae blooms.

If we don’t act now to clean up our waters, we can expect more and more lakes to experience such blooms.

Please watch and share — this video is copyright free!

-Contributed by Sam Weis, Video by Daniel Mostaza

Wisconsin Budget Update

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After weeks of updates and cuts, the Joint Finance Committee has now completed its review of the biennial budget bill.  Next, the budget bill heads to both houses of the legislature for action, which is expected over the next couple weeks.

Wondering how the budget will effect Wisconsin’s environment? Here is a quick summary of what has happened so far:

Recycling: The program was partially restored.  We are pleased to see the requirement for local communities to offer recycling programs was restored, but funding was only partially restored at about 60%.  This is still a 40% cut, which will  result in communities making cuts to their services, or charging fees to make up for the lost revenue.

Phosphorus: The Committee removed a provision that would have delayed the implementation of Wisconsin’s phosphorus rule by two years. Senator Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) was instrumental in deleting this provision.

Polluted Runoff: In a surprise move, the Committee had voted earlier to eliminate all of Wisconsin’s polluted runoff rules, one of the cornerstones of water protection.  After intense public outcry, they revisited their action and voted to restore most of the rules.

Focus on Energy: Funding for this incredibly cost-effective energy conservation fund that saves ratepayers money on their energy bills was rolled back. We were very disappointed in this partisan vote which will ultimately raise electricity bills. There is still time to submit a letter to the editor to your local paper to highlight the importance of the Focus on Energy program. Click here to learn more.

Stewardship: Funding for this program, which protects precious lands and open spaces for generations, was reduced, but they also removed the poison pills included in the Governor’s budget that would have made purchasing land all but impossible.

Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (PACE): While commitments to farmers that had already been approved for 2011 were honored, no future funding was granted for this program that keeps agricultural land in production.

Contributed by Amber Meyer Smith, director of programs and government relations.

Green Lakes: The Tipping Point

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Sam Weis, our media specialist, recently wrote about the impact our visit to the Tainter-Menomin Lakes had on him. He called the lakes ticking time bombs because these gorgeous bodies of water would, in a matter of weeks, be green, toxic and dangerous. The magnitude of this issue is shocking to many people; frequently, I’m not sure people believe what I’m telling them about water quality problems until they see pictures.

My personal reaction to our trip was somewhat different. The problems with blue-green algae and other problems caused by rural runoff are no doubt shocking –how can the country that took a man to the moon nearly 50 years ago let such an important problem languish? – but I’ve been pondering this for years. What struck me more than anything was that this could be just the beginning. Lake health is not a black and white problem where you have good lakes and bad lakes, it’s a tipping point problem; as problems accumulate, there is a point at which the lake system can no longer manage the pollution. You know you’ve reached it when the lake glows green.

Lakes Tainter and Menomin are not bad lakes that we should categorize as green lakes; rather, they are merely more vulnerable to algae blooms than other Wisconsin lakes. If we continue to spill phosphorus and nutrients into our waterways across the state, other waters will start glowing green at that toxic tipping point.

The unease settling in me was validated with recent news that an Ohio lake succumbed to toxic blue-green algae contamination already – a full month before it has ever had algae warnings before. Beaches closed before the swimming season even begins. Bays and entire shorelines filled with a pea-soup-like mixture that you can’t step in or be near. Threats to people’s health and their pets.

I’m worried about this happening to Wisconsin waters earlier and earlier each year.

I like to talk about solutions, but solutions are only as good as the paper they’re dreamed up on if no one takes action. Fortunately, we’ve got a new tool to finally address our phosphorus and algae problems. The phosphorus rule has a management option that lets all of us work together with permitted entities to find the most cost-effective ways to clean up our waterways. The “effective” part of cost-effective is what’s important: we do have affordable options by which to actually clean up our waters.

We need to get started on them now.

-contributed by Melissa Malott, water program director

Tell your legislators not to delay and repeal clean water rules!

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Clean water rules are under attack in the Capitol! Governor Walker’s budget proposes to delay the phosphorus rule by two years, and the Joint Finance Committee recently voted to repeal NR151, a vital rule package that protects our waters from pollution running off of farm fields and city streets.

These important measures help stand between our beautiful lakes, rivers and streams and pollution like cow manure, pesticides, oil and other toxins. Repealing or delaying them leaves our waters extremely vulnerable!

Wisconsin’s waters are inexpressibly important to our life and to our economy. It’s hard to imagine Wisconsin without our wonderful lakes, rivers and streams.

The good news is that you can help stop the attack on clean water in Wisconsin. By clicking this link, you can tell your legislators not to delay or repeal clean water rules in Wisconsin. By showing legislators the number of their constituents who are passionate about clean water, we can make a difference!

-Contributed by Sam Weis, media specialist