Welcome to Oneida County Clean Waters Action
Exploring the issues that affect our rivers, lakes and ground water.
Exploring the issues that affect our rivers, lakes and ground water.
OCCWA advocates non-partisan responsible representation at the local and state government levels for protecting our greatest in the Northwoods: our pristine waters, wetlands, forests and clean air.
This OCCWA website serves as your resource for news about environmental issues that impact Oneida County in northern Wisconsin.
Introducing a format change to our Clean Water Updates (CWU). Going forward we will keep current issues requiring frequent updating posted here. This means that though you may have already a read a CWU post, you may have not read the most recent update. The date of update will be included at the top of each individual subject piece.
Town of Stella to host DNR PFAS meeting. Updated April 17, 2024*- From the town of Stella website *Amended 4/8/2024* "NOTICE is hereby given that the Oneida County Health Department will be hosting a presentation with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) present at the Stella Town Hall on May 1, 2024, commencing at 5:30 p.m. to provide an update to Town of Stella Residents regarding PFAS detected in water samples from the Town of Stella."
OCCWA expects there to be an update presentation with a Q&A session afterwards. We recommend anyone attending respect the residents of Stella and allow them to ask Stella specific questions before any more general Oneida County questions are posed. In past meetings the DNR has been very generous of their time and addressed all questions.
One recommendation for the public to consider, if choosing to ask a question, consider sharing your question by email or phone with either the DNR or the Wisconsin DHS. (See contact info below) By presubmitting your question, this allows the departments to be prepared and they may well incorporate the answer into their presentation. Many times, unexpected questions are deferred with "We'll have to get back to you on that." The point of the exercise is to come away with all questions researched and answered.
If there are any questions you would like OCCWA to consider for our pre-submission, please send them to us via our CONTACT US tab at the top of our home page.
WDNR PFAS contact page PFAS Contacts | | Wisconsin DNR
Wisconsin DNR 4/19/24 press release on EPA designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances DNR Responds To EPA’s Designation Of PFOA And PFOS As Hazardous Substances | Wisconsin DNR
Wisconsin DHS PFAS email contact DHSEnvHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Wisconsin DHS PFAS webpage Chemicals: Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) Substances | Wisconsin Department of Health Services
PFAS funding delay & delay- Updated April 17 **
In the most recent news dated April 17, the beat goes on. Partisan game playing continues to stymy PFAS financial aid which has a direct impact on the Town of Stella as well as Oneida County. It's sad that the meager $125 million designated to address PFAS issues all across the state continues to be held up. The disfunction is now going on 9 months. Feel free to peruse the latest WXPR coverage Wisconsin Republicans ignore governor's call to spend $125M to combat 'forever chemicals' | WXPR
In news dated March 27. On top of previous delays to PFAS financial relief, the debate now likely moves to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. S tate Supreme Court decisions have a big impact on Wisconsin’s environment • Wisconsin Examiner
Here we provide an excerpt from a WXPR March 6th article describing the 2nd District Court of Appeals decision impacts.
"The 2nd District Court of Appeals' decision all but eliminates the Department of Natural Resources' authority to unilaterally mandate reporting PFAS contamination in groundwater and force responsible parties to clean it up. If the decision stands, the DNR will now wait for legislators to impose groundwater limits on PFAS through state law or an administrative rule. Both approaches can take years. Environmental advocates also fear that the ruling could slow the DNR’s response to other emerging forms of pollution."
So, this mess now goes to the State Supreme Court for consideration whether to take this case up. If the Supreme Court does not reverse the Appeals Court decision, the clock starts on two years wait for the Legislature to set PFAS limits? Two years before the $125 million on PFAS relief is released? Folks, you can't make this stuff up!
As covered in our recent December 21st post, State funding for PFAS remediation and discovery continues to be delayed by political gamesmanship. Obviously, Oneida County is directly affected by this unacceptable process of holding financial PFAS assistance hostage for political concessions. Currently the DNR has the ability to hold polluters responsible, and it's that ability the legislature is trying to weaken before releasing the desperately needed funds. This action interestingly would accomplish the desired results that industry lobby group Wisconsin Manufactures and Commerce seek in their DNR lawsuit. See Defending the Spills Law | Midwest Environmental Advocates (midwestadvocates.org) We would like to share a recent article by the Wisconsin Examiner which provides the clearest explanation we've seen to date of the ongoing process. See Pro-polluter PFAS bill would leave taxpayers holding the bag - Wisconsin Examiner
OCCWA appearance on WJFW's Up North at 4- WJFW graciously offered to have us out on Monday April 15th at 4pm on the Up North at 4. Here is the link of the interview which starts at the 15-minute mark. Up North @ 4 | | wjfw.com . We thank the station and Anchor/Reporters Dan Hagan and Agnes Kozina for the opportunity to cover Clean Water issues in our county.
Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (GLTPA) invites Texas based Pelican River Forest opponent to speak. April 12, 2024- A recent Wisconsin Examiner article by Henry Redman covers Texas based American Stewards of Liberty (ASL) speaker Margaret Byfield's presentation at the GLTPA Spring Celebration. Leader of anti-conservation group speaks at timber conference sponsored by UW-Madison center • Wisconsin Examiner
As you may recall, local officials recently attempted to contest privately owned Pelican River Forest easement funding using ASL like concepts. Congressman Tiffany admitted recommending ASL's Margaret Byfield to local officials in a WPR article Pelican River Forest secures funding, but local leaders want federal grant revoked - WPR " Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, who objected to several land purchases as a state senator, said he suggested local governments work with Margaret Byfield, the executive director for American Stewards of Liberty."
Mr. Redman's article shines a bright light on ASL's ideology which was reflected in Byfield's presentation. Notwithstanding the entertainment value, the article must be read to be believed.
It is unclear as to how supporting and anti-conservation group benefits local forestry, but GLTPA's response quoted from Examiner article was " Henry Schienebeck, executive director of the GLTPA, said in an email that he wouldn’t comment on what Byfield said during her speech, but said the organization’s members are committed to managing Wisconsin’s forests sustainably."
WXPR acquires sludge spreading records-Updated March 29** For those who may have missed it. WXPR's Katie Thoresen requested and received DNR historical records for sludge spreading in Oneida County dating all the way back to 1996. Here is her article Biosolids in Oneida County: What we know and what we’re still learning | WXPR
In the article Katie provides an interactive map which you can see the locations of DNR Certified spreading in Oneida County.
Along with the interactive map, Katie provides a link to the WDNR provided Excell spread sheet documenting locations where and the amounts of sludge spread. There have been over 600 documented sludge applications in Oneida County in the last 30 years. See spread sheet here oneida-county-site-pull.xlsx (live.com)
This is just the beginning of need-to-know information for residents and towns who wish to track potential PFAS contamination and determine risk. We at OCCWA cannot overstate how important this article and information provided will be going forward, Well done Katie Thoresen!
Northwoods Wildlife Center Baby Shower- (volunteer photo at top) Northwoods Wildlife Center (NWC) in Minocqua is holding a baby shower? Yes, spring is baby season and every year NWC helps hundreds of baby animals in desperate need due to sickness, injury, or being orphaned.
NWC's mission statement is,
" Because a better future for wildlife is a better future for all of us, The Northwoods Wildlife Center envisions a more educated and conscientious public that will act in ways that promote healthy attitudes, actions and relationships with the wildlife with which we share our environment."
Please consider helping out by visiting their Baby Shower link- Wildlife Baby Shower - NorthWoods Wildlife Center
Digging into mining news- Updated March 19 ** Locally, OCCWA continues to collect the twelve town signed resolutions calling for repeal of ACT134 which eliminated our states Prove It First Law. We hope to leverage this support into having the county consider reasonable changes to our current mining ordinance. Including changing back zoning to return town input to the mine permitting process.
In statewide news, a press release by Deer Tail Scientific flambeau-mine-arsenic.pdf (wordpress.com) confirms what had been widely suspected by environmental groups back in 1989 about potential heavy metal contamination from the Flambeau Mine near Ladysmith. A direct quote from the press release reveals high arsenic levels entering the Flambeau River. "Groundwater quality testing at the reclaimed Flambeau Mine site south of Ladysmith has revealed high concentrations of arsenic in two wells located within 140 feet of the Flambeau River. Wisconsin’s drinking water standard for arsenic is 10 parts per billion (ppb). Water samples collected from the wells in May 2023 and tested by Flambeau Mining Company (FMC) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) show arsenic concentrations ranging from 15 to 24 ppb."
In a January 2023 post OCCWA shared a joint statement from three Wisconsin based environmental groups voicing concerns over DNR oversight of this mine. Joint statement on Flambeau Mine Closure - River Alliance of WI - Mining (wisconsinrivers.org) Their summary statement, "In summary, we are urging WDNR to amend the Revised Final Permit to require the Flambeau Mining Company to resume water quality monitoring of Stream C, as well as investigate past releases of hazardous materials to the environment from ore storage and loading activities at the Industrial Out lot, and order remediation of remaining copper contamination of soil contributing to pollution of Stream C."
The concerns of course are that inadequate monitoring of Flambeau Mine would only perpetuate the mining industry's claims that safe mining can be done in water rich areas of Wisconsin. If those claims were true, we would invite the Wisconsin Legislature to reinstate the Prove it First Law that they eliminated in 2018 with then senator Tom Tiffany's ACT 134.
Outside of Wisconsin but not far away, the Protect the Porkies group continues to gather public support opposing a metallic sulfide mine along Porcupine Mountain State Park on the shores of Lake Superior. The groups petition is now over 17 thousand signatures! Petition · Protect the Porkies, Protect Lake Superior— Stop the Copperwood Mine! · Change.org
New fish consumption advisory for Oneida County - Well, we have been waiting quite some time for the PFAS tests for fish samples taken from Fifth Lake in Stella and the results are in. Levels as high as 94 parts per billion were discovered. The DNR's resulting consumption advisory on pages 26&27 of PUB_FH_824_ChooseWisely.pdf (widen.net) The advisory calls for only one meal a month from all lakes on the Moen Chain. Future tests are expected for Snowden Lake fish, as it had the highest level of PFAS for surface water tested in Stella. Along with that advisory there was also a one fish meal per week recommendation put on fish from the Hat Rapids Flowage on the Wisconsin River. At last check, the advisory and results have not been posted on the DNR Stella webpage.
As usual WXPR has excellent coverage here. DNR & DHS issue new fish consumption advisories, including two water bodies in Oneida County | WXPR
By Tom Wiensch April 5, 2024- Since 1934, Wisconsin citizens have had the opportunity to voice their preferences on conservation issues. That opportunity comes in the form of the annual spring hearings of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) Wisconsin Conservation Congress | Our Mission | Wisconsin DNR . Although some think of the hearings as being of interest only to hunters and anglers, nothing could be further from the truth. All citizens have a right to vote on conservation issues, and the issues on the ballot are not limited to hunting and fishing issues.
The spring hearings afford the public the chance to vote on two types of conservation questions – Advisory questions posed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and citizen authored questions presented by the WCC. Citizens may vote on the Spring Hearing Questions either by attending in-person hearings on April 8, or by voting on-line between noon on April 10th and noon on April 13th. Citizens also have the right to present questions to be voted on at the Spring Hearings, although that needs to be done in February of each year. For more information on voting dates, times, and places, please see Eric Rempala’s article dated April 4.
This year’s ballot 2024 Spring Hearing Online Public Input Form Survey (surveymonkey.com) contains many hunting and fishing related questions, which certainly may be of interest to many OCCWA readers, but it also contains a number of questions that relate to our environment more generally. These questions relate to wake boats, PFAS, aquatic herbicide use, toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle, mowing of habitat under powerlines, access to public lands, and more. Please consider taking a few minutes to voice your opinion on these important issues. The following is a summary of some of those questions.
1. LIMITING THE GENERATION OF MAGNIFIED BOAT WAKES – BALLOT QUESTIONS #43
This question asks: “Would you support the WCC and legislature modifying existing statutes to prohibit generation of
intentionally magnified wakes for wake surfing through the use of ballast, design features, operational
procedures or any other means on lakes smaller than 1500 acres and less than 20 feet deep and
maintain a distance from shore and other lake users of 700 feet?”
The explanation with this question notes:
Ø Wake surfing involves specially equipped boats that create ocean- like waves so that people can surf behind the boats without ropes.
Ø Wake surfing is rapidly becoming more common in Wisconsin.
Ø Wake boats are often operated in a way that creates visibility problems for operators.
Ø Wake boating creates safety hazards for other lake users.
Ø Wake boating damages personal property.
Ø Wake boating damages the environment by churning up lakebeds, creating murky water, destroying aquatic vegetation, destroying fish spawning beds, causing or enhancing algae blooms, swamping loon nests, eroding shorelines, forcing warm water into cool thermoclines, and transferring aquatic invasive species (AIS.)
Ø Degradation of lakes will harm local economies.
2. PROHIBITION OF WAKE BOAT BALLAST SYSTEMS – BALLOT QUESTION #32
This question asks: “Would you support the WCC and legislature creating a new statute that prohibits the use of wake boat
ballast systems on Wisconsin's lakes and rivers?”
The explanation with the question notes:
Ø Ship ballast dumping in the great lakes has spread AIS.
Ø Current regulations require that all ballast from all boats be emptied before leaving boat landings.
Ø Wake boat ballast systems are designed in such a way that all ballast water cannot be readily emptied from them, as evidenced by wake boat owners’ manuals which recommend adding anti-freeze to ballast systems in winter.
Ø A University of Wisconsin Study showed that wake boat ballast systems contain, on average, 8 gallons of water after being “emptied.”
Ø Water in wake boat ballast systems can transport AIS including zebra mussels, spiny water fleas and fish diseases.
Ø Wake boats can be used without filling their ballast tanks.
3. REQUIRING INSPECTABLE BOAT BALLAST SYSTEMS – BALLOT QUESTION #42.
This question asks: “Would you support regulations by DNR to require that all ballast systems used in boats shall have a reasonable practical means of inspecting the system to confirm that no water is retained in the system (tanks, piping, valves, etc.)?
The explanation with the question notes:
Ø Ballast systems which can contain hundreds of gallons of water are used to artificially enhance wakes.
Ø Section NR 19.055(1) of the Wisconsin Administrative code requires that all ballast systems be emptied of water immediately upon leaving any waterbody.
Ø Failing to completely empty ballast systems creates a risk of spreading AIS.
Ø Most boat ballast systems as currently designed cannot be easily emptied of all water.
Ø DNR staff have stated that most boat ballast systems cannot be readily inspected, making enforcement of NR19.055(1) impossible.
4. PROTECTIVE LIMITATIONS ON PFAS COMPOUNDS – BALLOT QUESTION #33
This question asks: “Should the Legislature, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health develop and
enact protective limitations on PFAS compounds for acute and chronic toxicity in surface water, wildlife health, groundwater, fish consumption, and human health?
The explanation with the question notes:
Ø PFAS are a class of more than 4,000 chemicals that accumulate in the human body in never decreasing amounts, and 98% of Americans have measurable levels of PFAS in their bodies.
Ø According to the EPA, PFAS cause developmental problems in fetuses and infants, certain kinds of cancer, reduced antibody response, decreased immune response to vaccinations, and kidney disease.
Ø PFAS makes its way into our bodies from a number of sources, including consumer and industrial products, sludge spread on farm fields, and freshwater fish that we eat.
5. PROHIBITION OF THE HERBICIDE 2,4D IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS – BALLOT QUESTION #34.
This question asks: “Do you support the elimination of the use of herbicide, 2,4D in aquatic ecosystems in the state of
Wisconsin?”
The explanation with this question notes:
Ø For decades, 2,4D has been unsuccessfully used to try to eliminate non-native aquatic plants.
Ø A study in Forest County has demonstrated that this has caused harm to native plants and animals.
Ø 2,4D negatively affects fish reproduction, significantly reduces zooplankton that young fish feed on, and has completely eliminated bluegill and crappies from one lake.
6. PHASING OUT LEAD AMMUNITION BY 2030 – BALLOT QUESTION #29
This question asks: “Would you support eliminating lead, statewide, from firearm ammunition used for hunting by 2030?”
The explanation with this question notes:
Ø Lead is toxic to animals.
Ø When used as ammunition, lead can end up in entrails scavenged by animals such as eagles and can end up in meat consumed by humans.
Ø Some lead ammunition is already prohibited for waterfowl hunting and for hunting all game in some places.
Ø Alternatives to lead exist but are currently more expensive than lead.
Ø Creating a phase-out timeline would allow suppliers and retailers to adapt.
7. INFORMATION ON LEAD IN HUNTING AND FISHING MATERIALS - BALLOT QUESTION #28
This question asks: “Do you support DNR including information on lead alternatives and the impact that lead ammunition
and fishing tackle have on our ecosystems and public health in hunter education courses and hunting
and fishing regulation materials?”
The explanation with this question notes:
Ø Lead has been shown to have environmental risks to wildlife and the public.
Ø Lead alternatives are becoming more available.
Ø Providing information to hunters and anglers will help them make informed choices.
8. URGING POWERLINE COMPANIES TO NOT LOW MOW GRASSES DURING SUMMER – BALLOT QUESTION #39
This question asks: “Would you support that (sic) the Wisconsin Conservation Congress advising the Department of Natural
Resources Natural Heritage Conservation Bureau to request powerline companies refrain from mowing
during the summer months and encourage powerline companies to work with private landowners to
manage powerline vegetation that provides habitat for insects and wildlife?”
The explanation with this question notes:
Ø Companies and cooperatives mow low vegetation under powerlines during animal nesting season destroying wildlife habitat.
Ø Some mow all vegetation including native prairie plants, milkweed, hazel, and dogwood.
Ø Milkweed is required by monarch butterflies, as it is the only food that monarch caterpillars eat.
Ø The International Union for the Conservation of Nature considers monarchs to be endangered, and the USF&WS considers them a candidate for endangered species listing.
Ø Mid-summer mowing destroys plants and monarch eggs.
Ø Native vegetation under powerlines provides nesting habitat for turkeys and late-nesting songbirds and shade for amphibians.
Ø There are thousands of miles of powerlines in Wisconsin.
9. RESTORE LEGAL RAILROAD CROSSING TO ACCESS STATE LANDS AND WATERS – BALLOT QUESTION #37
This question asks: “Would you support the Wisconsin Conservation Congress assertively working with Wisconsin State
Legislators to reinstate SS 192.32 (1) (c) which allows the public to safely and legally walk directly across
railroad tracks/right of way for purposes of accessing state lands and waters?
The explanation with this question notes:
Ø A 2005 law made it illegal for people in Wisconsin to cross railroad tracks to access state lands and waters.
Ø For over 100 years prior to 2005, people accessed state lands and waters by legally and safely crossing railroad tracks.
Ø The 2005 law has made 121 state properties and many federal lands mostly inaccessible.
Ø Many groups have worked to change the 2005 law.
By Beckie Gaskill March 27, 2022-Water is not only essential for life but also plays a significant role in shaping the value of real estate properties. Whether it’s a picturesque lakefront property, a suburban home with access to clean drinking water, or an urban apartment overlooking a river, the quality of water can have a profound impact on property values. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the interconnected relationship between water quality and property values, exploring how they influence each other and what implications this has for homeowners, buyers, and communities.
The Importance of Water Quality:
Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, biological, and radiological characteristics of water. It’s a measure of its suitability for various uses, including drinking, recreational activities, agriculture, and supporting aquatic ecosystems. Factors affecting water quality include pollution, sedimentation, nutrient runoff, industrial discharges, and agricultural practices.
Clean and abundant water is not only essential for human health but also contributes to the overall well-being of ecosystems and biodiversity. Conversely, contaminated or polluted water can have detrimental effects on public health, ecosystem health, and economic activities.
Impact on Property Values:
The quality of water can significantly influence the value of real estate properties in several ways:
1. Location Premium: Properties located near bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, or oceans often command higher prices due to the aesthetic appeal and recreational opportunities they offer. Clean and well-maintained water bodies enhance the visual attractiveness of the surroundings, thus increasing property values.
2. Recreational Opportunities: Access to clean water bodies opens up recreational activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, and water sports. Properties with such access are perceived as more desirable and fetch higher prices, especially in vacation or resort areas.
3. Drinking Water Quality: The availability of clean and safe drinking water is a fundamental requirement for homeowners. Properties served by municipal water systems with high-quality drinking water often have higher values compared to those relying on private wells or areas with poor water quality.
4. Environmental Considerations: Buyers are increasingly conscious of environmental issues, including water quality. Properties in areas with well-managed water resources and minimal pollution are preferred, reflecting a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable living environments.
Case Studies and Research:
Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between water quality and property values, providing valuable insights into this complex interplay. For instance, research conducted in various regions has shown that improvements in water quality lead to corresponding increases in property values. Conversely, instances of water pollution or contamination have been linked to decreased property values and potential long-term economic losses for communities.
Policy Implications and Community Action:
Recognizing the importance of water quality for property values, policymakers, local authorities, and community organizations play a crucial role in implementing measures to protect and enhance water resources. This may involve implementing regulations to reduce pollution, investing in infrastructure for water treatment and wastewater management, promoting sustainable land use practices, and fostering community engagement in water conservation efforts.
Conclusion:
Water quality and property values are intricately linked, with clean water serving as a valuable asset that enhances the desirability and value of real estate properties. As the importance of environmental sustainability grows, so too does the significance of maintaining high water quality standards. By understanding this relationship and taking proactive measures to protect and improve water resources, communities can not only safeguard public health and environmental integrity but also enhance the economic prosperity and quality of life for residents now and in the future.
Beckie Gaskill is a freelance outdoor and environmental writer as well as a content creator. She runs her own podcast as part of her media company FlaG (Fish Like a Girl) Media. She is a Master Naturalist and sits on the board of several different conservation organizations. She has also started her own digital magazine, The Wisconsin Conservationist. More information regarding that magazine can be found on her website: The Wisconsin Conservationist Magazine – All the news that is important to you (wordpress.com)
By Eric Rempala March 21, 2024- It took multiple meetings by both the County Board and the Conservation and UW Extension Committee to finally produce a resolution that the majority of the County Board could get behind, 13 ayes and 6 no. The end result was a Resolution on Enhanced Wake Regulations. https://www.oneidacountywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/meetings/Res-12-2024-Amended-Enhanced-Wake-Regulations.pdf
In the resolution the county asks for restricting enhanced wake creation closer than 500ft from shore and in depths less than 20ft. These limits are compromise between the most extreme protections and the woefully minimum numbers offered by Senator Felzkowski and Representative Swearengen's proposal of 200ft from shore and no depth restrictions.
The resolution also calls for the state to allow local governments to set their own limits above state minimums. This has become a necessary ask since most of the state legislation lately prohibits local entities to be more protective of their resources than state limits. Local control?
The last ask of the resolution calls for the Wisconsin Legislature to address the transfer of aquatic invasive species from ballast tanks and bladders for the protection of water quality that drives our northern economy. The reason for this ask is that most if not all ballast's of Wave Boats are very difficult to drain. One wonders if controlling invasive species was even considered in manufacture of such boats.
This resolution is a win for the hundreds of county residents who showed up at listening sessions by the afore mentioned Felzkowski and Swearengen, voicing their concerns and asking for meaningful lake protections.
The resolution was also a win for our County Board who in the last several months have passed environmentally protective resolutions on PFAS and now Wave Boats. Resolutions to protect health and safety of both residents and lakes.
A county renowned for its lakes, work is done. An advisory resolution supported by the public and passed by their local representatives. All that needs to be done now is our legislature to follow suit representing constituents and produce legislation that echo's the efforts. Early 2025 is when we should expect the legislation to be enacted. Accept nothing less.
For the record -
Those supervisors voting in favor of the Enhanced Wake Resolution were Timmons, Cushing, Fried, Newman, Condado, Jensen, Winkler, Fisher, Sorgel, Almekinder, Schreier, Schultz, Hanus.
Supervisors voting against the resolution were Harris, Briggs, Ryden, Roach, Oettinger, Holewinski.
Absent Supervisors Rio and Showalter.
Feel free to let your supervisor know if you were happy about their vote. Find your supervisor's contact info at County Board – Oneida County, WI (oneidacountywi.gov)
By Karl Fate February 28, 2024- The fact that our County Government spent so much time fighting the immensely popular private property called the Pelican River Forest illustrates how our current Board, chaired by Scott Holewinski, has devolved into a partisan political quagmire, and exposes the hypocrisy of some elected Wisconsin Representatives and County Board members.
This all started when then State politician Tom Tiffany interfered in a local county election and then proceeded to launch an attack on local control, aided by his political cronies on the County Board, allowing real estate developers to chop up even the tiniest of our lakes into 100-foot lots. This threw away decades of hard work and investment by many Counties across the North that was focused on protecting their lakes.
In 2018 Tiffany’s repeal of the wildly popular “Prove it First” law, gave some County Board Supervisors an excuse to remove a vital local control from the Towns for the purpose of creating a Mining District in the Northwoods centered around the Lynne Deposit that lies under a vast wetland area upstream of the Willow Flowage in the Town of Lynne. The fact that so-called property rights advocates would deliberately strip local control from property owners, could not be any more outrageous and hypocritical. This scheme only died because the Referendum question asking for the support of voters in the County was rejected substantially at the ballot box. Now, that method of gauging public opinion has been removed thanks to Mary Felzkowski and other State Politicians.
Between 2009 and 2018 our County Government spent an enormous amount of time and considerable resources promoting something that the people of the County did not want, and more recently our County Government spent considerable time and energy trying to block something that most people strongly favored. This is clearly an unacceptable way for our elected representatives to operate and could have been avoided had they been listening to the people they are supposed to represent.
The common denominator for these cases is a small number of supervisors and Representatives pushing a mine that the local people do not want, one on public land at Lynne near the Willow Flowage, and the other adjacent to the Upper Wolf River in the Town of Schoepke. Our County is poorly served when our County Government becomes infected with partisan politics because our elected officials stop listening while they are serving other interests. Get the Politics out of our Courthouse and start representing the public’s interest!
Advisory Referenda Method of Gauging Public Opinion Stripped Away
Direct quote from the June 16th, Felzkowski Flyer emailing on banning advisory referenda.
"Preventing local governments from using hot-button political advisory referendums, on issues they have no direct control over, to increase partisan voter turnout."
Please note the assertion "issues they (local governments) have no direct control over".
The 2018 Lynne referendum where 63% of voters opposed mining is an example of an advisory referenda that has now been stripped away by our legislature.
It's noteworthy that the June 16th, 2023, Flyer link is conspicuously absent from Senator Felzkowski's webpage log. News (wisconsin.gov)
By Tom Wiensch February 20, 2024-
Photo Credit- Samantha Sherwood JWMS Grade 7 from Wisconsin Land and Water youth conservation poster contest
INTRODUCTION
A bill has been introduced in the State Senate that would force certain private landowners to open private roads to automobile, ATV, snowmobile and other vehicle use. The bill, 2023 Senate Bill 999 Wisconsin Legislature: SB999: Bill Text , relates to lands that are enrolled under the Open Managed Forest Land Program. This bill has the potential to have far reaching negative effects on the timber and recreation industries in Wisconsin. The bill is sponsored by Senators Felzkowski, Quinn, and Stafsholt and is co-sponsored by Representatives Green and Schmidt.
FOREST PRODUCTS AND RECREATION INDUSTRY VALUES
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that:
“The forest products industry contributes $24.4 billion in goods and services and employs 61,000 men and women in forest management, logging and wood and paper manufacturing.”
The DNR also states that, of the recreation industry, hunting alone contributes 2.5 billion dollars to the state’s economy. Of course, forest land also contributes to the health of Wisconsin’s land and waters in many ways.
MANAGED FOREST LAND PROGRAM
The MFL Program provides incentives in the form of discounted property taxes to landowners who agree to sustainably manage their lands for timber production. The program is a successor to the Forest Crop Law, which began in 1927.
Currently, there are over 3 million acres in the state enrolled in the MFL program. Each parcel has a plan, and the plans provide for timber harvesting, wildlife management, water quality, and recreation. Tax incentives vary
depending on whether or not landowners choose to open their land to the public. The current tax rates are as follows:
Land entered before 2005 (1987 - 2004)
Open land (acreage share tax): $0.72
Closed land (acreage share tax plus $0.96 closed acreage fee): $1.68
Land entered after 2004 (2005 and later)
Open land (acreage share tax): $1.90
Closed land (acreage share tax plus $7.59 closed acreage fee): $9.49
MFL TAXES AND LIMITATIONS
Currently, owners of lands in the Open MFL Program must allow non-motorized public access to their Open MFL lands for such things as hunting, fishing, hiking and cross-country skiing, but are not required to open their lands to motorized use. It is important to note that landowners can only place 320 acres of their land in any municipality (town, village, city) in Closed MFL (no public access.) Public access must be provided to Open MFL lands. This means that landowners can’t block access to their Open MFL lands by enrolling all lands along public roads in Closed MFL. It is also important to know that formerly a 5% yield tax was paid by owners of MFL lands. The yield tax meant that, when timber was harvested, landowners paid approximately 5% of the value of the timber in taxes. That tax was repealed effective 2016.
BILL DETAILS
SB 999 would require landowners to allow vehicle traffic on all roads and trails on their open MFL lands that are at least nine feet wide and maintained for vehicular traffic. These roads and trails would have to be open to all members of the public for non-commercial use by any motor vehicles with a gross weight of 8000 lbs. or less, and all registered ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles.
Landowners would only have the right to close their roads from April 1st until the first Saturday in May, regardless of the time of the spring break-up of ice in the ground. During many years, the break-up of frost in the ground occurs earlier or later. During such years, March and May can be times when the deep ground is still frozen, while the top few inches are thawed, saturated, and unable to drain. Vehicular traffic during these times can be enormously damaging to roads.
Landowners would have a grace period during which they could shift lands from Open MFL to closed MFL without penalties. No exception is made; however, to the 320-acre maximum rule.
The bill would also create a road repair program to be administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. This program would provide funds for private MFL Open roads damaged by public use. The funds for this program would come from the State Forestry Account in the Conservation Fund.
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
It’s difficult to anticipate all the repercussions if this bill were to become law. Among the many questions and concerns are:
1. Will the Forestry Account have ample funding to pay for all road damage?
2. Will administration of the rules on compensation for road damage be efficient? How will it be determined if damage was caused by owners or others? How will it be determined if damage is significant enough to qualify for reimbursement? How quickly will the fund pay for road repairs? One can easily imagine a hunter arriving on his land before deer season, only to find extensive enough road damage such that he can’t make it into his hunting cabin. Will there be ample contractors and materials to timely repair the damage that is done?
3. How will damaged roads affect the ability of landowners to conduct timber harvests while waiting for funds and contractors to repair roads? How much less stumpage will timber harvesters be willing and able to pay to landowners if they have to contend with damaged roads?
4. Will the payment for damage to roads reduce the availability of Forestry Account Funds used for other purposes? That account currently pays for such things as development and care of forests, operation of forests for social and recreational activities, aid in lieu of taxes paid to local governments, maintenance of boating access sites, chronic wasting disease research, and more. If road repair is added, will additional funds be needed, and if so, who will bear the tax burden?
5. No provision is made for damage to land and vegetation adjacent to roads. It’s common to see areas adjacent to forest roads torn up by ATVs and vehicles. Apparently, landowners alone will have to bear those burdens.
6. No provision is made for compensation for vehicle caused fires in sensitive habitats such as pine barrens during dry times. Is it fair for landowners who are maintaining valuable habitat to suffer preventable forest fires?
7. Was any consideration given to landowners who are trying to foster the growth of native species on their land and who don’t want to contend with damage to those species and invasive species that may be transferred by vehicular traffic?
8. Was any thought given to the fact that snowmobiles can cause snow compaction and ice creation that can make break-up time logging difficult or impossible?
9. No provision is made for the clean-up of trash dumped by users. In Oneida County, roads on industrial lands have previously been gated
after extreme incidents of littering have occurred. On such lands and on public lands, I have seen: old refrigerators and other large appliances; an old kitchen counter top; sofas and chairs; and a roll of carpeting discarded in a stream. Apparently, landowners will have to suffer the litter clean-up costs.
10. If landowners are forced to remove gates at public roads, and place gates near their cabins, access by thieves will be made much easier. Is it fair for landowners to bear this risk?
11. How many landowners will be unable to tolerate damage, littering and lack of privacy and elect to simply switch to Closed MFL, or withdraw from or never enter MFL, thus limiting access to lands for hunting and other recreation? If this bill becomes law, will there ultimately be less available recreational land in Wisconsin? In the case of withdrawal/failure to enroll, what effect will this have on the forest products industry?
12. How many large industrial/investment landowners will be unable to tolerate damage and littering, be unable to afford to move the limited amount allowed into Closed MFL and withdraw remaining land and simply chop their land into small parcels and sell it? What effect will this fragmentation have on the forest products and outdoor recreation industries and on wildlife habitat?
13. How much tax increase will be caused for landowners who elect to move land into closed MFL or withdraw it from MFL altogether? Would it have been fiscally wiser to simply maintain the yield tax and not force owners to allow vehicle traffic on their land?
14. How many hunters will have their hunts disrupted as cars and ATVs drive on private roads during hunting season?
15. Was any consideration given to landowners and MFL users (hikers etc.) who would like a quiet experience for hunting, wildlife photography, or otherwise?
16. Will some of these trails end up getting heavy enough use that they will become de facto heavy-use recreational trails, but without the signage, downed tree clean-up and other safety measures that state funded/club-maintained trails have? How many injuries and deaths will occur? Who will be liable?
SUMMARY
SB999 seems to raise more questions than it provides answers. The MFL program and its predecessor have worked well for nearly 100 years without this sort of forced infringement on private property rights. There are existing ways to establish reasonable motorized traffic on private lands. One example is the use of voluntary conservation easements, such as the Pelican River Forest Easement. In that case, a large landowner sold the state an easement that requires that most roads on a huge parcel of land be open to the public most of the year. That project was funded mostly by the federal government with royalties received from offshore oil and gas drilling, with matching funds from private entities. That project includes a fund that will pay for road damage without taxpayer funds having to be used. That sort of voluntary program seems much more in line with Wisconsin values than SB 999, which forces landowners to open roads in a way that will subject them to unreasonable damage.
Also see Wisconsin's Green Fire response here WGF Opposes SB 999 - Changes to Managed Forest Law • Wisconsin’s Green Fire (wigreenfire.org)
By Beckie Gaskill February 20, 2024- Much has been written in recent years about lead poisoning in loons, bald eagles and other raptors. In fact, a recent statistic from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) showed 15% of bald eagle deaths in Wisconsin were attributed to lead toxicity. A recent study showed a spike in bald eagle mortalities starting in October and lasting through December, which could be attributed to lead ammunition during the hunting season, but that does not negate the impact of lead fishing tackle on waterfowl and even raptors. Waterfowl can ingest lead tackle and raptor such as bald eagles eat fish, which can be another source of consumption of lead tackle.
Humans removed lead from gas, paint and other items years ago. We understand the dangers of lead. Yet some still use lead tackle.
Lead tackle such as sinkers would not be a problem if they always made it back to the boat or the bank, where they could be disposed of properly. But that is often not the case. Split shots, sinkers and worm weights often wound up snagged in wood or on rocks. Sometimes we, as anglers, even lose the occasional worm weight in a fish. It happens.
Luckily, for both the environment and anglers, there are alternatives to lead tackle today. Rather than lead split shots, bismuth split shots are a great alternative. I do not do a lot of split shotting, but I have used bismuth split shots when I do, and they perform the same. They are soft enough to be used in the same ways, and, honestly, I feel they offer a bit better feel of the bottom composition.
If an angler is looking to be able to feel the bottom better, tungsten, in my opinion, is the way to go. This is another lead-free alternative. It is a bit more expensive and, for a tournament angler such as me, that can add up, but it is worth it. Not only is tungsten more environmentally friendly, but the feel is head and shoulders over the feel of the old lead weights. Most tournament anglers have moved to all tungsten weights for worm weights, drop shot weights. The feel is much better, and the size of the weight is smaller because tungsten is denser than lead. Some anglers believe the smaller size for the same weight helps them catch more fish because the fish do not see the weight. That could be true – not being a fish, I cannot speak to that, but the idea does seem to have merit.
Another alternative to lead is brass. I use brass weights on a Carolina rig. I like the click of the brass weight against the glass bead. It is supposed to mimic the sound of a crayfish snapping its pinchers together. With crayfish being one of the main prey of bass and other species, that sound, at least in an angler’s mind, should put more fish in the boat.
I would be remiss if I did not also talk about limestone sinkers. RockyBrooK Sinkers has been one of my tournament sponsors for going on a decade now. They are from West Virginia, and lead tackle on the East Coast has been banned in many places. I have used their limestone drop shot sinkers and river/pond sinkers quite a bit in over the years. They have so many different applications. The smallest of sinkers I will use on top of a shakey head, sitting freely above the jig, for extra “clacking” noise as I move the bait through the water.
I also use their worm weights on a Carolina rig. The sound of that limestone hitting rock and other structure on the bottom is so different that it brings fish over to check it out. Again, it is more like a realistic clicking of crayfish pinchers.
Their river/stream weights I use on a modified Jika rig. But there are a ton of other uses for those as well.
The drop shot weights are great because I can choose different shapes and sizes for any application. Should I lose one, losing a limestone sinker is much more friendly to the wallet than losing a tungsten sinker, and that is never a bad thing.
In the long run, getting lead tackle out of the tacklebox is the best idea. There are plenty of great alternatives on the market today. The bonus for anglers is that many of those have big benefits to the angler, as well as to the environment.
Beckie Gaskill is a freelance outdoor and environmental writer as well as a content creator. She runs her own podcast as part of her media company FlaG (Fish Like a Girl) Media. She is a Master Naturalist and sits on the board of several different conservation organizations. She has also started her own digital magazine, The Wisconsin Conservationist. More information regarding that magazine can be found on her website: The Wisconsin Conservationist Magazine – All the news that is important to you (wordpress.com)
OCCWA Note: Please consider supporting (REGI) Raptor Education Group, Inc. out of Antigo who rescue and rehabilitate all types of birds, including those that suffer from lead poisoning. Marge Gibson and her staff are Nothern Wisconsin treasure.
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REGI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of injured or orphaned native bird species and public education of wildlife issues. Founded in 1990 by Marge and Don Gibson, REGI was initially focused on educational programming and field research on avian species, but quickly grew to address the need for a rehabilitation center in the area, especially for raptors and swans. Today, REGI takes in anywhere from 800 to over 1,000 patients each year and provides educational programs to hundreds of people.
More info from Regi on the hazards of lead Going Lead Free — Raptor Education Group, Inc.
By Eric Rempala February 16, 2024- In a recent discussion with the DNR Oneida County Clean Waters Action was able to confirm that the DNR has completed a preliminary assessment (PA) for the U.S. EPA. As we understand this submission is the first step in determining if the EPA will classify the PFAS contamination in Stella as a Superfund Site. Here is the introduction language from that assessment. "Under authority of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) was tasked by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a Pre-CERCLA Screening (PCS) and a Preliminary Assessment (PA) at the Township of Stella PFAS Contamination Site in Oneida County, Wisconsin (Site) as part of the fiscal year 2023 – 2024 Cooperative Agreement. The PCS form is included in Appendix C. The purpose of this PA was to collect information concerning conditions at the Site sufficient to assess the threat posed to human health and the environment and to determine the need for additional CERCLA/SARA or other appropriate action. The scope of the PA included review of available file information, a comprehensive target survey, and Site reconnaissance." This language as well as the complete assessment can be viewed here WDNR EM/RR BOTW (wi.gov) by selecting the accompanied Stella PDF under Actions and Documents portion.
Per the EPA " Thousands of contaminated sites exist nationally due to hazardous waste being dumped, left out in the open, or otherwise improperly managed. These sites include manufacturing facilities, processing plants, landfills and mining sites." More information on Superfunds can be found here. What is Superfund? | US EPA
One important point to consider is that the EPA will attempt to hold polluters responsible as indicated by this excerpt from EPA site "Under the authority of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA, commonly known as Superfund), the Superfund enforcement program gets hazardous waste sites cleaned up by finding the companies or people responsible, known as potentially responsible parties (PRPs), for contamination at a site and negotiating with them to do the cleanup themselves or to pay for the cleanup done by another party (e.g., EPA, state, or other parties)."
As you may know; accountability has become a real concern in our state as legislators argue about and delay the $125 million designated this past August for PFAS cleanup. The sticking point being the DNR's ability to hold polluters financially responsible. See our December 21st post as well as WXPR coverage Senate passes PFAS funding bill, critics say it protects polluters | WXPR .
We understand there is much information to digest here and hope that the links provided in this post will help those interested to get a clearer picture.
By Kathleen Cooper February 13, 2024-Have you ever seen the “Hunger Games” movies? They depict the US taken over by exploitative forces that divide the country into twelve “sacrifice zones”, or districts. Each district has a specialty, such as agriculture, manufacturing, lumber harvesting, mining, etc. This dystopian future for America is not as fictional and far-fetched as you may think, if the American Stewards of Liberty, Tom Tiffany, and Mary Felzkoski have their way.
The American Stewards of Liberty are a Texas-based group that is against land and water conservation, and advocates for natural resource exploitation. They promote mineral mining, increased grazing, timber cutting, for-profit commercial and industrial development, and oil and gas drilling on Federal lands. They spin their message as being about freedom and personal choice, about confronting the “radical environmental movement,” when their true motives are about extracting natural resources. Their goals are extremely unpopular, since 80% of voters nationwide support land conservation.
Our own Tom Tiffany was one of the keynote speakers at the American Stewards for Liberty’s 30x30 summit in September 2023. Tiffany is also bringing the America Stewards for Liberty’s agenda to Wisconsin and attempting to stall or halt the Federal funding for the purchase of the conservation easements in the Pelican River Forest. They did not succeed…this time. Tiffany has also suggested that local governments work with Margaret Byfield, the executive director of the American Stewards for Liberty, while updating their Comprehensive Land Use Plans, on which the Oneida County Planning and Development Committee is now working.
Preserving our environment is extremely popular with the people of Oneida County. We realize how fortunate we are to live in a place where there is clean air, forestland, clear lakes, rivers, and streams. The proposed Lynne mine was defeated in 2018 by 64% of the voters. The county board knows what the people of Oneida want, they just choose to ignore our wishes, and are considering changing the Comprehensive Land Use Plan from using our public lands for recreation and forestry to using it for development of extractive industries (mining) and other industrial development.
Please don’t let this Texas group have a say about land use in northern Wisconsin. Contact your county board supervisor, by phone or email, and tell him/her that you want clean air, clean water, and forests to be left alone in Oneida County, and open to the public. Your children and grandchildren will thank you.
For more coverage on this issue-
See our January posts by Joe Hovel and Kathleen Cooper.
Also, listen to 30-minute Radio interview on Pelican River Forest with Charlie Carlin of Gathering Waters covering the whole process including the recent controversy. [AUDIO] Pelican River Forest Conservation Efforts Run Into Political Hurdle | WHBY
Also see Texas Observer coverage Conservatives Against Conservation (texasobserver.org)
By Tom Wiensch January 24, 2024- During the State of the State Address on January 23rd, 2023, Governor Tony Evers announced that the State is completing the purchase of Phase II of the Pelican River Forest Easement from the Conservation Fund. Together with Phase I of the easement, this represents the largest conservation project in Wisconsin state history.
The two phases together will conserve nearly 70,000 acres of land for sustainable logging, recreation, and wildlife habitat, and will open miles of forest roads to public access for outdoor recreation. The map to the right shows the phase I lands in tan and the Phase II lands in olive green.
The land being conserved lies on the sub-continental divide between the headwaters of the Pelican River (Mississippi Watershed) and the Wolf River (Great Lakes Watershed.) The parcel connects the eastern portion of the Chequamegon- Nicolet National Forest with the Oneida County Forest. The conservation of this land will help ensure clean water for an enormous number of users downstream of this project.
The Conservation Fund, which is a nationwide organization, carries out its conservation mission by purchasing land, selling conservation easements, and then selling the land with the easements remaining in place. Conservation easements are different from access easements between neighboring landowners. Conservation easements are voluntary agreements which govern the future use of land such that the land’s conservation values are protected. In this case, the easements will mean that the land will not be developed or mined, and that it will be available for sustainable logging and recreation. The protection from mining is significant, as exploratory mining drilling has taken place on the land in recent years.
The purchase of phase I of the easement was paid for with funds from the State Knowles-Nelson Stewardship.
The majority of the Phase II purchase price was to have been paid for with Federal Forest Legacy Funds, with a substantial fund match to have been made from Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funds, and smaller, but important part of the match coming from The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Wisconsin Joint
Finance Committee voted against spending Stewardship Program funds on Phase II of the project, which included about 56,000 acres of land. The vote was on party lines, with all Republican members voting against the project.
Now, the majority of the purchase price for Phase II is to be paid for with Federal Forest Legacy Program funds, with significant matching funds provided by private donors, and the additional match from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The federal Forest Legacy Program receives its funding from two sources: 1. Royalties paid by energy companies drilling for oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf; and 2. Inflation Reduction Act funds.
The land was once owned by the Consolidated Paper Company. When that company owned it, the land and logging roads were open to the public for hunting, hiking, and outdoor recreation generally. A later owner kept the roads gated for most of each year. This made access to much of the land for recreation very difficult. After Phase I of the easement project was completed, The Conservation Fund opened the majority of the gates on that land. With the completion of Phase II, the majority of the gates on both the Phase I and Phase II lands will be open for most of the year. This project represents an enormous win for the forest products industry and for snowmobilers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts generally, who will finally again have good access to the nearly 70,000 acres of land.
Thanks to the Conservation Fund, and to Gathering Waters, Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts, for making this historic conservation project possible. Thanks also to the many individuals who worked long and hard to see this project through. Thanks to the Native American Tribes, municipalities, organizations, and businesses in Wisconsin that supported this project, with a special thanks to The River Alliance of Wisconsin. Please see the list of tribal, municipal, organizational, and business supporters below.
Celebrate this historic action, which will help protect such a large Northern Wisconsin Forest, and in fact, the way of life in Northern Wisconsin!
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage: Tony Evers bypasses GOP on Pelican River Forest conservation project (jsonline.com)
Ten-minute radio interview with DNR's Jim Lemke and Gathering Waters' Charles Carlin on what Pelican River Forest will look like. Wisconsin to Acquire Pelican River Forest with Forest Service Grant - WORT-FM 89.9 (wortfm.org)
January 23, 2024, Submission from Partners in Forestry, By Joe Hovel - We have covered the Pelican River Forest Legacy project for over a year now. You recall, the local partisan-based opposition to the project and the Joint Committee on Finance denying the Knowles Nelson Stewardship funded state share last year. The Conservation Fund stepped up their fundraising and has matched the deficit from the denied state grant to achieve a match to the USFS Forest Legacy grant. So, let’s get it done-right?
Last year the opposition had stated that the project could proceed without state funding. An early opposition point was taking future development off the Monico lands on the highways. So DNR and the Fund drafted a new map removing ~1200 acres near the main roads, and had the project reappraised. But, recently as the project seemed set to proceed, the partisan opposition from Oneida, Forest and Langlade counties sent letters to the USFS asserting the federal grant should be rescinded.
Weirdly, it appears the opposition is either being led by or assisted by an extremist group from Texas called the American Stewards of Liberty (ASL). Research shows this group was originally formed based on opposition to paying the federal government for cattle grazing on public lands. Thus, we scratch our heads wondering why and how a fringe Texas group should dictate forestry policy in northern Wisconsin. The group has a campaign underway to oppose the volunteer 30x30 conservation initiative, and essentially opposes conservation overall. ASL claims to be a property rights group, but apparently only when our property rights agree with their outlook. In other words, it’s your right to fragment, develop, destroy or abuse your land, but not to conserve it!
But this gets stranger. A search found these excerpts from western news stories and commentary:
American Stewards of Liberty is very aware that its position is on the far fringe of American public opinion. In March 2022, ASL emailed its supporters to inform them that “Four out of five voters in the U.S. support the 30 x 30 Plan which is embraced by the Biden administration”—a remarkable moment of honesty from a group that generally relies on misrepresenting statistics. ASL correctly cited polling from Colorado College and Natural Resources Defense Council that found 77% of Westerners and 80% of voters nationwide support the 30x30 goal. The email went on to say that “we all know that this plan is not about conservation. It is about the destruction of our nation, and it is only the first step in their agenda.” ASL’s plea to ignore this widespread support was stunningly anti-democratic and racist: it argued that “only 1 in 4 Americans own land,” therefore “the majority of people supporting 30x30 do not own land and should have no say.”
Financially, ASL exists primarily as a pass-through for its only employees, Margaret and Daniel Byfield. In 2020, the most recent year for which data is available, the Byfields paid themselves $192,000, accounting for 65 percent of the group’s total spending, according to the group’s IRS filings. That year, ASL raised $203,000 in revenue, resulting in a $90,000 loss for the non-profit. Each year since 2017, the Byfields’ salaries have amounted to more than half of ASL’s total expenses.
However, that is not to say ASL has steered all Texans. This story talks about Texas, mostly privately owned, has about a million acres in conservation easements- Texas family makes heartwarming decision about property that’s been in their family for generations: ‘It will always be our family place’ (msn.com)
However, Texas ranks number 45 (at the bottom) of the list for the percentage of conserved public land available for recreation. Texas only has 4% of its land-space available for public use. The other 96% is privately owned. Recreation options in Texas are fee-based because there is so little public land available.
See: https://www.summitpost.org/public-and-private-land-percentages-by-us-states/186111
Nor has ASL influenced all conservative states as this western excerpt and the example below state so well------- In recent years, ASL has sought to push itself more squarely into mainstream conservative circles, but has suffered setbacks as governors and members of Congress have withdrawn from working with the group.
likes it“We’re going to get more of these. The timber industry likes it, the conservation community likes it, the hunters like it. The conservation community likes it because the land doesn’t get fractured….”
So, it appears to be a fair question—Why are these Texas folks with extremist views, steering the future of forestry in northern Wisconsin?
Parting words from Joe
As you know by now, PIF and Northwoods Alliance follow a little different model than does a typical forest owner COOP, or land conservation group. No one receives a salary, which exposes our all-volunteer model. Being physically unable to do most of the high demand heavy lifting my long career required, I however still feel the need to be productive. I believe I speak for several of my associates as well, when I say productive means assisting in sustaining and providing nature’s benefits to you and the general public including those who do not own land!
Northwoods Alliance now holds two community forests and you and the general public, including those who do not own land, have a stake in those diverse 400 acres, as we all do in the USFS, State and County forests. As users and supporters, we also have a stake in Forest Legacy program lands.
I encourage you to be involved in these critical issues which will lay the template for the opportunities our grandkids and future generations will have.
According to this news story, https://www.wpr.org/pelican-river-forest-secures-funding-local-leaders-want-federal-grant-revoked our very own 7th district congressman thinks we do not deserve more accessible acreage for the public. Maybe not surprising, as in 2015 as State Senator, he said about the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program: ‘we can no longer afford nature lands.’ I do not want politics to be part of this newsletter, but I must state some facts.
When I researched this American Stewards for Liberty group, I could not disagree with them more. They are essentially saying the strictly volunteer 30-30 movement and Forest Legacy are seizing private property rights--- but if a landowner wanted to destroy their land forever that is some-how noble?
All this gets plenty depressing and frustrating and makes one consider withdrawing. But I receive plenty of compensation just thinking about those two Community Forests and this little note which just came in, “Your efforts are so greatly appreciated. Thank you for fighting for the land”. When I meet visitors at any of these projects, I never see partisan divisiveness, I simply see folks grateful they have the land to hunt, fish, hike, ski and recreate.
OCWA Note: Joe Hovel heads Partners in Forestry Coop and is deeply involved in land conservation through the Northwoods Alliance Inc. He recently wrote about the Pelican River project in Partners News, their regular newsletter. Joe is a strong advocate for the Forest Legacy Program and manages two properties with Forest Legacy designation, one in Wisconsin, and one in the upper peninsula. He also serves on Wisconsin’s Forest Legacy ranking committee. You can see this and past Partners News at www.partnersinforestry.com and follow the groups conservation efforts at www.northwoodalliance.org
Submitted By Newbold Lakes Enhanced Wakes Committee January 23, 2024-
Newbold Advances Enhanced Wakes Ordinance to DNR
At the Newbold Town Board meeting on Jan. 11th, the Town Board voted to advance a proposed enhanced wakes ordinance and condition report to the Wisconsin DNR for review and comment, a requirement before any such ordinance can be approved and enacted. The proposed ordinance would provide protection against enhanced wakes for all lakes in Newbold under 1,500 acres as well as four border lakes that are at least 60% within the town.
A sample proposed ordinance was developed by the Newbold Lakes Enhanced Wakes Committee (NLEWC), spearheaded by Two Sisters Lake Property Association and including representatives from several other area lakes, after multiple issues of damage and danger related to enhanced wakes occurred on local lakes.
At the meeting, the NLEWC was represented by speakers from Two Sisters Lake, Lake Mildred, Tom Doyle Lake and Pickerel Lake. Additionally, other residents and local environmental groups – Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association (OCLRA), Oneida County Clean Waters Action (OCCWA) and Last Wilderness Alliance (LWA) – gave public comment in favor of the proposed ordinance. No public comment was given in opposition.
Reasons cited by both speakers and in the proposed ordinance for the need for regulation included:
1. To act in the interest of public health, safety and/or welfare, including the public’s interest in preserving natural resources, and protection of the environment and outdoor recreation.
2. Concerns that artificially enhanced wakes cause irreversible environmental damage to lakes and lakeshore, including resuspension of sediment including phosphorus in the water and possible increased algae blooms, turbidity, natural and developed shoreline erosion, and threats to wildlife habitat, aquatic life and waterfowl.
3. Concerns that ballast systems used for creating enhanced wake can’t be completely emptied, thereby increasing the likelihood of aquatic invasive species being introduced and spread on lakes.
4. Concerns that artificially enhanced wakes can damage shoreline, loon and other waterfowl nesting areas, lake bottom, moored boats and shoreline structures including docks.
5. Concerns that current Wisconsin boating regulations do not account for the special concerns posed by enhanced wakes.
At the Jan. 11th meeting, the Town Board supported most of the key provisions as set forth in the sample ordinance, namely: prohibiting using or employing ballast tanks, water sacks or fins to cause a boat to operate in a bow-high manner, or which increases or enhances a boat's wake; and prohibiting operating a boat in an artificially bow-high manner having the effect of increasing the boat's wake.
As amended by the Town Board at the meeting, however, the draft ordinance omits two flowages that had been part of the sample ordinance; and added a two-year sunset provision, citing a desire to review the ordinance’s effectiveness at that time. The NLEWC and other local residents were surprised by the sunset addition, done after the public comment period of the meeting, as it could require going through a cumbersome process again in two years or risk leaving the lakes unprotected at that time.
The draft ordinance and condition report were sent to the state DNR on January 16th; the agency is expected to provide critique within 30 days.
Information submitted by Joe Steinhage of the Newbold Lakes Enhanced Wakes Committee (NLEWC)
Related articles:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's coverage of latest statewide effort to regulate Wave Boats. Wisconsinites push wake boat home lake rule to limit invasive species (jsonline.com)
Lakes at Stake Wisconsin share their latest Wave Boat Industry smoking gun YouTube video here. The Smoking Gun - Water Sport Industry Assoc admits their sport damages (youtube.com)
By Kathleen Cooper January 22, 2024- Here We Go Again.
It’s been almost a year since the Oneida County Board overrode the will of the people and passed an advisory resolution against the acquisition of conservation easements in the Pelican River Forest. These conservation easements would assure that this land would remain in its natural state, and would safeguard the headwaters of the Pelican and Wolf Rivers from the pollution that comes with development, particularly the development of sulfide mines. They would allow public access to hunt, fish, snowmobile, use ATV’s, hike, bike, and just enjoy this beautiful wilderness. The Pelican River Forest is a 55,000+ acre parcel of land that is privately owned, and therefore taxed as managed forest land. It is NOT public land, as some lawmakers repeatedly and falsely declare. The conservation easements proposed would enable the best of both worlds-land that is open to the public for recreating and that is also working land to be used for responsibly harvesting trees, therefore contributing to the local economy via recreational and tourist activities, as well as the local lumber industry.
The public easements in the Pelican River Forest are extremely popular with the people of Oneida County. The majority of our residents cannot afford to own large tracts of land on which to hunt, fish, and recreate. Land that is open to the public, like the proposed easements in the Pelican River Forest, do a great service for our people, by giving them access to land that they may not have otherwise been able to enjoy. Our elected officials, who, against the will of the people, voted against the acquisition of these conservation easements, are doing us a great disservice.
On the state level, our lawmakers, led by State Senator Mary Felzkowski, blocked funding for the Pelican River Forest from the Wisconsin Knowles Nelson Fund, but the purchase was and is not a dead issue. Funding from the US Forest Service is still very much on the table. However, Congressman Tom Tiffany, Oneida County Board chair Scott Holewinski, and Monico supervisor Robert Briggs, have collaborated with the American Stewards for Liberty, a far-right extremist organization out of Texas, that wants all US land to be open for development. Chair Holewinski and Supervisor Briggs wrote a letter to the US Forest Service requesting a delay in funding for the Pelican River Forest. There has been no county board action known by this writer to authorize the county board chair to work with the American Stewards for Liberty or to send the letter to the Forest Service on behalf of Oneida County. Scott Holewinski and Robert Briggs falsely claim that they represent the wishes of the people of Oneida County in opposing the Pelican River Forest funding. They most certainly do not represent our wishes in this matter.
The action of Mr. Holewinski, supervisor Briggs, and Mr. Tiffany is astonishing and alarming. They will stop at nothing to assert their agendas over the will of the people of Oneida County. The people of Oneida County want something much different. We want to protect the forests, to preserve the right of the public to recreate in these forests, and we want naturally clean air and water. We don’t want to live in a wasteland of mining or other industrial developments. We want to preserve our unique northwoods way of life, the beauty of our forests, lakes, and rivers. We want to pass this legacy of clean and natural living on to our children and grandchildren. And we want to be heard, not ignored, by our elected representatives.
By Tom Wiensch January 22, 2024- On January 16th, 2024, the Oneida County Board considered a resolution concerning wake boat regulation that was offered by the County’s Conservation and U.W. Extension Education Committee.
The members of the Conservation and UW Extension Education Committee are: Robb Jensen, Tommy Ryden, Collette Sorgel, Jim Winkler, and Linnaea Newman. That committee met on December 11th, and all five members of the committee signed the proposed resolution, advancing it to the County Board.
The proposed resolution included the following language:
“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oneida County Board of Supervisors does recommend that the Wisconsin Legislature engage in meaningful discussions to pass standards that balance the right of everyone to recreate on waters of the State of Wisconsin, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Wisconsin’s local governments deserve local control to set their own standards beyond state minimums, of at least 500 feet from the shore, and to prohibit enhanced wake creation in waters shallower than 30 feet in depth, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Wisconsin Legislature address the transfer of aquatic invasive species through ballast tanks and/or bladders for the protection of water quality that drives the economy of Oneida County.”
The recommendations of keeping large wakes 500 feet from shore and in water at least 30 feet deep seems to be in line with recommendations of three different bodies. The Minnesota College of Science and Engineering’s Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory has found that boats making large wakes would need to stay at least 500 feet from shore to avoid causing more shoreline erosion than other boats. The Maine Audubon Society has also recommended a 500-foot limit, noting that wakes can have detrimental effects on loon nesting. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has cited a model that shows that wake boats can likely stir up silt, sand, and debris in water up to 33 feet deep. Suspension of these materials is harmful to aquatic life and water quality.
At the January 16th board meeting the resolution was originally part of the “consent agenda.” A consent agenda is a part of a meeting agenda that allows boards to group together and vote on relatively routine items. The resolution was pulled from the consent agenda and dealt with as part of the regular agenda at the request of supervisor Tommy Ryden.
Supervisor Ryden, noting that the distance and depth requirements would prevent wake boat use on certain lakes, made a motion, seconded by Supervisor Mike Roach to change the minimum distance from shore to 300 feet and the minimum depth to 15 feet. Supervisor Ryden indicated that he had read legislation in other states with varying requirements.
Supervisor Jim Winkler spoke against the amendment, mentioning studies of the effects of wake boats and noting that wake boat use in shallow water churns up lake bottoms, disturbs fish beds, and causes algae blooms. No studies were cited in support of 15 feet depth or 300 feet distance rules.
Some board members expressed an interest in knowing how many lakes would be affected by potential rules. Supervisor Tony Rio stated “If it’s going to cause an environmental issue, I don’t really care how many lakes it excludes it from. . . If it’s harming the environment, it’s harming the environment. If it’s harming our lakes and puts them at risk I don’t care if the number is fifty.”
Those voting in favor of Supervisor Ryden’s motion to amend were: Fried, Briggs, Schowalter, Schultz, Almekinder, Harris, Timmons, Cushing, Roach, Jensen, Ryden, Newman, Holewinski. Those voting to oppose the motion were: Schreier, Rio, Sorgel, and Winkler. Absent were: Kelly, Fisher, Condado, and Oettinger.
After the motion amending the resolution was passed, the Board voted unanimously to send the resolution back to the Committee, with the Committee to bring it back to the County board at the February or March County Board meeting.
YouTube link to County Board Meeting with Ryden amendments starting at 44:30-mark. https://www.youtube.com/@oneidacountyboardwi/streams
January 22, 2024 Update- WXPR's Katie Thoresen released an incredibly in-depth article on PFAS in Oneida County including an interactive map Biosolids Spreading in Oneida County - Google My Maps detailing locations of past biosolid spreading in Oneida County dating as far back as 1996. The article goes on to document much of the recent history of PFAS contamination in county while sharing past WXPR articles covering PFAS. This is an incredible documentation of PFAS contamination in Oneida County and is a must read. Link here Biosolids in Oneida County: What we know and what we’re still learning | WXPR
Also here is a link to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's coverage of the incredibly ridiculous political process holding up State financial resources to address the growing PFAS issue. Tony Evers calls out Republicans over 'breathtaking' inaction on PFAS (jsonline.com)
By Eric Rempala January 18, 2024- I attended the January 16th County Board meeting, where a PFAS resolution created by the County Board of Health Committee was one of many resolutions up for consideration. As reported in our December 21 post, the initial resolution asked, "that all areas within a 2-mile radius surrounding where the DNR permitted biosolids to be applied will be offered well water testing to be paid for by the DNR or the state of Wisconsin." Also asked for was all biosolids from Wastewater Treatment Facilities and those facilities suspected of potentially having PFAS concentrations in their biosolids be tested before being spread.
As it turns out the County Board Supervisors decided to go a bit further with several amendments strengthening the resolution. The first added amendment was offered by Supervisor Winkler of Newbold increasing the 2-mile radius mentioned above to 6 miles.
The Next added amendment offered by Supervisor Fried of Minocqua was to ad "Whereas, the purpose of the request is to determine how many DNR certified biosolid spreading sites are in Onieda County and what their PFAS levels might be. Since the DNR certifies the sites, they also should be getting and recording how much sludge/biosolids in weight have been spread over each field every year."
The final added amendment was offered by Supervisor Schreier of Rhinelander stating that "Whereas, it is the desire of the County Board that the Department of Natural Resources provide information pertaining to biosolids per site and in a timely manner to the Department of Health." Leaving us with the final amended resolution. Res-16-2024-Direct-DNR-to-test-well-water-for-PFAS.pdf (oneida.wi.us)
This amended resolution was passed unanimously by the board. We at OCCWA have championed a statement such as this from the county on PFAS and are overwhelmed by their job on this resolution. We commend Chairman Holewinski, the County Board of Health, and the County Board for their professionalism on this issue.
Though this task is done, the work continues. How the county goes about the business of identifying other potential sites in county as well as assisting those sites already identified is the next job. Using the resolution as a guideline, working with, and urging the DNR to move forward as quickly as possible we hope to see measurable progress going forward.
Provided here WXPR coverage of meeting- Oneida County wants more PFAS testing of private wells in the county | WXPR
By Eric Rempala December 21, 2023- As reported in Kathleen Coopers December 13th post, the Oneida County Board of Health Committee has forwarded a resolution on PFAS to be considered by the County Board in their January board meeting.
We at OCCWA have been urging the DNR to use their certified PFAS spreading site list to determine where other potential contamination may be in county. The DNR not only has a list of all DNR certified sites in Oneida County but supposedly also have records of amounts spread at these sites over the years. Just how far back records go is up for debate. By the way, the county has the authority to make an open records request to acquire these records.
Understanding these facts, one would surmise that with those records one might be able to determine where the highest concentrations of PFAS may be located elsewhere in county. While most people might think this is common sense, the DNR has yet to respond whether this logic is valid.
The county's Board of Health Committee addressed this concern with one of their asks on the proposed resolution. "Therefore, be It resolved that all areas within a 2-mile radius surrounding where the DNR permitted biosolids to be applied will be offered well water testing to be paid for by the DNR or the state of Wisconsin."
The other request in the resolution asks that that all biosolids from Wastewater Treatment Facilities and those facilities suspected of potentially having PFAS concentrations in their biosolids be tested before being spread. Res-16-2024-Direct-DNR-to-test-well-water-for-PFAS.pdf (oneida.wi.us)
Both these requests seem quite reasonable considering recent circumstances and application of Wisconsin Common Sense. So, there you have the upbeat part. Refreshing right?
Now for the Not So Much part. The DNR recently sent out notice that they are halting work on setting PFAS standards that the NRB more than a year ago dropped the ball on. Part of the DNR statement read " The final economic impact analysis of proposed groundwater standards for PFAS is in excess of $10 million for a 2-year period. As required by state statutes, the DNR has stopped work on this proposed rule and has notified the state legislature. The state legislature will need to grant the DNR authority to continue the rulemaking process for setting PFAS standards in drinking water." The statute is commonly referred to as the REINS act.
We share with you now Wisconsin Examiner coverage for more information. Evers calls on Legislature to release PFAS funds, approve DNR groundwater rule - Wisconsin Examiner
I have withdrawn a quote from the Examiner article "The folly of the REINS Act has become clear when the legislature appropriates $125 million to ‘begin’ addressing PFAS contamination but then triggers a ‘cease and desist’ order to DNR because a PFAS groundwater standard might cost more than $10 million,” Doug Oitzinger, the former mayor of Marinette, said in a statement."
I can tell you that Mr. Oitzinger is a fantastic advocate for his city and has done yeoman's work on this issue for many years already, and his frustration level is absolutely palpable for good reason. We in Oneida County are just learning what a slow process this will be.
By Tom Wiensch December 15, 2023- Most people are aware of the tremendous risks raised by ships dumping ballast water in the Great Lakes. The invasive zebra mussels, quagga mussels, and round goby (fish) which now plague the Great Lakes are all thought to have been brought to the lakes by ocean-going ships which dumped their ballast water.
Our inland lakes, as well as the Great Lakes now face similar threats from ballast tanks and bags in wake boats. Wake boats are special boats that usually contain huge ballast tanks or bags that cause the boats to create unnaturally large wakes that people can surf behind. Because it can be difficult or impossible to fully drain the ballast containers on these boats, it’s unclear how operators of these boats can comply with Wisconsin aquatic invasive species regulations when transporting their boats from lake to lake.
The University of Minnesota’s Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center has stated that “. . . it looks like standard minimal tactics for reducing zebra mussel spread – cleaning the exterior of a boat and removing the drain plug – won’t be enough for wakeboard boat ballast tanks and some other large-volume water holding areas. A hot water flush or five days of drying are the most practical surefire ways to ensure no larvae survive.”
This concern has been echoed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which has stated that “Many ballast tanks can’t be visually checked, and many cannot be fully drained.”
The concern was borne out by a residual ballast water study done by members of the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, the University of Wisconsin Extension Environmental Resources Center, the East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, and the Minnesota Department of Natural resources – Division of Ecological and Water Resources.
That study took place at a Marina near Fremont Wisconsin and examined 23 wake boats. The report of the study noted that “The ballast systems are often located in storage compartments and can be difficult, if not impossible, for a boater to drain completely."
Of the 23 wake boats examined, five apparently had no ballast storage, and five had ballast tanks that could not reasonably be inspected. The remaining 13 wake boats had ballast bags which were drained using the existing pumps before being examined. This was done to be sure that only water that could not be drained was measured.
After draining, the mean amount of residual water remaining in the ballast bags of the 13 boats was 31.7 liters. The study also found that of the 13 boats, nine had viable organisms living in the residual ballast water. The study found 13 different families of zooplankton and macroinvertebrates living in the water.
Wisconsin Regulations require that boaters take “reasonable precautions” to avoid spreading aquatic invasive species. See Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 40. The code defines “reasonable precautions” to include, but not be limited to practices recommended by the “Wisconsin Clean Boats, Clean Waters" program and the “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers" campaign.
Both the “Wisconsin Clean Boats, Clean Waters” program and the “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers” campaign recommend draining boats when leaving lakes.
What is more, the code itself requires that, when boat operators remove their boats from the water, they must immediately remove all aquatic plants and animals and drain all water, and that the same be done before boats are brought into the state.
So, if many wake boats have ballast tanks that can’t easily be inspected, and have tanks or bags that can’t be fully drained, how can boat operators even begin to comply with the regulations that are in place to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species? That’s a good question, and one which has not been addressed by any of the proposed wake boat legislation that is pending in Wisconsin. Also, at least some of the pending legislation mentions wake boat tournaments. The idea of tournaments would seem to acknowledge the likelihood of wake boats being trailered from lake to lake, potentially with invasive species on board.
Legislation that is passed that limits wake boat operation in shallow or near-shore waters would only be a partial solution to the myriad problems that wake boats can cause. If new laws don’t address the residual ballast water issue, we may see invasive species such as Eurasian Water Milfoil getting spread to more lakes around Wisconsin.
So many people in Wisconsin have worked very hard to limit the spread of aquatic invasive species to our lakes. Is it fair that their efforts be thwarted, and that our lakes be damaged, perhaps permanently, so that the few who wish to surf on inland lakes can do so? Having seen lakes that are matted with Eurasian water milfoil, I think that the answer to that question is clearly “no.” Wake boats that have ballast tanks or bags that cannot be fully drained and easily inspected should be prohibited in Wisconsin. The onus should be put on the marine industry to develop boats that can be used without damaging the lakes that belong to all of us. The ecosystems of our lakes and the ability of all citizens to fish, swim, waterski, canoe, and kayak should not be put in jeopardy by wake boats.
New wave boat bill more protective but still fails to address invasive species concern. See Milwaukee Journal Sentinel coverage. Stronger wake surfing bill offered in state Legislature (jsonline.com)
By Kathleen Cooper December 13, 2023- It’s been a good week for clean water in Oneida County! The Oneida County Conservation Committee has drafted letters to the two committees responsible for hearing the wake boating bill drafted by Senator Mary Felzkowski and State Representative Rob Swearingen (the Assembly and Senate Committees). These letters urge our state legislators to revise the proposed bill to limit wake boating no closer than 500 ft from shore (the original bill allowed wake boating 200 ft from shore), in water depth no less than 30 ft (there are no depth requirements in the original bill), to address the issue of aquatic invasive species transport in ballast water (the original bill does not address this issue), and to maintain local control over this issue (the original bill removes all local control of this issue). If adopted, the limits expressed in the letter would be the most aggressive limits on wake boating in the nation, limits which are much more aligned with independent research. Independent research indicates that wake boating should only be allowed on lakes 1500 acres or larger, at least 600-700 feet from shore, in depths of at least 20-30 ft, and that ballast tanks should be thoroughly cleaned and inspected after use to prevent the spread of invasive species from lake to lake.
The members of the Conservation Committee deserve our recognition for this action that will help to keep our lake environments safer and protect lake habitat for generations to come. The committee members are Jim Winkler (chair), Robb Jensen (vice chair), Linnaea Newman, Tommy Ryden, and Collette Sorgel. If you have time, please email them for supporting lake habitat and the science behind preserving it.
In other developments, the Oneida County Board of Health unanimously passed a resolution on December 12 asking for the testing of the sludge that is being spread on local fields for PFAS, as well as the testing of private wells within a two-mile radius of these spreading sites for PFAS, to be paid for by the DNR and/or the state. This resolution will now go before the Oneida County Board in January. Many thanks to Linda Conlon, the director of the Oneida County Health Department, and to the members of the Board of Health Committee: Tom Kelly (chairman), Debbie Condado, Mike Roach, Billy Fried, and special thanks to Scott Holewinski for his support. Please contact your county board supervisors to let them know how you feel about this important resolution.
In these times of division, our legislators have come together, recognized the importance of these issues for our lakes, wetlands, and groundwater, and have taken these important steps to preserve our water. They deserve our thanks and support on these Clean Water issues.
Oneida County Conservation Committe email addresses.
jwinkler@co.oneida.wi.us
rjensen@oneidacountywi.gov
lnewman@oneidacountywi.gov
tryden@oneidacountywi.gov
csorgel@oneidacountywi.gov
Oneida County Clean Waters Action
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