September 17, 2009
In This Issue:
Is Lake Michigan the Answer to Waukesha's Groundwater Woes?
Though it's nearly 20 miles from the lake and outside the Lake Michigan basin (watershed), Waukesha can, under the Great Lakes Compact, take water from the lake as long as it puts it back. It's very serious about what's called a "diversion" of Great Lakes water, as it is depleting its groundwater supply, which is tainted with radium.
Putting Lake Michigan water back requires using a river to do so, and that's only one of the big issues River Alliance and other groups foresee as problematic with Waukesha's plan.
In the last issue of our Wisconsin Rivers newsletter, we raised questions about Waukesha 's diverting Lake Michigan water: How and where would that water be returned? How much diverted water will be allowed to supplement Waukesha's drinking supply? What impacts will the amount of returned water have on the stream being used for so-called "return flow?"
Getting water from Lake Michigan may be a quick fix for Waukesha, but by simply replacing groundwater with Great Lakes water dodges the bigger issue: by taking more then the system can replenish, communities will continue to run out of quality drinking water. Communities should inventory all available water resources before they grow, instead of forcing limited supplies to cooperate with wasteful water use that bare hard consequences. We plan for roads and sewer pipes. Why not plan for water?
Committees of both the Senate and the Assembly voted overwhelmingly to return appointment of the DNR Secretary to the Natural Resources Board, and the final vote will be taken by the full Senate and Assembly in the next week or two. Take a quick moment to contact your legislators and tell them to remove partisan politics from natural resource decisions by voting Yes on Assembly Bill 138 and its companion, Senate Bill 113. To find and contact your legislators, click here.
of Wisconsin, eat some great grass-fed beef, sip a fine Wisconsin craft brew or two, and learn about farmer Dick Cates' great river-friendly animal husbandry at "Barbeque on the Banks." Join us Saturday, Oct. 3, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.at the Cates Family Farm near Spring Green. Cost is.$30, with proceeds going to support River Alliance programs. Click here for more information and to register!
Many amazing pictures of Wisconsin’s glorious rivers have been submitted for the River Alliance of Wisconsin’s third annual photography competition. We are very excited to see such talent, but don’t be intimidated by the quality of the pictures. Just a reminder, we would also love to see pictures of people enjoying these rivers. There is still plenty of time to enter, so get your cameras out and join River Alliance's Flickr™ group!
We're looking for photography representing the diversity of life that thrives in and along our rivers. Your original digital images of Wisconsin’s beautiful rivers and streams or plants, animals and people relating to or interacting with them, are eligible, and most welcome.
The winner will receive a framed autographed print of “Birchbarks” by Ferdy Goode. “Birchbarks” is a print of Ferdy Goode’s 1998 photograph of his own birchbark canoes taken with a Kodak Brownie camera. The picture of these canoes on the bank of a northwoods lake is so breathtakingly beautiful it is difficult to believe it is not a painting.
The winning image will be featured on the cover of the River Alliance of Wisconsin’s Newsletter, Wisconsin Rivers, this winter and on our website. The two runners up will be featured inside the newsletter.
How to Enter
To enter one or more images, upload your photo(s) to the River Alliance's Flickr™ group. If you are not familiar with Flickr, do not fret -- it is easy.
Or, if you prefer, you can email each photo, one at a time to Laura MacFarland. Include your name, email, address, and brief description of the subject of your photo and where it was taken.
The Fine Print
Photo submissions must be uploaded by 11:59 pm Central Standard Time on October 16, 2009. You retain ownership and full rights to all images submitted, but grant us the right to use your images in support of the River Alliance of Wisconsin’s mission (e.g. publications, website, mailing, etc.)
Still plenty of time to bid on some great items from all corners of the state, including a get-away package to Bayfield, tickets to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, multiple canoe and kayak trips, and even whitewater rafting—right here in Wisconsin! So go to the auction site and look at the items already posted, sign up for updates of newly posted items, and register to start bidding!
The River Rat describes a new invasive species found in Washington County. Keep your eyes peeled for the Louisiana red swamp crayfish!
