Late last week, the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources set a “public rights flow order” for the Little Plover River, in Portage County.
The Little Plover made national news in the summer of 2005 when its flow dried up completely. It has either dried up completely or been reduced to a trickle several times since. Hydrologists have determined that large wells pumping groundwater for urban uses and for farming were the cause of the river going dry. The river was a good case study for how the pumping of groundwater and the fate of nearby surface waters are integrally connected.
Two years ago, the River Alliance, Trout Unlimited, the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Plover River Alliance and Friends of the Tomorrow/Waupaca petitioned the DNR to set a public rights flow for the Little Plover.
A public rights flow is a metaphoric mark on the river bank, below which the river level should not go. (Actually, the flow is measured in cubic feet per second.) A work group comprised of groundwater users and conservation interests have been meeting for over two years to figure out how to keep the river from drying up.
DNR’s flow order likely won’t be legally enforced by the agency, but it does give groundwater users, conservationists, and concerned citizens a benchmark for how the river is faring.
The order takes effect immediately, and it will get its first public airing at a meeting of the Little Plover work group on April 8.
The votes have been cast and counted, and we are proud to announce our 2009 River Champions:
- David Martin A former state representative, former Lower Wisconsin Riverway Board member and life-long friend of rivers, Dave authored the legislation that created Wisconsin’s Wild Rivers program in 1965. With the impending addition of two new state Wild Rivers (the Totogatic and Brunsweiler), it is only fitting to salute Dave and the trail he blazed 44 years ago.
- Milwaukee Riverkeeper Milwaukee Riverkeeper, formerly Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers, has been an advocate for the Milwaukee, Menominee, and Kinnickinnic River watersheds for 13 years. Milwaukee Riverkeeper has been a reliable and effective advocate for Milwaukee’s rivers by tracking pollution spills, monitoring water quality, and championing the rivers locally and at state and federal levels.
- Paul Henry When Polk County proposed removing the failed Woodley Dam on the Apple River in 2004 and replacing it with a snowmobile crossing, several residents, local watershed and fishing groups and the River Alliance raised concerns over the proposal, which called for extensive alteration of the river's bed and banks. Peter and the Apple River Association contested the permits. But as time and expense mounted, Peter remained the last soldier standing, putting his own money, time and skills on the table to challenge DNR's questionable permit for this project. As a river resident and paddler, Peter embodies the true spirit of a river steward, stepping up when times get tough.
Join us as we honor these individuals and catch-up with old friends at the 5th Annual Spring Confluence on Saturday April 25th at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center in Madison, WI.
We created a membership category we call River Traders to acknowledge and support river-friendly businesses. Our first three River Traders are:
- Fred Flasher's Canoe Camping Trips, LLC located in Wilton, Wisconsin.
- Kosir's Rapid Rafts Inc. located in Silver Cliff, Wisconsin.
- Blackhawk River Runs located in Mazomanie, Wisconsin.
Great workshop on culvert design April 21-23, Rhinelander, WI
Want to learn about how to assess, design and install culverts at road/stream crossings? Culverts represent one of the most problematic construction features that fragment rivers and this popular workshop takes you through the basics of installing and maintaining culverts that won't fragment rivers and block movement of fish and other animals. It is a crucial tool for your river restoration toolbox. Click here for more information.
The workshop includes site visits and hands-on exercises, and is organized by The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, UW Extension, WI Dept. of Transportation, and the WI DNR.
In This Issue
Plover Lifeline
River Champs
River Traders
Design a Culvert
Saturday April 18th Wisconsin Dells, WI
