Central Wisconsin Basin Partnership White Paper on issues related to Surface And Groundwater Quality/Quantity

Quality surface and groundwater in abundance is needed for human health, agriculture, industry and recreation. Our surface water resources have a long history of being adversely affected by point sources such as industrial and municipal waste disposal, animal waste, recreational vehicles, hazardous product spills, and air deposition of particulates. Regulations over the last several decades have governed point sources to continuously improve the quality of their discharges to receiving surface waters. Non-point pollution sources present more of a challenge because their sources are more evasive and less regulated. Some examples of non-point pollution include urban runoff, failed septic systems, barnyard runoff, fertilizers, and pesticides. Surface waters also receive sediments, nutrient and chemical runoff from the watersheds, urban runoff from storm sewers, and nutrient and chemical runoff from private homes. 

Our groundwater quality is threatened by many of the same pollution sources as surface waters. But it is much more difficult to identify and control the sources. Groundwater quantity itself is an important issue. It is not readily available for use in all areas of the state because of the nature of the aquifers, rainfall quantity, soils, and topography.

Generally speaking, Wisconsin has healthy water, but there is little specific information regarding the quality of Wisconsin’s lakes, streams, wetlands, and groundwater. Since there is often little or no baseline data, it can be difficult to ascertain how impaired or degraded the waters of the state have become. However, specific lakes and rivers fail to meet standards that allow people to safely swim and eat the fish they catch. In April 1998, the DNR identified 554 lakes and river segments that were not meeting water quality standards out of a total 44,000 miles of stream and 15,000 inland lakes. The Partnership should consider taking steps to help minimize water quality/quantity impacts and help to restore this valuable resource.

The monetary value of clean, safe, and abundant water is beyond calculation. Water quality affects recreation, aesthetics, the economy, health, and property values. Most state residents place a high value on this resource and are willing to accept laws designed to protect it. Protection is difficult since rural and urban, growth and development, and other land uses are constantly impacting this resource. Correcting problems like nutrient and chemical contamination, wetland loss, or fish kills is very expensive and sometimes irreversible. Each day in Wisconsin, private and municipal wells remove 780 million gallons of groundwater. Industry uses 150 million gallons and agriculture uses 250 million gallons of water. (Use specific data from the CWB) Heavy reliance on these resources dictates that we treat them with great respect. 

Barriers to improving and protecting our water resources include the lack of funding, technical resources (people and equipment) standardized databases, outdated information, uninformed public, and non-uniform resource assessment evaluations. Our regulations do not always provide adequate guidance for addressing water quality problems such as those for groundwater and non-point pollution sources. Representation from the agricultural industry does not exist within pertinent groups or associations like the Central Wisconsin Basin Partnership.

Regulations affecting water quality come from federal, state, and local governments. Lake districts have regulatory authority, as do the county offices, particularly with shoreland/wetland zoning regulations. There are many regulations for point pollution sources but they do not always coordinate improvement efforts. Regulations for non-point sources are lacking and don’t always solve the problem. 

The stakeholders involved in these issues include the cranberry industry, vegetable growers, pulp and paper industry, food processing industry, dairy industry, citizen groups, local governments, non-profit groups, and environmental groups. Other stakeholders include all citizens who rely on groundwater for drinking, or on lakes and rivers for recreation

What can be done?
· A negotiation among stakeholders needs to take place to identify high priority projects and the most efficient use of monetary funds for projects to improve water and other resource quality issues.

· Work with county zoning to offer tax breaks for shoreland owners who develop shoreland vegetation buffers, maintain legal septic systems and guard against nutrient and stormwater runoff.

· Locate organizations that are having trouble solving water quality problems (like Lake Associations), and assist them with advice, educational materials, or funds. The Fourteen-Mile Creek Watershed Alliance is a good example.

· Prepare an educational publication dealing with “Understanding Water Quality and Solving Problems Associated with It”. Distribute through various sources.

· Educational efforts to address excessive weed harvesting, winter water level drawdowns, and vegetative buffers should be considered.

· Search for or create an inventory and database of information and educational materials dealing with water quality problems. It would be used to assist people with problems.

· Communicate the successes.

· Legislators should be brought in on some specific issues/projects and be educated.

· Develop in-stream pollutant limits and TMDL’s (total maximum daily loads).