AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN APRIL 27, 2019 WISCONSIN WATERS – PROTECTING AND ADVOCATING Mary Knipper
LET’S TALK WATER ▪ HISTORY OF NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION IN WISCONSIN ▪ MAKING WATER PROTECTION LAW ▪ WHO ARE THE PLAYERS ▪ WHAT ARE THE CURRENT ISSUES ▪ WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN PROTECTING OUR WATERS
The Resolution adopted by the AAUW at the 2017 state convention couldn’t be more timely and relevant. Challenges throughout the country involve both water quality and water quantity….access and supply add to those challenges, and threats to our water supplies, groundwater, lakes, rivers and streams are growing.
PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE T he doctrine is included in the Wisconsin Constitution at its adoption in 1848, but its origin goes back to Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The river Mississippi and the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St. Lawrence and the carrying places between the same, shall be common highways and forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the state as to the citizens of the United States without any tax, input, or duty therefore. (Wis. Const. Art. IX §1)
What does this mean? • Makes state of Wisconsin the trustee of all waters of the state • State acts through its branches and all 3 have a role • Legislature has primary authority to administer the trust • Legislature can delegate certain trust responsibilities • 1965 legislature delegated primary authority to WDNR – protect, maintain, improve water quality • Courts have also played an important role
What role do we play? • Other necessary party in the trust is the beneficiary • Public has the right to enforce the duties of the trustee • Challenges to legislative, judicial, or administrative activities • As beneficiaries, public tends to play a more passive role
Making Water Protection Law 3 branches: Executive, Judicial, Legislative *WI Assembly – even years 99 are elected for 2 year terms *WI Senate – 33 Senate seats each representing 3 Assembly Districts • www.legis.state.wi.us • www.wiseye.org • www.thewheelerreport.com
LAKE PROTECTION HISTORY • 1895 – first incorporated Lake Association formed • 1910 – compiled and documented limnology studies in Vilas and Oneida counties • 1914 – first Supreme Court case around navigable water and Public Trust Doctrine • 1930 – first confirmed ID of Exotic Eurasian Water Milfoil • 1941 – average boat horsepower: 3.5 • 1959- Wisconsin Federation of Lakes formed • 1974 - Wisconsin Statute, Chapter 33 to form and operate Lake Management Districts • 1978 – first annual Wisconsin Lakes Convention in Stevens Point • 1990 – Average price/foot of lake frontage in Vilas County…..$250.00 • 1992 – WALD and WFL merged to form Wisconsin Association of Lakes • 2018 – >230 LMD and > 600 Lakes Associations across 72 counties
WISCONSIN LAKES PARTNERSHIP People caring for the legacy of Wisconsin lakes through science, education and citizen involvement. WDNR: provides technical, financial, regulatory authority UW-EXT Lakes: designs and delivers educational materials and community outreach Wisconsin Lakes: advocates for local lake people and organizations at the state level
Lakes Partnership activities include: *lake science and research *pollution prevention *citizen volunteer lake monitoring *water recreation planning *leadership development *land and water regulation *native aquatic plant protection *stable funding for lake water programs *invasive species prevention, education and statewide management *coalition building and organizational *access to regional professionals development *assist with local and state workshops, conferences and conventions *classifying lakes for protection and *policy updates and advocacy training restoration
LAKE LEADERS INSTITUTE * funded and initiated through the Lakes Partnership via UW-EXT Lakes in 1998 and led by a “Dream Team” of scientists, biologists, professors, authors, regulators, *30 volunteers and professionals are chosen to participate in the 12 month program in even years *meet for 2 days 3 times a that year: May, September and October Seminar I: Society and the Environment Seminar II: Aquatic Ecology and Watershed Management Seminar III: Organizations, People, Politics October is followed by Graduation at the Aldo Leopold shack in Baraboo - AWESOME!
Wisconsin Environmental/Conservation Wisconsin Lakes Clean Wisconsin River Alliance of Wisconsin Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Gathering Waters Nature Conservancy – Wisconsin Chapter Sierra Club Wisconsin Conservation Voters Wisconsin Wetlands Natural Resources Foundation
Challenges and Issues in 2019 * Invasive Species: aquatic and terrestrial; statewide and growing; new in type and distribution; eradication and control requiring innovative approaches and solutions *Shore land Development: increased density of development; water quality impacts; conflicts in recreational use; creative technology and outreach tools being developed; community education and collaborations are needed *Polluted Runoff: agriculture; residential uses and activities; sewerage; *Habitat Degradation: impacts on wildlife; fishing imbalances and aquatic ecology alterations; *Mining: science and data should drive non polluting mining development *Legislative: threats to science-based regulations
YEAR of CLEAN DRINKING WATER Several ral Wiscon consi sin n commu muni nitie ties s are currently ently no not t able e to to access s clean n drink nking ing wate ter r and nd conc ncern n is growi wing ng th that t more e commu muni nitie ties s will l be facing ng simil ilar ar emerge rgencie ncies. Majority of WI public water systems rely on groundwater pumped from wells….56 sys ystem tems s use surfac ace e wate ter r from WI lakes, , with th th these sources es located ted in m n major jor urban n locatio tions ns Ground ndwa wate ter r sys ystem tems s serve e 2,361,239 61,239 Surfac ace e water ter sys ystem tems s serve e 1,869,050 69,050
CALL TO ACTION • Current budget for 2019 – 2021 contains new funding for water • $1.5 more for lakes and rivers protection • Increase in Surface Water Grants • New bureau adds 5 scientists in support of Clean Water research • Increase in County Conservationist budget of $1.4M from previous • $4M non point cost share • Proposed Motor Boat Tax increase by 8 cents
Putting Wisconsin’s Water First Recent Wisconsin Lakes convention featured a panel discussion on water issues, led by Todd Ambs, WDNR Assistant Deputy Secretary and Katrina Shankland, 71 st Assembly District. Katrina has been selected to serve on the new Taskforce For Water Quality, a bipartisan initiative to address statewide water issues. *Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism are top drivers across the state, and there is grassroots swell to add Water to that ranking. *Addressing water quality is an opportunity for political unity *Science must drive the foundation for achieving solutions
WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN WATER QUALITY ? Tell Your Story Show Up Be An Educated Advocate Know the Issues Use Every Communication Tool Available
Resources *Conservation organizations websites *Wisconsin Lakes Partnership websites: Science, Regulations, Advocacy, Outreach *2017 Annual Drinking Water Report: dnr.wi.gov/drinking water *Lakes In Action: Wisconsin Lakes regional workshops and Policy blog *Water Lobby Day May 15, 2019 at the capital *Assembly and Senate representatives: legis.state.wi.us *How a Bill Becomes Law: published by the Assembly Chief Clerk
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