Make A Date With A River!
Registration is now open for our line up of fun summer outings! From north or south, small or big, two hours or two days, urban or wild - there is a river for YOU this summer. These events are sponsored and organized by the River Alliance and intended for anyone interested in experiencing a river and mingling with the people who love them.
Our first date of the summer is Saturday May 21: Louis Bluff by Land & Water. Register now... you don't wanna miss it!
Come paddle and play with us! |
If you love your river, now is the time to say so!
Legislators have been getting an earful about the proposed state budget, and there are still plenty of ways to get in your two cents. For a complete rundown on all the environmental issues of concern, check out this guide from the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters. Buried among the many controversial program cuts, three water issues that have no fiscal impact on the state but were snuck in the budget proposal anyway deserve your attention. Please let your elected representatives know they should:
Keep oversight of commercial construction site erosion control in DNR. Erosion from construction sites is the major source of sediment in our waters, and the budget moves this responsibility to a department with no experience or expertise in erosion control.
Maintain the rules for limiting phosphorus in waterways. Phosphorus, the leading cause of algae growth, is in fertilizer, manure and wastewater. Just last summer, with broad support, new rules were approved and are now being set aside without having a chance to work.
Maintain the rules for reducing polluted runoff from cities. Since 2002, state rules have required cities to work towards reducing polluted runoff, and just last year, the rules were revised to give cities more time and flexibility to hit the goal. Many cities have spent lots to get there, but the proposed budget lets laggards off the hook.
There are still a number of hearings around the state:
Baraboo - Friday, April 15th (1:00pm - 7:00pm)
Greenbay - Saturday, April 16th (10:00am - 4:00pm)
Rhinelander - Saturday, April 16th (10:00am - 1:00pm)
Wausau - Monday, April 18th (1:00pm - 7:00pm)
Janesville - Wednesday, April 20th (1:00pm - 6:00pm)
La Crosse - Monday, April 25th (1:00pm - 7:00pm)
Appleton - Monday, April 25th (1:00pm - 7:00pm)
Kenosha - Monday, May 9th (10:00am - 3:00pm)
Click here for for details about locations.
You can also contact your legislators directly (find them here), or send an email to budgetcomments@legis.wisconsin.gov.
For great tips on how to get your points across, from a legislative staffer who's heard it all, check out the Rat.
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Bad Water Is Bad For Business: Resort owner Frank Rybeck's story
"Imagine going to a lake resort and planning on using your boat, swimming in the lake, doing water activities-and not being able to do it. There's no reason to go back again. I've been told by several people 'Frank, we love your place, but we're not going to allow our children into the water, so we're not going to be back.'"
 Over the past 25 years, Frank Rybeck's customers have come from as far away as Nepal, China, and South America to stay at his resort on the shores of Lake Kegonsa in Dane County. His clients, sometimes in groups as large as 30 people, support other Main Street Stoughton businesses such as bars and restaurants, retailers, and gas stations. But his business has steadily decreased due to algae blooms and water too green for fishing, swimming, or boating. He estimates he's lost nearly half of his long-term customers due to polluted water.
"It's very frustrating for me as a business person, that how I present my property and how nice my cottages are makes no difference. I have absolutely no control over the most important thing, which is the lake... I can work day and night and make the place look beautiful, but if the lake stinks and nobody wants to use it, or nobody wants to use their boat, they're not going to come here."
"It's a sad moment" according to Rybeck. He is unsure of how much longer he can afford to stay in business, because he is barely breaking even as it is.
"If we have nother bad pollution year, that may be the end... This is basically not a money-maker. And why be in business if you're not making money?"
Watch a video of our interview with Frank and learn more about how phosphorus pollution is affecting tourism in Wisconsin »
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Spring Confluence
is May 14
Join Us!
Each year, the River Alliance gathers river supporters from all over the state for it's annual Spring Confluence celebration. The "Confluence", as it's referred to, celebrates the previous year's victories in river protection and preservation. Please join us at the Madison Club to celebrate the accomplishments of this year's River Champions: -Fontana Sports- -Milwaukee River Greenway Coalition- -Kathleen Falk- Enjoy a short program along with heavy hors d'oeuvres and cash bar. Tickets are $35 per person. Register Today! » |
From The Rat: Bad water runs up- and downhill -- toward Illinois?  We've learned that here in Wisconsin, the governor wants to put more money into tourism promotion -- get more people to come here to go boating and skiing and fishing and stuff, the kind of things humans spend a pile of money on and do twice a year.
...given all this talk about water in Wisconsin going bad by going green, why not put that tourism promotion money into a billboard campaign? Read the Rat>> |
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