Have you ever dreamed of shopping for unique goods and services while helping to save Wisconsin's rivers, all from the comfort of your desktop computer or smart phone? Probably not, as that would be a very odd thing to dream. But if you have (and even if you haven't) you're in luck!   

The 5th annual River Alliance Online Auction is coming September 6-26, 2011! Bid on items from across the state like canoes, baseball tickets, fly fishing gear, jewelry and paddling trips! Proceeds from the auction support River Alliance's efforts to protect and preserve Wisconsin's rivers.

Are you a business owner? Donating an item or service to our online auction is a great way to promote your business to hundreds of potential customers while helping our rivers. Just click the Donate Items link on the auction homepage and contribute today.    

Toxic Algae Sickens People Across the State       

Wisconsin is in the grips of a lengthy heat wave, but waterways across the state are too dangerous for swimming.  On Tuesday of this week, the Department of Natural Resources has issued a warning about swimming, wading, skiing or coming in contact with waters with toxic blue-green algae blooms, with special concern for children and pets.  Complaints of rashes, stomach distress, respiratory irritation and sickening stench have been reported from residents on Tainter/Menomin lakes in Dunn County, Petenwell Flowage and Castlerock Flowage, Lake Winnebago, and others areas.

This is nothing new in Wisconsin, and has been especially prevalent in these lakes for the past several years.  But this year, repeated heavy rains have washed even more phosphorus into the water.  Coupled with long stretches of high temperatures, we have the perfect blue-green algae storm, and an excellent reminder of the importance of the state's recently approved rules for limiting how much phosphorus can enter waterways.  The new rules won't make the algae disappear overnight, but we don't have a hope for improvement unless the rules are allowed to work.   

Think Wisconsin families deserve better than dirty water that makes them sick? Contact your legislators today and tell them we need to maintain the phosphorus rules! 

Upgrade: River Alliance Local Groups' Directory V2.0       

We are thrilled to announce our new river group directory! For many years we have shared the list of all known river groups in Wisconsin on our website. Our hope is that our members and web visitors will check out the list to find the closest river group to their home or favorite river retreat.

However, the list had not been as user friendly or visually appealing as we would have liked. All of that has changed!

The directory uses an interactive map that many of you have seen before. (A big thanks to Lisa Helmuth at the DNR for creating and sharing the watershed map!)     

Folks can find river groups in our directory several ways:

• Watershed map
• Watershed directory
• Alphabetical search
• Keyword search