With the political dust settling somewhat after the historic recall elections -elections in which the cheapening of environmental protection was hardly mentioned - a few things are becoming quite clear.

Making the case to lawmakers for conserving and protecting water and other natural resources will remain an exercise akin to Galileo explaining astronomy to the Pope.  

Choose Your Own Legislation
Industries and "I-me-mine" individuals will be emboldened to continue squeezing the Dept. of Natural Resources for favors and to look the other way. Both entities will busy themselves writing their own legislation, and lawmakers will continue to peddle the false argument that environmental protection kills jobs.

Fund for Change
We have to remain vigilant. The River Alliance Board of Directors decided a year ago that extra vigilance would require more funding, so they said, "Let's go raise it."

They established the River Action Fund, intended for action, advocacy, litigation and paid media by the River Alliance.  

By "action and advocacy," we mean helping river lovers and water advocates all across Wisconsin get engaged in the political and policy decisions, from their county board to their state representatives, that determine whether a polluter gets off the hook or a stretch of downtown riverfront is beautified.  

Since autumn 2011, thanks to the generosity of many dedicated river supporters, we have secured nearly $215,000 in pledges towards our ultimate goal of $250,000 for the Fund. We are in the home stretch, and now it's time to cast the net wide to reach our goal.  

Already Making a Difference
The Board has funded two projects with the River Action Fund:

• Support the emerging voices for water conservation in the Central Sands, under the auspices of the Central Sands Water Action Coalition. We feel it is time for some balance to the one-tune choir in that region singing "Water is only for agriculture."
• Support the Pleasant Lake Management District's (Adams County) lawsuit against the Dept. of Natural Resources and its giving permission to Richfield Dairy (7,500 cows) to pump up to 130 million gallons of water per year and claiming it will have minimal impact on surface waters (like Pleasant Lake).

The River Alliance also offers small grants to local groups from its "Dale Druckrey Action Fund," founded in honor of the late conservationist Dale Druckrey, whose bequest to the River Alliance made this grant program and the River Action Fund possible.

For more information about either the Druckrey grants or the River Action Fund, contact River Alliance executive Director Denny Caneff dcaneff@wisconsinrivers.org