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Runoff Management, 2006 Water Quality
Report to Congress

Bellevue Streambank Restoration, Courtesy of WDNR Runoff Management Program







Control of polluted runoff continues to be one of the most important challenges in the state's effort to protect the quality of Wisconsin's water resources. Urban and rural land use activities are the source of runoff pollutants entering Wisconsin's lakes, streams, wetlands and groundwater. Common pollutants in runoff include the following:
  • Sediment from construction sites, croplands, and other urban and rural sources,
  • Nutrients and pesticides from both urban and rural sources,
  • Oil, grease, heavy metals, and other toxic materials from impervious surfaces such as streets, highways, roof and parking lots, and
  • Farm animal wastes from barnyards and pet wastes from urban areas.
The effects of polluted runoff can be seen in degraded fish habitat, fish kills, nutrient-loaded waters causing heavy weed growth, degradation of drinking water supplies, siltation of harbors and streams, diminished recreational uses, and changes in the natural hydrology of streams, rivers, and lakes.

To address these pollutant problems, water quality managers encourage landowners and municipalities to implement and install "best-management practices" (BMPs) in rural and urban areas. BMPs, such as buffer strips, nutrient management, manure storage facilities, or detention ponds, help to prevent movement of pollutants to surface water and groundwater.

The state's efforts to restore water resources affected by polluted runoff center around Wisconsin's runoff management program. The program is embodied in 9 administrative rules promulgated in October 2002 to address urban and rural runoff pollution problems statewide; eight are administered by the WDNR and one is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

Three primary components of the WDNR's runoff management program include the implementation of the three runoff management grant programs, point source permitting of storm water and agricultural runoff sources, and implementation of state regulatory performance standards.

Wisconsin has been recognized as a leading state in the effort to control polluted runoff. The runoff management program is a joint effort of the WDNR, the DATCP, county Land Conservation Departments (LCDs), and municipalities, with assistance from a variety of federal, state, and local agencies, particularly the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Last Revised: Wednesday August 02 2006