Reining in polluted runoff -- Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine -- June 2003

June 2003

Reining in polluted runoff

Wisconsin moves from the law to the land.

Contents
Reining in polluted runoff Hundreds of hours, thousands of words Wisconsin's runoff rules at a glance About those runoff rules Putting money behind policy Keeping nutrients down on the farm Rural lessons come to town Making a right turn Terms and resources Evolution of controlling polluted runoff – a timeline Credits

Credits

Readers of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine:

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about what Wisconsin is doing and what we will be asking you to do to curb polluted runoff. In these pages, you have learned about an important piece of Wisconsin environmental legislation. You have learned about the process, the rules themselves, and where we are headed with implementation.

We'll continue to reduce pollution from industries and municipal waste treatment, but to make headway, these rules focus on the biggest remaining threat to Wisconsin lakes and rivers – polluted runoff from farms, cities, construction sites and roads.

New restrictions on polluted runoff went into effect in October 2002, and these actions to curb such pollution are the most comprehensive in the nation. The rules were developed with the help of numerous advisory groups and through an extensive public participation process that included 34 public hearings in 17 locations around the state. The final rules reflect more than 4,000 verbal and written comments. Meaningful changes in how Wisconsin communities develop can only happen when local concerns are heard and built into the process, and when we look not only at a water body, but at the entire area that drains into it.

Our hope is that these rules will go farther to protect and enhance the quality of our streams, lakes and wetlands. We can do this by improving our lawn care and household waste management, reducing soil erosion during construction, creating more pedestrian friendly neighborhoods, providing open space for recreation, and protecting forests, wetlands and other wildlife habitats.

Our aim is to move ahead to ensure that even more of our lakes, rivers and coastal waters are safe for drinking, fishing, swimming and wildlife. These rules make Wisconsin a front runner in tackling a major threat to water quality. The requirements will be phased in over time. And it will take time for us to gauge the results.

The rules are a step in the right direction. Please join us in keeping Wisconsin ahead of the game.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,

DNR Secretary Scott Hassett

Credits

Produced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

FUNDED IN PART BY THE WISCONSIN COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. Financial assistance for this project was provided by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration pursuant to Grant #NA17OZ2357 and the WISCONSIN COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

THE WISCONSIN COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, part of the Wisconsin Department of Administration, and overseen by the WISCONSIN COASTAL MANAGEMENT COUNCIL, was established in 1978 to preserve, protect and manage the resources of the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior coastline for this and future generations.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior, Washington D.C. 20240.

Publ-CE-4007-2003