Some officials within DATCP have plans to gut the LWCD's efforts to protect our waters. The article below explains. If this remains in the 09 state budget, our northwestern lakes and streams will suffer. Please pass this op-ed on so many readers learn that they should contact their legislators.
Below: A letter to to DNR Secretary Matt Frank regarding two issues important to northwest Wisconsin lakes.
Keep the W in
In spite of this good work, there is a Department of
Agriculture plot to remove the word ‘water’ from our Land and Water
Conservation Departments across the state, thus placing two thirds of
Wisconsin’s 15,000 lakes and thousands of miles of streams at risk. If
certain DATCAP (Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection)
officials have their way, there will be little conservation work done for our
waters up north. These officials are also leery of oversight and now working to
dismantle the citizen board of conservationists that helps guide our state LWCD
program and assure DATCP’s accountability. They claim this will save money but
the savings will be minimal, perhaps no more than $12,000. The real reason
behind this is that they want more control and fewer eyes. The result will be a
strong emphasis on Ag and, perhaps most disturbing, the loss of many key water
resource jobs plus the loss of important protection of our lakes, streams,
groundwater, wetlands and shorelands across the state.
Among other work, our northern counties’ Land and Water
Conservation Departments provide the shoreland mitigation plans and storm
water management plans for our lakes and streams. County
LWCDs have also taken on much of the
on-site inspections of lakeshore development projects that the DNR can no
longer afford to do because of their own budget cuts.
If we hope to keep ahead of the damage done by the rapid
development of the northern lakes and streams, we must: 1. Restore the
funds that were removed from the LWCD staffing grant; 2. Retain the Land and
Water Citizen Conservationists Board; 3. Follow the well-written Chapter 92.14
in future allocations; and 4. Promote locally lead, participatory conservation
wherever possible.
If you’ve enjoyed experiencing
Jim
Brakken
Bayfield County
Lakes Forum President
Northwest Wisconsin Waters Consortium Vice President
Wisconsin
Association of Lakes Director Emeritus
The following is a recent letter sent by Northwest Waters VP, Jim Brakken, to DNR Secretary Matt Frank regarding two issues important to northwest Wisconsin lakes.
Dear Secretary Frank,
I enjoyed our brief discussion of lake issues at the Wisconsin Conservation Congress Convention May 8th. I think it’s great that you attended, giving folks the opportunity to speak with you in this casual setting.
I mentioned in our conversation two issues that we feel are very important for
our lakes. One was that many in our northern counties who have worked very hard
to achieve strong shoreland zoning regs are not particularly pleased with the present
version of NR 115. It has been watered down to satisfy the already developed
lakes in the south. If it passes as now proposed, we know that developers in the
north will use it to argue against the stronger county language. Eventually
they will win out through persistence, changes in county boards, etc. As
shoreland values rise, as they always have and will, the effort to erode our
On the other hand, it is clear that a strong NR 115 would
not fit well in the south. It would make many lake homes non-conforming. I
doubt that legislators want this. The answer may be simple: Divide the
state, just as we do for grouse hunting, duck season, some fishing seasons and
other issues. Two-thirds of our 15,000 lakes are north of Highway 8. Many are already
developed. Some are over-developed but there are still many small lakes that
have not yet been developed. Although some call them the jewels of
The second issue was my concern that, although Governor Doyle’s recent infusion of $2M into the AIS control program is much appreciated, we still see too few grant dollars for the landings. It is at the landing where we will intercept the invasives. (You've heard the story about my wife catching the same boater with EWM on his boat . . . twice!) Each dollar spent on our CBCW landing monitor effort will save many, many more because, as you know, treatment of a contaminated lake is far more costly than prevention. I have watched our local landing when our CBCW monitor is both on and off duty. When on, boaters carefully clean their equipment prior to launching. When off, they don’t. We need to have our landings monitored and the lack of grant funding prevents that. If there is any way to shift funds into the ‘boots on the ground’ part of this effort, it should be done. Also, the programs not funded by grant aps that didn't make the cut this spring represent ‘shovel-ready’ projects that will put college kids, retired folks and others to work. If any stimulus dollars come floating downstream, this would be a good investment.
I’ve enclosed my latest Bayfield County Lakes Forum newsletter. It may offer some insight to the effort being made by volunteers in the northwest. I invite you to attend the 11th annual Northwest Lakes Conference, June 19th if your schedule allows. We expect about 250 lake leaders, agency folks, NPOs and volunteers will be there. Please be our guest!
Finally, I am among many in the northwest who feel you are doing an exceptionally fine job, especially in light of the problems we face with our economy. Keep up the great work for our woods and waters and those who enjoy them both now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Jim Brakken,
Northwest Waters Consortium VP
Town of
Wisconsin Conservation Congress Delegate representing
