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March 31, 2008
FMR opposes exemptions for factory farms
Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers,
along with Midwest Environmental Advocates and Family Farm
Defenders have joined groups from 27 states in objecting a
proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency that would
exempt factory farms from reporting emissions of toxic gas
from animal waste. Under the proposal, large farm operations
would no longer need to report hazardous releases of toxic
gases which could harm people living near and working at
these facilities. These gases can cause respiratory
illness, lung inflammation, increased vulnerability to
asthma, and sudden exposure can be fatal.
Full press release from MEA [PDF]
March 31, 2008
Mulch Madness!
This spring, The Waterkeeper
Alliance is asking you to just say NO to cypress mulch. The
cypress mulch industry destroys wetlands that protect costal
Louisiana from hurricanes, absorbing excess water, and
controlling flood height and speed. Much of the cypress
mulch comes from illegal logging, and is not even effective
as mulch; with so much logging taking place, the industry
has moved toward felling newer trees which lack the desired
quality of being rot and termite resistant.
Mother Jones article
MTV video
March 31, 2008
The DNR is
looking for public input
The Natural Resources Board
Stewardship subcommittee and the Department of Natural
Resources will be hosting three public input sessions
regarding the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson
Stewardship Fund. The Stewardship reauthorization includes a
provision requiring lands purchased with Stewardship funds
to be open to five nature-based outdoor activities: hunting,
fishing, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing, and any
other nature-based outdoor activity as designated by the
DNR. The DNR will work with the public to identify criteria
to determine under what circumstances these five primary
activities may be restricted or prohibited, and to define
usership patterns.
The meetings will be held on the
following dates:
April 1st, 2008, 6pm: Waukesha State Office Building, Room
151,
141 NW Barstow St., Waukesha
April 3rd,
2008, 6pm: RCU Corporate Center, Eau Claire River Room,
200 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire
April 8th,
2008, 6pm: DNR Northeast Region Headquarters, Lake Michigan
Community Conference Room,
2984 Shawano Ave., Green Bay
More information [PDF]
March 31, 2008
 Go
Green, Live Rich,
and support Waterkeepers®
Bestselling author David Bach's
new book Go Green, Live Rich will be hitting shelves
on April 8th. David will show you ways to save and make
money by "going green". The best part? David will be
donating $1 to Waterkeeper Alliance for every book purchased
between April 1-11th at
www.greengreen.com! Plus, for the first 10,000 books
purchased, a tree will be planted by Gaiam, Inc. to fight
climate change. Make a difference to the planet and your
wallet!
March 31, 2008
River Alliance
Spring Confluence Saturday
April 5th, 2008,
7-9:30pm: UW-Madison Arboretum Visitor Center.
1207 Seminole Highway, Madison
Join the River Alliance to
celebrate their 15th anniversary this Saturday! Enjoy great
hors d'oeuvres, reunite with friends, and honor this year's
River Champions. $25 per person. Call 608-257-2424 or email
wisrivers@wisconsinrivers.org for reservations.
March 31, 2008
Wiser about Water
The Water Wise in Wisconsin
Conference took place on March 15th, and FMR staff member
Demaris Kenwood was on hand. "I wish I could have cloned
myself to hear the concurrent speakers at the conference"
she said. You can read her full account of the conference
here.
March 31, 2008
CAFO Conference
this Saturday
April 5th, 2008,
9:30am-4:30pm:
Madison Marriott West Hotel, Middleton
Join Midwest Environmental
Advocates, FightingBob.com, and Garvey McNeil & McGillivray,
S.C. this Saturday for a conference on Concentrated Animal
Feeding Operations with keynote speaker, former Texas
Agriculture Commisioner, Jim Hightower. Listen to the expert
panel discussion, and learn how you can protect your
community from new CAFO's while supporting sustainable
agriculture. Visit
MEA's website to register.
CAFO Conference announcement [PDF]
CAFO Conference invite [PDF]
CAFO Conference schedule [PDF]
March 19, 2008
For Wauwatosa
residents, there's money in rain gardens!
March 27th, 2008: Wauwatosa Public Library,
7635 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa
Wauwatosa has received two
grants for a rain garden program and will be reimbursing
residents who install functional rain gardens meeting minimum
requirements up to $800. An informational meeting will be
held March 27th, from 7:30-8:45pm in the Wauwatosa Public
Library Firefly Room, and will detail the benefits of rain
gardens and how to install one yourself.
More information on the Wauwatosa Rain Garden Program
March 18, 2008
Sign up for the Water Advocacy Institute for Seniors
August 12-14, 2008,
Milwaukee, WI
Learn about the Great Lakes
Compact, invasive species, water conservation, water and
sewage treatment, and other hot topics in water quality.
Find out how you can be a water advocate! For adults age 55
and older. Cost is $95 for three days of tours, speakers,
and lunches. Scholarships available.
For more information, contact
Demaris Kenwood at 414-287-0207x35.
March 6, 2008
Rep. Wasserman to visit the Milwaukee Environmental
Consortium
 Friday, March 7th at 1pm,
Rep. Wasserman will be visiting the Milwaukee Environmental
Consortium to discuss the Great Lakes Compact and the other
conservation priorities laid-out at Conservation Lobby Day.
Mr. Wasserman's constituents and interested individuals are welcome to join
in the discussion at 1845 N. Farwell Ave., Ste. 100.
More information on Rep. Wasserman
More information on the Compact
March 6, 2008
FMR reacts to
proposed changes to water temperature standards
Last Thursday, Friends of
Milwaukee's Rivers along with several other environmental
groups, sent comments to the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources on their proposed changes to thermal water quality
standards. Nearly 30 years ago the DNR set protective
standards against high temperature discharges under the
Clean Water Act, but the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned
portions of the standards and the DNR stopped regulating
heated discharges. This proposal would help to ensure that
fish and aquatic wildlife would be protected from the
adverse effects of heated discharges.
FMR supports the proposal with a
few changes, including additional protection for fish during
their most vulnerable reproductive and growth stages, higher
protections for sport fish, and a cap on the maximum
temperature of wastewater that would consider maximum
tolerable spawning temperatures for all species during every
season.
Original comments sent to the DNR [PDF]
Press release issued by Midwest Environmental Advocates
[PDF]
Appendices to comments
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