Protecting Wisconsin's Water

The Coulee Region, and Wisconsin in general, is undergoing a water crisis.  Both water quality and water quantity are being threatened from many sources.  The Mississippi River and its tributaries are being degraded.

Here are links to Wisconsin Chapter documents on the water issues in Wisconsin:

• Water Quality and Health Impacts in Wisconsin  Check out the blog here
• Water for All, Now and Into the Future: Water Quantity in Wisconsin  Check out the blog here
• Lead Contamination in Wisconsin  Check out the blog here
• CAFOs: A Threat to Water in Wisconsin  Check out the blog here
• Electric Power Plants, Oil, and Natural Gas Threats to Water Quality Check out the blog here

The Coulee Group recommends the following actions to start getting this crisis under control:

• Enforce existing laws and regulations
• Proper manure storage and management to mitigate health risks from contamination
• Support Stronger Waste Spreading Rules, especially in Karst areas
• Restore Local Control for Livestock Facility Siting Decisions, and consider environmental concerns when making those decisions
• Increase sewage and septic system monitoring, maintenance and replacement
• Ensure water fairness by taking into account multiple uses and cumulative impacts of water withdrawals from both surface and groundwater resources
• Oppose High Capacity Well Deregulation that threatens Groundwater
• Make special efforts to safeguard drinking water