AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN

APRIL 27, 2019

WISCONSIN WATERS – PROTECTING AND

ADVOCATING

Mary Knipper

LET’S TALK WATER

▪ HISTORY OF NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION IN WISCONSIN

▪ MAKING WATER PROTECTION LAW

▪ WHO ARE THE PLAYERS

▪ WHAT ARE THE CURRENT ISSUES

▪ WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN PROTECTING OUR WATERS

The Resolution adopted by the AAUW at the 2017 state

convention couldn’t be more timely and relevant. Challenges

throughout the country involve both water quality and water

quantity….access and supply add to those challenges, and

threats to our water supplies, groundwater, lakes, rivers and

streams are growing.

PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE

The doctrine is included in the Wisconsin Constitution at its adoption in 1848,

but its origin goes back to Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

The river Mississippi and the navigable waters leading into the Mississippi and St.

Lawrence and the carrying places between the same, shall be common highways and

forever free, as well to the inhabitants of the state as to the citizens of the United

States without any tax, input, or duty therefore. (Wis. Const. Art. IX §1)

What does this mean?

• Makes state of Wisconsin the trustee of all waters of the state

• State acts through its branches and all 3 have a role

• Legislature has primary authority to administer the trust

• Legislature can delegate certain trust responsibilities

• 1965 legislature delegated primary authority to WDNR – protect, maintain,

improve water quality

• Courts have also played an important role

What role do we play?

• Other necessary party in the trust is the beneficiary

• Public has the right to enforce the duties of the trustee

• Challenges to legislative, judicial, or administrative activities

• As beneficiaries, public tends to play a more passive role

Making Water Protection Law

3 branches: Executive, Judicial, Legislative

*WI Assembly – even years 99 are elected for 2 year terms

*WI Senate – 33 Senate seats each representing 3 Assembly Districts

• www.legis.state.wi.us

• www.wiseye.org

• www.thewheelerreport.com

LAKE PROTECTION HISTORY

• 1895 – first incorporated Lake Association formed

• 1910 – compiled and documented limnology studies in Vilas and Oneida counties

• 1914 – first Supreme Court case around navigable water and Public Trust Doctrine

• 1930 – first confirmed ID of Exotic Eurasian Water Milfoil

• 1941 – average boat horsepower: 3.5

• 1959- Wisconsin Federation of Lakes formed

• 1974 - Wisconsin Statute, Chapter 33 to form and operate Lake Management Districts

• 1978 – first annual Wisconsin Lakes Convention in Stevens Point

• 1990 – Average price/foot of lake frontage in Vilas County…..$250.00

• 1992 – WALD and WFL merged to form Wisconsin Association of Lakes

• 2018 – >230 LMD and > 600 Lakes Associations across 72 counties

WISCONSIN LAKES PARTNERSHIP

People caring for the legacy of Wisconsin lakes through science, education and citizen

involvement.

WDNR: provides technical, financial, regulatory authority

UW-EXT Lakes: designs and delivers educational materials and community outreach

Wisconsin Lakes: advocates for local lake people and organizations at the state level

Lakes Partnership activities include:

*lake science and research

*citizen volunteer lake monitoring

*leadership development

*native aquatic plant protection

*invasive species prevention, education and

management

*access to regional professionals

*assist with local and state workshops,

conferences and conventions

*policy updates and advocacy training

*pollution prevention

*water recreation planning

*land and water regulation

*stable funding for lake water programs

statewide

*coalition building and organizational

development

*classifying lakes for protection and

restoration

LAKE LEADERS INSTITUTE

*funded and initiated through the Lakes Partnership via UW-EXT Lakes in 1998

and led by a “Dream Team” of scientists, biologists, professors, authors,

regulators,

*30 volunteers and professionals are chosen to participate in the 12 month

program in even years

*meet for 2 days 3 times a that year: May, September and October

Seminar I: Society and the Environment

Seminar II: Aquatic Ecology and Watershed Management

Seminar III: Organizations, People, Politics

October is followed by Graduation at the Aldo Leopold shack in Baraboo -

AWESOME!

Wisconsin Environmental/Conservation

Wisconsin Lakes

Clean Wisconsin

River Alliance of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Wildlife Federation

Gathering Waters

Nature Conservancy – Wisconsin Chapter

Sierra Club

Wisconsin Conservation Voters

Wisconsin Wetlands

Natural Resources Foundation

Challenges and Issues in 2019

*Invasive Species: aquatic and terrestrial; statewide and growing; new in type

and distribution; eradication and control requiring innovative approaches and

solutions

*Shore land Development: increased density of development; water quality

impacts; conflicts in recreational use; creative technology and outreach tools

being developed; community education and collaborations are needed

*Polluted Runoff: agriculture; residential uses and activities; sewerage;

*Habitat Degradation: impacts on wildlife; fishing imbalances and aquatic

ecology alterations;

*Mining: science and data should drive non polluting mining development

*Legislative: threats to science-based regulations

YEAR of CLEAN DRINKING WATER

Several Wisconsin communities are currently not able to access clean drinking water

and concern is growing that more communities will be facing similar emergencies.

Majority of WI public water systems rely on groundwater pumped from wells….56

systems use surface water from WI lakes, with these sources located in major urban

locations

Groundwater systems serve 2,361,239 Surface water systems serve 1,869,050

CALL TO ACTION

• Current budget for 2019 – 2021 contains new funding for water

• $1.5 more for lakes and rivers protection

• Increase in Surface Water Grants

• New bureau adds 5 scientists in support of Clean Water research

• Increase in County Conservationist budget of $1.4M from previous

• $4M non point cost share

• Proposed Motor Boat Tax increase by 8 cents

Putting Wisconsin’s Water First

Recent Wisconsin Lakes convention featured a panel discussion on water issues,

led by Todd Ambs, WDNR Assistant Deputy Secretary and Katrina Shankland,

71st Assembly District.

Katrina has been selected to serve on the new Taskforce For Water Quality, a

bipartisan initiative to address statewide water issues.

*Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism are top drivers across the state, and there is

grassroots swell to add Water to that ranking.

*Addressing water quality is an opportunity for political unity

*Science must drive the foundation for achieving solutions

WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN WATER QUALITY?

Tell Your Story

Show Up

Be An Educated Advocate

Know the Issues

Use Every Communication Tool Available

Resources

*Conservation organizations websites

*Wisconsin Lakes Partnership websites: Science, Regulations, Advocacy,

Outreach

*2017 Annual Drinking Water Report: dnr.wi.gov/drinking water

*Lakes In Action: Wisconsin Lakes regional workshops and Policy blog

*Water Lobby Day May 15, 2019 at the capital

*Assembly and Senate representatives: legis.state.wi.us

*How a Bill Becomes Law: published by the Assembly Chief Clerk