Wisconsin's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan (CWCP)

Regional briefings January 18 in Milwaukee. 

Attempting a piecemeal approach to conserving our nation's wildlife is a little like building your house without an architectural blueprint or enough materials. You do the best you can but, down the road, end up spending more money just to fix the problems. Until now, state fish and wildlife agencies have tried to conserve hundreds of species of fish and wildlife on shoestring budgets. While wildlife conservation has mostly been funded by the sales of hunting and fishing licenses, user fees on gear, and donations; the rest of our nation's wildlife has lacked secure and adequate funding for long-term conservation. The result? An endangered species list that already tops 1,000 and continues to grow.

Action is needed now. Participating in the development of Wisconsin's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan (CWCP) is your opportunity to act. Wisconsin's CWCP has the potential to transform wildlife conservation efforts for all species from opportunistic to strategic, piecemeal to holistic, and crisis-driven to proactive.

If you would like further information on the CWCP and its relationship to State Wildlife Grants, you can visit the DNR website at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/cwcp/

Regional briefings January 18 in Milwaukee.
1:00 – 3:30 pm OR 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Havenwoods Environmental Awareness Center
6141 N. Hopkins St., Milwaukee, WI 53209
For more information about the briefings
Download  the DNR Flyer (PDF)

February DNR Grants Deadline
February 1

Need money for a lake management project? Applications for state lake planning grants for Qualified* lake groups are due February 1.

Under the Planning Grant Program, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides funding to local governments and lake management organizations for the collection and analysis of information needed to manage lakes.

To find out what it takes to become a "qualified" lake organization, refer to this Web site. Click on 'Qualified Lake Associations,' and then click on 'What is a Qualified Lake Association?

Grants available include:

Large-scale lake planning grants. Deadlines: August 1 and February 1 each year Eligible activities: water quality/nutrient budgets, aquatic life and habitat assessments, lake and land use plans, ordinance evaluation/development, lake resident/user opinion surveys.

New Aquatic Invasive Species Control Grants Deadlines are February 1 and August 1 for education, prevention\planning projects and for established infestation control projects. Early detection, rapid response projects may be submitted at any time; awards are funded in order of approval.

For more information see the website:
DNR Lake Planning Grants - Wisconsin Lakes Partnership

Conservation Partnership Initiative Grants Available

Application deadline is February 17, 2005

The Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced that applications for Conservation Partnership Initiative (CPI) grants are now being accepted.  This voluntary program was established to focus technical and financial resources on conservation priorities.  Nationally, $1 million is available for grants in 2005.

Through CPI, any State or local government agency, Indian tribe, or non-governmental organization that has a history of working with farmers may apply for funding for their conservation initiatives.

"These grants encourage partnerships to devise watershed-wide solutions to pressing natural resource priorities associated with agriculture and rural settings," said Pat Leavenworth, NRCS State Conservationist for Wisconsin.

CPI is carried out through two phases. This year, applications will be selected for project planning.  In the second phase, projects will be implemented through funds secured from a range of sources, including other agencies, NGOs and NRCS.

For more information, including the Request for Proposals, fact sheet, and 2005 application materials, see http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cpi/ 

Application deadline is February 17, 2005,  at the Wisconsin NRCS State Office, 8030 Excelsior Drive, Madison WI 53717, or fax to 608-662-4430.  Contact:  Don Baloun, Asst. State Conservationist - Programs for more information.

FishAmerica Announces: $600,000 Available for Marine and Anadromous Fish Habitat Restoration

Grant Application Deadline February 25, 2005

Visit FishAmerica's web site at http://www.fishamerica.org for the complete announcement, funding guidelines and application.

Also See article in GLED

Public listening session January 27, Madison
Deadline for written comments, March 21

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking comments from Wisconsin landowners and organizations on its flagship conservation costshare program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Pat Leavenworth, State Conservationist for NRCS in Wisconsin, is launching a comment period to allow public input on EQIP through March 21, 2005.

Public listening sessions will be held in each State in cooperation with the State Technical Committee. NRCS is looking for a wide array of public and stakeholder input from these sessions. Feedback from agricultural organizations, environmental groups, commodity organizations, agencies, individuals and others is encouraged. NRCS is also conducting special outreach efforts to ensure that traditionally underserved groups are informed and represented.

Comments can be made on the web at: http://www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/eqipcomments.html

For more information See the NRCS announcement

MEA challenges Maple Leaf Dairy expansion

From Midwest Environmental Advocates Jan 2005 Advocacy Update

On December 8, 2004 Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA) and the grassroots group Centerville CARES, filed a lawsuit challenging the Department of Natural Resources' finding that the expansion of Maple Leaf Dairy to up to 9,000 cattle near the shoreland of Lake Michigan will have no significant environmental impacts.  The DNR has refused to fully evaluate the air and water quality impacts of the expansion plans.

To read a Green Bay Press Gazette article on the lawsuit, click here.

MEA also joined members of Centerville CARES at a public hearing on December 16, 2004, on the re-issuance of a permit for Maple Leaf Dairy at its current size.  Members of the group testified to abnormally high E. coli levels in the waterways directly downstream of Maple Leaf Dairy and questioned Maple Leaf Dairy's manure management.

To read a Manitowoc Herald Times article on the hearing, click here.

Read the Jan 2005 MEA Advocacy Update

Advocating for a Fair Budget

From Midwest Environmental Advocates Jan 2005 Advocacy Update

Midwest Environmental Advocates called on the State Legislature to pass a budget for the Department of Natural Resources that requires corporate polluters to pay their fair share of a $20 million budget gap.  While the current proposed budget decreases funding for programs such as wildlife protection and water pollution enforcement, and increases fees for Wisconsin residents to hunt, fish and visit public parks, it does not ask for any increases in fees from polluters for the Title V clean air program.Without an increase in Title V fees, the DNR will not have the resources to effectively administer the program, resulting in the largest sources of air pollution operating without adequate permits and enforcement.  MEA is also calling for the elimination of the existing cap on fees for emissions over 5,000 tons.  With this cap, the largest polluters are given a substantial discount, as they pay nothing for every ton emitted over 5,000 tons.To read MEA's opinion editorial on the DNR budget, click here.

Read the Jan 2005 MEA Advocacy Update

Save money while reducing your energy consumption with Community Car

Community Car is a member-based carsharing service in Madison that provides cars by the hour for individuals and organzations. Members share access to a fleet of high gas-mileage and hybrid-electric vehicles located in reserved parking spots throughout the cities.

Just like it sounds, carsharing is a member-based, “time-share” car service. Members use vehicles when they want to, and pay for the service based on how much they drive. Carsharing provides a way to reduce the number of cars in an urban area and supports a practical shift towards sustainable mobility and away from automobile dependency. Carsharing began in Switzerland in the mid-1980’s and came to the United States in 1998 in Portland, OR. In the U.S. today there are more than 20,000 members of 19 carsharing organizations sharing over 700 cars on the east and west coasts.

For more information see Community Car

Open to the business community, these tours showcase energy efficiency, sustainability and collaborative efforts to plan, design and build a high performance building.

See Advanced Buildings
High Performance Building Tours

2005 Clean Boats, Clean Waters Trainings

With the growing concern over the spread of aquatic invasive species to Wisconsin’s inland lakes, many lake association members and other concerned citizens are looking for ways to get involved.  The Clean Boats, Clean Waters volunteer watercraft inspection program is an opportunity to take a front line defense against the spread of aquatic invasive species. Through the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, volunteers are trained to organize and conduct a boater education program in their community. Adults and youth teams educate boaters on how and where invasive species are most likely to hitch a ride into water bodies. Volunteers perform boat and trailer checks for invasive species, distribute informational brochures and collect and report any new water body infestations.

For more information contact:
Laura Felda-Marquardt
Clean Boats, Clean Waters Program Coordinator
Wisconsin Invasive Species Program
Ph: 715-365-2659 (Rhinelander)
Ph: 715-346-3366 (Stevens Point)
laura.felda@dnr.state.wi.us 

See the website:
Clean Boats, Clean Waters

Global warming early warning signs

See an online map of the impact of global warming in North America at
http://www.climatehotmap.org/namerica.html 

Position Available: Community Organizer

Deadline for application: February 4

Clean Water Action seeks a motivated individual to work as a full-time community organizer to work out of our new LaCrosse Wisconsin office. The organizer will work with local residents and CWA members in southwest Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota to build power and win victories on key environmental issues in the region, focusing on water quality, clean energy and sustainable agriculture practices.

For more information contact: