Momentum for Willow Flowage ORW Classification Grows
The Oneida County Board of Supervisors voted
unanimously on
August 20th to support a resolution naming the Willow Flowage an
Outstanding Resource Water (ORW). Although the County’s vote is
non-binding, it sends a strong message to the Natural Resource Board
that local residents have closed ranks behind the flowage to see to it that
it
receives the highest possible protection.
In June, the Joint Finance Committee also
voted unanimously to
give the Willow Flowage and three other flowages in Wisconsin ORW status.
In order for the Willow Flowage to receive ORW status, the Natural
Resources Board must approve it and the Legislative Joint Finance
Committee must make it part of Wisconsin’s budget bill. In August,
the
Natural Resources Board voted s monthly Board to direct the DNR
to begin
public ORW hearings for the Willow and three other flowages.
In 1987, Wisconsin's ORW policy was initiated
when a federal
judge ordered the state to comply with the revised federal Clean Water
Act which instructed states to protect their most outstanding water-
bodies from point-source pollution. DNR staff twice ranked the Willow
Flowage as an ORW according to a diverse set of 16 criteria.
Unfortunately, the Willow Flowage had failed to receive ORW
classification because of pressure from the mining industry. ORW status
would give the Willow Flowage maximum protection in that any wastewater
entering the flowage from a point source as an effluent pipe would
have
to be as clean as the background water quality.
Located in western Oneida County, the 6000
acre Willow Flowage is
the largest remaining undeveloped body of water in the state. It wild
shoreline, clean water and adjoining wetlands are home to many species
of
wildlife, especially wolves, eagles ospreys, waterfowl and loons.
ECCOLA has for years called for ORW designation
of the Willow
Flowage. ECCOLA spelled ORW on the Willow Flowage with canoes
for aerial
photos, hosted a public forum on the ORW issue and wrote numerous
letters to-the-editor in northern Wisconsin newspapers. In voting for
the
ORW resolution, Oneida County Supervisor’s mentioned that the DNR had
received more letters supporting ORW designation for the Willow
Flowage
than it had for all other ORW designations in the state combined.
