Move to Halt Manure Flow into Black Earth Creek Announced:
Notice of Intent to Take Action Under the
Federal Clean Water Act is Filed


The following are the remarks of Sara Johnson, the Executive Director of the River Alliance of Wisconsin.  They were made at a February 19, 1998 news conference.
 

Black Earth Creek is a rare gem. It is a spring creek; of Wisconsin’s 40,000 miles of rivers and streams, only 1,000 miles are spring creeks. It has been called "one of the nation’s 100 best trout streams." With 1,600 trout  per mile, it is one of the most productive wild brown trout streams in the Midwest. It is a Priority Watershed Project and state-designated Outstanding Resource Water.

Black Earth Creek got to be a gem -- a "gold-medal" trout stream -- because of lot of people, including farmers, trout fishers and local citizens, cared about it and invested in it. Beginning 50 years ago, Black Earth Creek was the site of the state’s first stream habitat improvement project. Over the years state investments have included land acquisition, mill dam removal, water pollution control and soil conservation. Over $2-million of state and local government dollars are invested in it. So are thousands of citizen dollars and thousands of hours of "sweat equity" from farmers and conservationists.

Today Black Earth Creek is in peril. Black Earth Creek is in danger of losing its "gold medal". And the agencies responsible for its well-being -- the DNR and EPA -- are not doing enough to protect it. Cow manure running into the creek at one critical site could spell disaster for Black Earth Creek.

Cows and "gold-medal" trout streams can co-exist -- when appropriate farming practices are in place. The Wagner dairy operations have a history of manure management problems. The River Alliance is calling on the DNR and EPA in the next 60 days to take the steps necessary to protect this rare and precious resource, and to protect this huge public investment.

I have hiked the stream in my waders and seen the damage to the Creek myself from this site.  If large amounts of manure continue to flow unchecked into Black Earth Creek, the spring rains could spell disaster for the Black Earth Creek. 

The River Alliance of Wisconsin is a statewide nonprofit citizen advocacy organization for rivers.   With a membership of 600+ individuals and organizations, it is one of the largest of statewide river groups formed in recent years.