• The Mecan River flowing through the heart of Wisconsin’s central sands region is considered by many to be one of the upper Midwest’s outstanding trout resources.  It has the rare distinction of providing quality habitat for natural reproduction of brook, brown and rainbow trout.  A local Trout Unlimited member calls the area  "the Sand Country at its best," and Aldo Leopold would likely have agreed.
• The Mecan River itself is just 17 miles long, but the 200 square mile watershed has 50 miles of high quality trout habitat along the river and its tributaries.
• The large complex of springs situated at the Mecan’s headwaters is a migration stop for Canada geese and other waterfowl.  Wetlands and fens associated with the river and springs provide habitat for many rare and endangered species, most notably the threatened Karner Blue Butterfly.
• The national Ice Age Trail follows the uplands on the west side of the watershed and overlooks the Mecan Springs.
• The people who enjoy living, fishing, canoeing, or playing along the Mecan know that it is an extremely special place.  The State of Wisconsin must agree since it has invested over $2,000,000 to establish the Mecan Fishery Area and the Mecan Springs State Natural Area.
• The people of the state of Wisconsin have too much invested in this fragile area.  Its ecological uniqueness and integrity of this special area must be preserved.

The Potential Threat from Perrier’s operation is the same whether the wells on are public or private land.…

• While Perrier made the right decision to withdraw their proposal to drill wells in the Mecan Springs State Natural Area, the threat has not disappeared.
• They are still exploring sites on private property at the headwaters of Wedde and Schmudlach Creeks, two important tributaries to the Mecan.
• Moving the high capacity wells onto private property does nothing to change the potential threat to the aquifer, springs, streams, wetlands, plants and animals that need those areas to survive.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources should require an Environmental Impact Statement before issuing a permit….

• The Mecan River watershed is too precious and fragile to willingly expose it to any avoidable threat.
• The State of Wisconsin should require an Environmental Impact Statement, the highest level of scrutiny available, before issuing any permit.
• Perrier should pay for the cost of the Statement.  Taxpayers should not pay the bill for a study to determine if a company can profit from our water.
• If a permit is issued it should contain ironclad conditions that will ensure the absolute integrity of the resources, especially during critical times of environmental stress such as droughts.
• Today, no one, including Perrier, knows if their proposed plant will have an adverse impact on the Mecan and its tributaries.  The burden of proof should be theirs, the Mecan River belongs to all of us.  It’s OUR water!

How You Can Get Involved
 

• Write or E-mail DNR Secretary George Meyer and Governor Tommy Thompson.  Tell them to require a full Environmental Impact Statement for the Perrier project.

• Send e-mail to Governor Thompson.  (Please include your name, address and phone number in your message when sending e-mail to the governor.)  Or mail the governor at:  Hon. Tommy Thompson, Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 7863, Madison, WI 53707-7863.

• Send e-mail to Secretary Meyer at meyerg@dnr.state.wi.us. (Please include your name, address and phone number in your message when sending e-mail to Secretary Meyer.)   Or mail Sec. Meyer at:  George Meyer, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 101 S. Webster Street, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.