Madison, WI:   Conservation and citizens groups have announced the kick-off of W3.  Wisconsin Wetlands Watch, W3, encourages sportsmen and women and other outdoor advocates to report suspicious wetland fill activities and document the loss of wetlands throughout the state due to lax regulations.

"For three months, a million or more acres of Wisconsin wetlands were protected only by ice.  Now, they're protected only by citizens,” said Dave Cieslewicz, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. “Until the legislature acts, citizens have to take the lead in protecting wetlands in their own communities."

“While out and about this summer, I hope that each and every sportsman and woman keeps their eyes and ears open,” said Jeff Bord, Executive Director of Wisconsin Waterfowl Association.  “Armed with cameras, video cameras and cell phones, you can make a big difference in the fight to protect the land we all hold dear to our heart.  Sportsmen understand the importance of these areas for the continuation of their sport.  Wetlands provide essential habitat for good waterfowl hunting and wetlands contribute to good water quality so essential for good fishing.”

“W3, Wisconsin Wetlands Watch, is a way for every angler, hunter, and hiker to help defend our precious wetlands from illegal destruction,” stated Caryl Terrell, Legislative Coordinator for the statewide John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club.  “Voters want tough enforcement of environmental laws.

Legislation proposed by Rep. Neal Kedzie, chair of the Assembly Environment Committee, would restrict DNR access to private property to investigate alleged violations of state and federal wetlands laws.  "What good is a law if it cannot be enforced," asked Terrell.  "Only SB 37 restores DNR’s authority to inspect and enforce violations.”

“The State Council of Trout Unlimited urges anglers throughout the state to report any activities to fill, dig or damage isolated wetlands that were previously regulated by the Corps of Engineers,” said Jeff Smith, Legislative Chair of the State Council of Trout Unlimited.  “Trout anglers, in particular, are in a good position to monitor any previously illegal activities while fishing.  Take a picture of the activity if possible, but do not trespass or cause any conflicts.  Report the potential violation to DNR at their regional office in your area.”

"The best strategy for protecting wetlands is to link local citizen watchdogs with public interest lawyers," stated Melissa Scanlan, founder and executive director of Midwest Environmental Advocates.  "The DNR should know that it is not just the developers who have lawyers."

A public interest attorney from Midwest Environmental Advocates will follow up on every discovery of a filled wetland.  "We work with over a dozen Wisconsin attorneys willing to provide pro bono and low cost legal services for individual citizens and community groups," Scanlan said.

Citizens participating in W3 are urged to document their discoveries with a camera.  A helpful “how to” guide can be found here.  [You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this file.  If you don't have this program, click on this icon  for a free download.]

“We have developed a handy one-page form for writing down some key facts about the location of any suspicious activity in a wetland or waterway,” said Terrell.  “Then we ask that you make two telephone calls:  One call to the DNR Warden (1-800-TIP-WDNR; 1-800-847-9367) or your county Water Management Specialist or as a backup, the Wetland Team Leader at the central DNR office at 608-266-7360 and Secondly to the Midwest Environmental Advocates office at 608-251-5047.”

“I can list a hundred times that we got non-permitted activities stopped on the weekend because a warden responded quickly to a citizen call,” said John Holmes, retired conservation warden and representative of the Conservation Congress on the Wisconsin Stewardship Network Steering Committee.  “If you see something suspicious, act fast before too much environmental damage happens.”

"An environmental surveyor who has been working in the field in southeastern Wisconsin told me that she has begun paying close attention to whether a wetland is isolated or not," said John Ebsen, Secretary-Treasurer, Wisconsin Wetlands Association. "Of the sites she has visited, about 25% of the wetlands appear to be isolated and, therefore, unprotected.  While this is not a formal study, it gives us a feeling that of the 5 million acres of wetland in Wisconsin, over a million acres could be at stake.  Losing a million acres would change Wisconsin forever." 

"We should be filling the gap created by the Supreme Court, not filling wetlands.  Through W3, our individual and organizational members across Wisconsin will be on the lookout for wetlands destruction,” said Todd Ambs, executive director of the River Alliance of Wisconsin.  “Legislators who have failed to act to protect our wetlands need to understand that every acre of wetland filled increases flooding, harms wildlife and hurts our efforts to have clean waterways in Wisconsin." 

“The members of Wisconsin Waterfowl Association care deeply for the natural resources of this state,” added Bord.  “Our members like to get their hands dirty in order to help the wildlife of this state.  Over 4,000 acres of wildlife food plots are planted, hundreds of wood duck boxes are repaired, cleaned or place out in the marshes each year, hundreds of acres of native prairie is planted, pounds of aquatic vegetation is planted and hundreds of acres of wetlands are restored.  If a strong wetlands bill is not passed soon, we would hate to see 20 years worth of wetland work be filled in.”

"Citizen volunteers have provided information and taken action to protect lakes and surrounding watershed areas through the Self-Help Lake Monitoring and Adopt-a-Lake Programs,” said Donna Sefton, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes.  “For example, the Hartford Union High School Environmental Club was given a Wisconsin Lake Stewardship award in 2001 for their monitoring and stewardship of wetlands habitat surrounding Druid Lake in Washington Co.  The Wisconsin Wetlands Watch would help do the same for other wetlands throughout the state."

WHERE TO SEND W3 REPORTS:

1. DNR Warden (1-800-TIP-WDNR; 1-800-847-9367) or your county Water Management Specialist or as a backup, the Wetland Team Leader at the central DNR office at 608-266-7360

2. Midwest Environmental Advocates 608-251-5047.  MEA is a legal and technical resource center for community groups who are working for environmental justice.  Visit their website or mail to MEA, 122 State St #200, Madison WI 53703.