Milwaukee’s rivers have slowly been revitalized through a variety of cleanup projects in recent years. But, the estuary the area in which the Milwaukee,
FOND DU LAC - A Malone dairy farm has been ordered by pay $60,000 for violating the state’s wastewater discharge laws.
Redtail Ridge Dairy in northeast Fond du Lac County, owned by Joe and Diane Thome, must pay costs to remedy the adverse effects of polluted discharges to the tributaries of the Sheboygan River, including the cost of replacing fish or other wildlife destroyed by the discharge, according to the Wisconsin Attorney General s Office.
The case was settled before it went to trial in the courtroom of Fond du Lac Circuit Court Judge Peter Grimm, who issued the fines earlier this month. Grimm found the dairy guilty of three violations: manure ponding on application site, manure runoff from site and manure discharge to waters through subsurface drains.
Areas of Concern: Benthos Toxicity at Wisconsin s AOCs Science Center Objects
USGS is assessing sediment toxicity at Wisconsin s Sheboygan River and Milwaukee Estuary areas of concern (AOCs) on Lake Michigan. The study will assess if sediment toxicity from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), selected metals, ammonia, or low dissolved oxygen is present at either acutely toxic or chronically toxic concentrations. Sediment toxicity tests are being conducted with amphipods and midges. This study helps address concerns regarding sediment toxicity, and it will inform management decisions regarding the Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI) for Degraded Benthos, which must be removed prior to delisting the AOCs.
Fran O’Leary
GRANT PROGRAM: New to the watershed protection grant program this year is a conservation benefits tracking component. DATCP will use this to measure the water quality benefits associated with the conservation practices implemented by participating farmers throughout the state of Wisconsin. This is the sixth round of watershed protection grant awards since funding started in 2015.
Jan 20, 2021
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has awarded $750,000 in watershed protection grants to 30 farmer-led groups. Grants support producer-led conservation solutions by encouraging innovation and farmer participation in on-the-ground efforts to improve Wisconsin’s soil health and water quality.