Northwoods Hundred Healthiest Rivers Campaign
Wisconsin River , Lincoln County
Success! On October 3, 2006 1,100 more miles of Northern Wisconsin's most pristine Rivers were included as Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters! Read the press release here.
Background: Midwest Environmental Advocates joined the River Alliance of Wisconsin and 42 other local and statewide conservation organizations in a petition to the Natural Resources Board calling for greater protection for the top 100 northern Wisconsin river segments.
The federal Clean Water Act requires the Department of Natural Resources to protect and restore the highest quality waters in Wisconsin. The DNR does so by classifying rivers, streams and lakes as Outstanding or Exceptional Resource Waters. These classifications give the DNR authority to limit pollution from grading and dredging on river banks, from sewage and industrial sources of pollution, or from depletion by high capacity wells.
Midwest Environmental Advocates prepared the petition in collaboration with the River Alliance after analyzing DNR information that demonstrated that some high quality rivers did not have the Outstanding or Exceptional Resource Water classification needed to limit pollution in those waters.
The Natural Resources Board is the governing body of the DNR. The petition identifies the top 100 river segments in Wisconsin's northwoods and requests that the Natural Resources Board direct the DNR to use its existing data to upgrade legal protections for those rivers.
The petition will not only help safeguard our waters for generations to come and protect our valuable tourism economy, it will also help the DNR honor treaty rights held by the Chippewa Tribes to hunt and fish in areas that were ceded to the federal government. Several tribal governments have passed formal resolutions supporting the petition.
To read a press release announcing the petition, click here.
At the October meeting of the Natural Resources Board, the DNR formally proposed 40 new river segments for increased protection under the Clean Water Act and Wisconsin’s water laws. The DNR’s proposal was in response to MEA’s rulemaking petition on behalf of 43 other statewide and local conservation groups to add new legal protections for pristine rivers in northern Wisconsin. Click here to read the DNR’s proposal.
Click here to see a map of the rivers that the DNR has proposed for protection, as well rivers that will not receive special protection.
Click here to see an existing list of Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters.
To read a DNR study showing that clean water is good for local economies and property values, read: Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters- Analysis of Effects on Marinette County, Wi.
On June 28, 2006, the Natural Resources Board unanimously voted to extend protections to approximately 1,100 miles of rivers in northern Wisconsin on 45 different rivers. These protections allow economic development while at the same time ensure that the water will remain clean for future generations. See the map here.
On August 24, 2006 the Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee chose to not object to the Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters rule. The support of community advocates was critical to clearing this hurtle to protecting Wisconsin's waters. |
