1	Good News for Northern Rivers
2	Why Protect Northern Rivers? Economic value of tourism and recreation Marinette County Study Tourism generated $42.7 million in 1993 28% of Marinette County’s economic output 1,135 full-time equivalent jobs Protecting Water Quality = Strengthening the Local Economy
3	What are the Threats to Northern Rivers?
4	How can we protect Northern Rivers? DNR implementation of the Clean Water Act – some basic terms Exceptional Resource Waters Outstanding Resource Waters Fish and Aquatic Life Waters
5	Why is it important for river to be an ERW or ORW? To obtain DNR review for permits to dredge, fill, and alter river shorelines under the “Jobs Creation Act” To obtain more stringent requirements in discharge permits To honor tribal rights to hunt and fish in northern Wisconsin To educate the public and collect an inventory of stream values
6	What makes a water an ERW or ORW? Importance of Fishery Significance of Recreation or Preservation Use Water Quality Sources of Pollution ERW: some sources of pollution ORW: no sources of pollution.
7	How do we know which rivers deserve protected status?
8	Enter: The Northern Rivers Initiative
9	Northern Rivers Initiative: The Goals Safeguard rivers and streams in northern Wisconsin from the growing pressures that threaten them DNR compiled a prioritized list of stream corridors that warrant additional protection, based on their high ecological significance, outstanding natural scenic beauty, or special recreational values.
10	Northern Rivers Initiative Geographic scope 20 counties north of Hwy 29
11	Northern Rivers Initiative Stream Rating System
12	How can the NRI help Protect Northern Rivers? DNR has already done the work to justify upgrading the status of those 460 waters through the NRI by creating an inventory of water quality in the Northern Wisconsin. Approximately 460 NRI waters that lack special protections have higher water quality than the lowest ranked existing ERWs and ORWs Some river segments are listed as ERWs or ORWs, but segments upstream of these ERWs or ORWs are not protected and can legally receive more pollution.
13	Taking Action Midwest Environmental Advocates, Inc. has drafted a petition for rulemaking under Chapter 227 of the Wisconsin Statutes on behalf of the River Alliance of Wisconsin and other organizations. Rulemaking Petition requests DNR to upgrade the status of high quality northern rivers through a rulemaking, based on data collected in the NRI. Joining the petition is your chance to keep northern Wisconsin beautiful and make your voice heard
14	Here are a few good reasons to join the effort to protect our high-quality waters… Now, it’s more important than ever.
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22	Contact us River Alliance of Wisconsin (608) 257-2424 Lisa Goodman goodman@wisconsinrivers.org Midwest Environmental Advocates, Inc. (608) 251-5047 Andrew Hanson ahanson@midwestadvocates.org