For Immediate Release March 8, 2010

Contact:      Jodi Habush Sinykin
                        hslaw@bizwi.rr.com
                        (414) 507-0004

Legislature to Consider New Groundwater Protection Bill

Groundwater is Wisconsin’s buried treasure, supplying 97% of our communities with their daily water needs, 99% of the water for crop irrigation, and sustaining most of the state’s rivers, lakes and wetlands.  Wisconsin is water rich, but in parts of the state, increasing demands from a growing population, expansion of cropland, a successful economy and changes in climate are resulting in water being pumped out of the ground at a far greater rate than it can be replenished.  Absent a comprehensive system for sustainable management of this precious and finite resource, unmindful overuse threatens our communities and businesses and the recreational opportunities essential to our quality of life and multi-billion dollar tourism industry.

A new bill, spearheaded by Senator Mark Miller and Representative Spencer Black, provides the means to ensure a responsible, balanced use of our groundwater supplies.  The Wisconsin Waters Coalition, 25 organizations representing thousands of Wisconsin conservationists, urge the Legislature to pass this groundwater protection bill before the legislative session ends in April. 

The proposed bill:

• Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to identify areas where coordinated management of groundwater is needed to avoid or correct harm done to groundwater supplies and associated lakes, streams and wetlands, and to oversee development and execution of groundwater management plans;
• Creates a process for the scientific review of new wells to prevent impacts to sensitive natural resources; and,
• Requires consideration of conservation measures to ensure new groundwater withdrawals are used efficiently.

According to George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, "This bill is critically important to Wisconsin's groundwater resources including springs which are vital for those tens of thousands of Wisconsin trout anglers, duck hunters and trappers that rely on Wisconsin lakes, streams and wetlands for providing quality fish and wildlife habitat.”  Lori Grant of the River Alliance of Wisconsin notes, “This bill offers real solutions for threatened waterways, putting in place a process to keep resources such as the Little Plover River flowing, and  preventing other rivers from suffering the same fate.”  Jodi Habush Sinykin, Of Counsel, Midwest Environmental Advocates and a former member of the Groundwater Advisory Committee, states, “Given the constraints of groundwater protections under current law, this new bill is a necessary and logical step forward to ensure that our state’s critically valuable water resources are protected for future generations.”

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Chippewa Valley Outdoor Resource Alliance
Clean Wisconsin
Concerned Citizens of Newport        
Dane County Conservation League
Eau Claire Rod and Gun Club
Friends of the Mukwonago River
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
1000 Friends of Wisconsin    
Trout Unlimited – Wisconsin State Council
Waukesha County Environmental Action League
Wisconsin Association of Lakes
Midwest Environmental Advocates, Inc.
National Wildlife Federation 
River Alliance of Wisconsin
Rock River Coalition
Sierra Club – John Muir Chapter
Town and Country Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.
Vernon Alliance Concerned for Environmental Safety
Westfork Sportsman’s Club
Wisconsin Environment
Wisconsin Federation of Great Lakes Sport Fishing Clubs
Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association
Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters
Wisconsin Wetlands Association
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
Valley Stewardship Network