Statewide Needs and Resources

Chapter 5 Statewide Needs and Resources The previous chapter described specific, » Some needs and resources are not well named Legacy Places (arranged by ecological enough understood to identify the most Statewide needs landscape) believed to be critical to meet appropriate places to try to protect. Groundwater recharge areas are Wisconsin’s conservation and recreation needs and resources examples of such a resource type. over the next fifty years. In addition to these places A. Groundwater recharge » there are potentially others that will also be critical Some species have habitat requirements areas and places impacting that are geographically diffuse or the needed public water supplies to meet future needs, but which are difficult habitat is not continually stable from year B. Lakes and undeveloped to specifically identify for a number of reasons. to year (e.g., mudflats and ephemeral wetlands, shoreline Reasons why these “statewide needs and resources” which are critical to meet the needs of migratory do not fit well in the preceding chapter include: shorebird as stopover sites, can change over time C. Large working forests depending on seasonal weather conditions). D. Prairies and savannas » Some resources are scattered through- To be sure, many of the specific Legacy out the state and are more appropriately E. Recreation areas Places previously described address some of evaluated as a resource type rather than F. Scattered natural areas these statewide needs and resources. Yet, there by ecological landscape. Wetlands are will likely be other places worthy of protection G. Trails an example of this type of resource. that are not captured in the 229 named Legacy H. Wetlands » Some important places are small Places. What follows is a brief description, arranged and widely distributed around the state. alphabetically, of needs and resources that occur High quality natural areas (e.g., prairie either scattered throughout the state or where remnants, old growth forests, pine barrens, flexibility exists in where protection efforts oak savannas, and others) are an example. may best be focused. No doubt, over the next fifty years, this list of statewide » Some resources occur in several locations; needs and resources will evolve. which of these are most appropriate to protect DON BLEGEN will likely be more dependent upon factors such as future threat and opportunity. Trempealeau River delta Large working forests are an example of this type of resource. » Some needs could be met at a variety of sites. Identifying appropriate places to meet these needs will be more a function of location and public demand and acceptance, rather than natural resource attributes. Identifying places in close proximity to urban centers to meet growing recreation demands is an example of this type of need. Wisconsin Land Legacy Report Chapter 5: Statewide Needs and Resources 209 pumped and can range in size from a few areas. Additionally, there is an opportunity to Examples of municipalities Examples of municipalities A. Groundwater recharge city blocks to several square miles. Many combine efforts to maintain large undeveloped with known vulnerable using surface sources areas and places impacting communities attempt to protect all or part of rural landscapes for farming and forestry with aquifers or recharge areas: for drinking water: these areas by managing potential sources efforts to protect and maintain groundwater. Beloit public water supplies of contamination, particularly parts of the Appleton Current source water assessment efforts Chippewa Falls Ashland recharge areas nearest public wells. When Water we use in our daily lives comes from will likely be completed soon and can be used East Troy Cudahy two sources: either from surface waters or from recharge areas extend beyond a community’s Eau Claire Green Bay to determine which of these public water systems can groundwater aquifers. Nearly all rural residents jurisdiction, it is far more difficult to coordinate Hudson Kenosha benefit most from various protection strategies. Once and implement adequate protection measures. Janesville Manitowoc have individual wells that draw groundwater the assessments are complete, further prioritization La Crosse Marinette to provide for their needs. Most of Wisconsin’s Urban centers using Lakes Michigan, can be conducted with input from communities, Merrill Menasha large urban centers use surface sources for Superior, and Winnebago for public water counties and regional planning commissions. Mosinee Milwaukee drinking water (Lakes Michigan, Superior, Plover supplies typically draw water from intake pipes Neenah and Winnebago account for almost all of this use). At left are lists of some municipalities Rhinelander that are placed off shore. As a result, rivers and Oak Creek where efforts to protect drinking water sources Spooner Oshkosh Major cities drawing from surface waters are listed streams that drain into these lakes near intake would provide substantial benefits. These include Sturgeon Bay Port Washington at left. Madison and several other cities in the state pipes likely have a significant, if not the most Wausau municipalities relying on aquifers or recharge areas Racine draw groundwater to provide drinking water. significant, impact on the quality of these commu- Whiting Sheboygan that, based on data currently available, are most nities’ public water supply. Efforts to maintain South Milwaukee Of course, all areas of the state play some vulnerable to contamination and drawdown problems. and improve the quality of these surface waters, Superior role in the quality and quantity of water in our Also included are municipalities that use surface through continued emphasis on reducing point- streams, rivers, lakes and underground aquifers. sources for drinking water and thus would source discharges and non-point pollution, could As the dominant land uses in the state, forests benefit from efforts to improve water quality significantly reduce costs associated with treating and farmlands play a critical role in supplying in nearby streams and rivers flowing into public water supplies as well as reduce health risks surface and groundwater. Some sites, however, Lakes Michigan, Superior, and Winnebago. have a significantly greater influence than others in the event of a failure in the treatment process. on the water that ends up in our surface and “Point” sources are those that originate from a groundwater. For example, underground aquifers single location such as an effluent pipe; “non-point” can be thought of as enormous sponges encased sources are diffuse and primarily result from run- in a jumble of impermeable layers. In places with off from urban streets, construction sites, and farm very sandy or rocky soils, water on the surface can fields. As with groundwater, some lands within a enter underground aquifers quickly; in other places, watershed have a greater influence than others on impermeable clay soils can prevent the precipitation surface water quality. Lands immediately adjacent from ever entering the groundwater. Water flows to surface waters can significantly impact their within these “groundwater sponges” as well, moving water quality. Buffer strips along streams, rivers horizontally and vertically in response to water and lakes can dramatically improve water quality draining into and flowing out (or being pumped out). by reducing the amount of sediments, excess nutrients, and pollution entering surface waters. Contaminants can enter groundwater and affect drinking water supplies years before the Protecting areas that significantly contribute source of contamination is identified. Thus, finding to surface or groundwater used for public water The water cycle and mapping where groundwater recharge areas supplies could be an effective way of simultaneously are located is a high priority for the Department protecting public health and providing a variety of and local units of government, particularly those ecological and recreational benefits. Places important recharge areas that are most significant in in maintaining the quality and quantity of public replenishing groundwater used in public water water supplies will in many (if not most) cases be supplies. Wisconsin’s Wellhead Protection and near large urban centers, a characteristic that Source Water Assessment Programs have delineated meshes well with the desire to provide recreation most of the recharge areas that contribute water opportunities close to where residents live. When to public drinking water wells. The shape and establishing greenways, open space, or parks within size of these areas depend on well construction, or close to urban centers, added consideration should hydrogeologic setting, and amount of water be given to source water protection and recharge 210 Chapter 5: Statewide Needs and Resources Wisconsin Land Legacy Report fed on by fish, frogs, and other animals. Many Figure 122: Change in housing density across northern Wisconsin, 1940 to 19902 B. Lakes and undeveloped lakes have a variety of substrates along their shoreline shores—gravel, sand, and silt—that provide places Wisconsin is blessed with an extraordinary for fish and frogs to lay eggs and habitat for many number and variety of lakes. Most lakes are insects such as mayflies and dragonflies. Together, 1940 housing density by partial block group in the northern and eastern parts of the state, this complex environment provides places for north- dotting the path of the glaciers. Although few in ern pike, bluegill,

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