Wetlands Bill Update a Controversial Wetlands Bill Was Amended and Passed by the Legislature
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Wisconsin Council of Trout Unlimited NONPROFIT ORG. 2515 Bigler Circle U.S. POSTAGE News and Views from Wisconsin Trout Unlimited Verona, WI 53593 PAID wicouncil.tu.org PERMIT NO. 1 MADISON, WI Wisconsin Trout Spring 2018 Wetlands bill update A controversial wetlands bill was amended and passed by the legislature. By Mike Kuhr, Council Vice Chair bills. At the end of January, Rep. Steineke introduced Assembly Sub- Last October, Wisconsin legisla- stitute Amendment 1 that included tors introduced legislation that some of the compromise language. would significantly roll back state- A substitute amendment essentially wide wetlands protections, which replaces the original bill. could potentially harm coldwater WITU opposed Assembly Sub- habitat and trout streams around stitute Amendment 1 to AB 547, as the state. AB 547 and SB 600 did many of our partnering organi- (whose lead authors are Rep. zations. While the amendment con- Steineke and Sen. Roth) would re- tained protections for isolated move protections for “non-federal” wetlands in the headwaters (non- wetlands, which make up an esti- navigable portions) of Class I and mated 20 percent of Wisconsin’s to- Class II trout streams, we saw lots of tal wetland acreage, or room for improvements in the bill. approximately one million acres. We were concerned with the lack of Non-federal wetlands lack a per- any mitigation requirements, as well manent surface water connection to as the broad definition of an “urban water bodies like lakes and rivers area.” We also felt that sedge mead- that are protected by the Clean Wa- ow wetlands should be included in ter Act. However, these wetlands the list of rare, high-quality wet- provide many benefits, such as sup- lands that will still require permit- Mike Kuhr plying critical amounts of ground- ting and mitigation. water to coldwater streams, partic- Under the amendment, up to ISOLATED WETLANDS ARE CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH OF TROUT STREAM ularly in headwaters sections, as three acres of isolated wetlands in HEADWATERS LIKE THESE well as protection against flooding, rural areas could be filled only for erosion and nutrient pollution. the purpose of building an agricul- our partners to push for more strin- don’t believe that either side is com- These wetlands also provide habitat tural structure with no mitigation. gent language that addressed our pletely satisfied with the amended for diverse plant, animal and bird Up to one acre of isolated wetlands concerns. Sen. Cowles and Sen. bill, but that’s the true nature of species throughout our state. could be filled in urban areas with Roth introduced language in the compromise. We’d also like to thank Wisconsin TU believes that both no mitigation required. Currently, Senate Committee on Natural Re- Brandon Scholz from The Capitol conservation and responsible devel- mitigation works like this: If a devel- sources and Energy that put mitiga- Group, whose services we retained opment of our communities are oper wants to fill one acre of wet- tion back into the bill, narrowed the to help guide our advocacy efforts possible with the right framework. lands, they need to create 1.2 acres definition of an “urban area” and on this critical issue. We felt AB 547 and SB 600 fall far of wetlands somewhere nearby. included protections for sedge We value the recreational oppor- short of this, and we were disap- Democrats introduced their own meadow wetlands. This language tunities that the woods and waters pointed that the bills would leave so Substitute Amendments (Sen. Mill- was quickly rolled into the Assembly of Wisconsin offer. We also recog- much of our state’s ecologically er in the Senate and Rep. Brostoff version as Substitute Amendment 3. nize the economic impacts that valuable wetlands unprotected. We in the Assembly) that would have The Assembly passed the newly trout fishing in particular, and an- joined many of our partners in the only exempted from permitting the amended AB 547 on Feb. 15. The gling in general, provide to our sporting and conservation commu- filling of artificial (not naturally oc- Senate followed suit and passed the state. Many isolated wetlands are nity in opposing these bills last Oc- curring) wetlands and would have bill on Feb. 20. The governor will critical to the headwaters and tober. created the Wetlands Study Coun- probably have signed the bill by the spawning areas of our trout streams. In the following months, Sen. cil, which is included in the Republi- time you read this. For that reason, we will continue ad- Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and his can version as well. Neither of these Wisconsin Trout Unlimited vocating for wetland protections to staff began meeting with represen- amendments had the support to would like to thank Sen. Cowles and ensure that future generations have tatives from conservation organiza- pass through either chamber. his staff for the respect they have access to cold, clean fishable water tions and developers in an effort to In February, we continued to shown for the sporting community in Wisconsin. draft more suitable language for the work with Sen. Cowles, his staff and while crafting this amendment. We Successful banquet Volunteers, sponsors, donors, attendees create another successful and enjoyable banquet. By Mike Kuhr, Council Vice Chair and Heidi Oberstadt, Jim Wierzba, Linn Banquet Chair Beck, Paul Kruse and Todd Frank- lin working on its behalf. Our 2018 State Council Ban- Our donors really came though quet will be remembered for snow- this year with an amazing array of storms and perseverance. prizes. We’d like to thank the indi- On a cold Saturday in early Feb- vidual donors and all the chapters ruary, more than 240 people gath- that made prize and cash contribu- ered in Oshkosh, despite inclement tions. The Council would also like weather, to support our coldwater to thank our sponsors for their gen- fisheries. We rewarded attendees by erous support. Please see our handing out more than $25,000 in “Thanks” to sponsors on page 32. prizes. Treasurer Gary Stoychoff The Council would like to thank said we raised more than $22,000. the many volunteers who per- Volunteer efforts and local chap- formed so many tasks leading up to ter support were again keys to the and during the banquet. Their ef- banquet’s success. The Banquet forts are critical to making an event The Oberstadts Committee was outstanding in both like this run smoothly. planning and execution. The Coun- See BANQUET, page 28 ADAM ZINS’ AMAZING BROOK TROUT ART ON DISPLAY cil is fortunate to have Bill Heart, Spring 2018 Wisconsin Trout Page 2 Chairman’s Column TU offers so many ways to get involved Where does the time go? It am gearing up for summer activities. day. But that is the fun part of it. It's ever more important for us as at- seems like I was just getting ready I'm already thinking of where I can exciting to have the opportunities tacks on our water resources contin- for our annual meeting, and now I fit another four hours into every and ability to protect and enhance ue. While we can't monitor every our coldwater resources. stream, monitoring a major creek, There are a lot of opportunities stream or upper watershed can pro- available for us all to get out and vide important data when issues help our chapters. Work days pro- such as well permits, factory farms vide great opportunities. Help or manure spreading are being con- comes in all forms, because chapters sidered. The sooner we get data re- not only need volunteers for the corded on our waters, the easier it heavy lifting, but help with the meal will be to show that these water- when all the work is done, or re- sheds should be left alone. cording the day's events with camera Although I’ve always stressed the or notebook. need for all of us need to be more Via the National TU website, involved in advocating our science- chapters can now record the loca- based ideas to our elected officials, tion of the work day and what was times have changed so much in our done to that area. This site will cap- political world that I need to stress ture and record your chapter’s vol- this again. Thanks to your continued unteer hours, so at the end of the efforts, our legislators are better ed- year your chapter can easily find ucated on coldwater conservation is- your annual total volunteer hours. sues. Now that we have their Youth programs continue to attention, please keep up the good grow among our chapters. If your work. chapter doesn’t have a youth-relat- Wisconsin Trout Unlimited is ed program, take it upon yourself to lucky to have members like all of start one. When someone steps up you. If you would like to get more to be a leader, it’s amazing how oth- involved with anything from youth er members will volunteer to help education to issue advocacy, please you get it going. Youth programs are contact your local chapter. If water a great way to educate kids about monitoring is something you are in- conservation and, of course, get terested in, please contact me and I them hooked on the outdoors by will put you in touch with the Water taking them fishing. The parents, in- Action Volunteer coordinator. evitably see what we do, and some Thanks for all you do. Scot Stewart Scot of them join chapters and become Tight Lines volunteers and leaders themselves. STATE COUNCIL CHAIR LINN BECK Water monitoring is going to be Linn WITU Youth Camp Please help with youth expo in May This July will mark our fourth annual youth fishing camp.