SUMMER 2017 RIVERA Quarterly Publication CURRENTS of Milwaukee Riverkeeper Feature Story: Advocacy in Action: Aesthetics: Annual Spring River PAH Bans Pass! 7 Reasons to Become a Cleanup Recap Page 4 Page 7 Monitor Page 6 GREAT LAKES FACE MAJOR BUDGET CUTS In our last newsletter, we updated members on President current 2016 funding levels to remain for GLRI at $300 million Trump’s proposal to revise this year’s FY17 Federal budget to and will provide a little over $2.2 billion for State Revolving reduce the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Loan Fund programs for water infrastructure improvements. from $300 million per year to $0 dollars. In In addition, this appropriations bill had addition, there were proposals to take money minimal reductions to the EPA budget from the GLRI and Great Lakes Area of Con- The budget and other existing programs. cern program to help pay for design and en- proposal Recently, the appropriations committee gineering of the proposed boarder wall with passed a budget bill to fund GLRI at the Mexico. The GLRI also includes about 40% also cut large $300 million level for the federal of the funds required to keep the fiscal year 2018-2019, but this has a Asian Carp at bay, with additional funds amounts from long way to go to be approved. We are coming from other Federal agencies also fac- still concerned that the severe fund- ing budget cuts. The President proposed to other important ing cuts to other key federal agencies, cut EPA’s budget by about 20% or $2 like the EPA, are not off the table. billion dollars, which would require firing agencies like of 1 in 5 EPA employees. The budget proposal The GLRI and Great Lakes Legacy Act also cut large amounts from other important NOAA, Sea have been a huge boon to Wiscon- agencies like NOAA, Sea Grant, and US Coast sin—funding 416 projects at $331 Guard. Cuts were also proposed to the Clean Grant, and US Million since 2010. In the Milwau- Water and Safe Drinking Water State kee area, we have been able to clean Revolving Loan Fund Program, which Coast Guard. up decades of legacy contamination, helps states and local governments fund in- such as the removal of 70% of the frastructure costs. PCB load from the Milwaukee River (Lincoln Park) and the removal of 17,000 cubic yards Thankfully, in late April, Congress passed an omnibus fiscal of contaminated sediment from the KK River. More than year 2017 appropriations bill to fund the federal government 10 dams and hundreds of fish passage barriers have through September 30 of this year. This will allow for been removed from Campbellsport to Grafton to improve Continued on Page 3 2 River Currents, Summer 2017 WELCOME! ments over the last several decades. made by the entity that benefits from His budget zeroed out the Great Lakes not following the rule. Restoration Initiative (GLRI) program, a Under attack through all of these bills, bipartisan conservation program, and Executive Orders and initiatives are the while the Congressional appropriations land, air and water that we rely on for committee has restored that funding jobs, food, security, recreation and the (see GLRI article inside for more infor- health of our families. Putting these as- mation on how this program has helped sets and necessities at risk is contrary to here in Milwaukee), it demonstrates his our Wisconsin legacy. Jennifer Bolger Breceda | Executive Director approach to science and conservation. Additionally, pursuant to a Presidential There are ways you can help. Learn more about what is being planned; speak up It’s summer in Milwaukee and we are in Executive Order, the Waters of the U.S. for your waterways and your commu- the middle of our field season at Milwau- Rule, which better clarified which waters nity; become an advocate. Talk to your kee Riverkeeper. That means that we are are subject to Clean Water Act regula- neighbors, friends and families about busy conducting water quality monitor- tion, is in the process of being rescinded why we should care about our water- ing of our three rivers and harbor to col- and rolled back, leaving many streams ways and environment and get involved. lect scientific data to better understand and wetlands at risk and vulnerable to Contact your U.S. Congressmen and the state of our waters, patrolling the development, and pollution. Milwau- women, as well as your state and local waterways looking for pollution sourc- kee Riverkeeper, along with many of our representatives, too, and tell them to es, working on physical river restoration partners and stakeholders, worked for oppose the unprecedented cuts to sci- projects in collaboration with our com- over a year to support passage of this ence, environmental conservation and munity partners, hosting lots of events rule. programs that protect our land, air and that connect people to the river’s edge Bills in Wisconsin like “Death by a Thou- water. If you don’t know who your rep- and working to educate and inform peo- sand Straws,” (see Riverkeeper Watch for resentatives are, visit our website to find ple about issues impacting the rivers. details about this law) that was passed out. In addition, we are in the middle of Right now, the most critical issues im- out of the Assembly and is now on the our summer appeal and your generous pacting our watersheds center on all of Governor’s desk waiting for passage support will go a long way to help us the troubling changes happening at the or veto, flies in the face of Wisconsin’s better serve as the voice of the rivers in federal and state legislative levels. legacy environmental ethic. A new law, Milwaukee. It takes a lot to protect our While local communities and house- akin to President Trump’s Executive Or- river basin and we cannot do it without holds are focused on sound water man- der that requires for any new law to be community support. agement practices that include incen- passed, two others must be rescinded, To healthy rivers, tives for water conservation, sustainable has just surfaced in Wisconsin. This bill water use plans, water-neutral growth (AB 42) would prohibit an agency from ordinances, and thoughtful manage- implementing a rule that has a compli- ment of natural resources based on sci- ance cost of $10 million over any two Jennifer Bolger Breceda ence and fact, the President and Wiscon- year period of time without taking into Executive Director sin have a different vision. The President account savings and benefits due to in- presented a budget that attacks funding, creased public health, natural resource P.S. Please consider giving as generously programs and agencies that have creat- protection, or quality of life. Further- as you can to achieve swimmable, fish- ed successful environmental improve- more, the economic analysis can be able rivers for future generations! Board of Directors Eric Vogel Lilith Fowler Joseph Cincotta Patti McNair President Treasurer Michael DiStefano Catherine Mercuri Chris Daood Brian Lambert Mustafa Emir Brian Spahn Vice President Secretary Jessica Ginster Anne Vogel Beth Handle David Wolfson Demaris Kenwood River Currents, Summer 2017 3 RIVERKEEPER Great Lakes Cont. WATCH Riverkeeper Watch Yellow Paint Dumping Over the last few months, there have been several in- stances of yellow paint being dumped into local water- ways—into Lincoln Creek, the Milwaukee River near the confluence of Lincoln Creek, and into a detention basin that drains to the lower Menomonee River (a car also drove into that basin, too). If anyone has information about illegal dumping, please let us know or call 1-800-TIP-WDNR. fisheries. The GLRI has also funded many oth- Federal legislators, and by educating our mem- Jet Fuel Spill at er local restoration projects ranging from bers. We need your support and your voice Mitchell Airport Rotary Park and the to show Congress On May 1st, jet fuel was re- Milwaukee River Gre- that, not only is leased from Mitchell Airport The GLRI and Great into Wilson Park Creek. The enway along the Mil- there biparti- source was a bad under- waukee River to Three Lakes Legacy Act have san support for ground fuel valve at an unused Bridges Park along the these programs, gate. The problem was fixed Menomonee River. been a huge boon to but more impor- promptly, and the airport has These cuts threat- tantly, that these said the quantity of fuel spilled was likely a small quantity. en our continued Wisconsin funding programs work However, even a small amount progress to improve to restore and of fuel is likely to impact water water quality and cre- 416 projects at $331 improve our quality and aquatic life. Air- ate healthier commu- Million since 2010. watersheds and port contractors cleaned up nities. communities, as much product as possible with absorbent sheets and We are actively advocating with many protecting our Great Lakes, our quality of life, placed booms in the Creek to partners to maintain these programs through and our economy. minimize the spread of fuel telling stories to media, direct advocacy to our downstream. Staff Jennifer Bolger Breceda, J.D. Christina Taddy, M.P.A. Abby Kuranz, M.S. Executive Director Development & Operations Manager Communications Specialist Cheryl Nenn, M.S. Zac Driscoll, M.S. Riverkeeper Water Quality Specialist Aviva Glassman Kelly Ostrenga Event Coordinator Water Quality Assistant Public Allies Americorps Marshfield Clinic Americorps 4 River Currents, Summer 2017 RIVERKEEPER WATCH (Cont.) More PCBs found THANK YOU for helping make our three along Milwaukee River The WDNR confirmed that PCB contaminated sediments rivers SWIMMABLE and FISHABLE for were found both in the sedi- ments and floodplain of the Milwaukee River downstream from Estabrook Dam.