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Evers to join governors climate coalition

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Wisconsin’s Tony Evers is joining a group of governors focused on climate change. The U.S. Climate Alliance formed two years ago to implement the Paris climate accord at the state level.

It’s goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 19 member coalition includes three Republican governors.

Vos announces water quality task force

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Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has announced creation of a task force on water quality following requests from two southwestern Wisconsin lawmakers.

A study of well water in southwest Wisconsin finds high levels of bacterial and chemical contamination – with 42 percent of 301 randomly selected wells tested in Iowa, Grant, and Lafayette counties exceeding federal health standards for bacteria that can come from animal or human waste, or for a toxic fertilizer residue.

A second round of testing involving more wells is planned for the spring, followed by a close evaluation of pathogens in the water to determine if they are the type that probably originated in dairy or swine manure, or from faulty septic systems.

Representatives Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, and Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, made the request following the release of the report. Vos said an official announcement on committee membership will be made in the coming weeks.

State Ag department warns against mulching Christmas wreaths this year

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If you bought your Christmas wreath from a big box store this year, state ag officials want you to burn it or throw it away.

A batch of insect infested wreaths made it to a number of retailers this season. State ag spokeswoman Donna Gilson says the bugs are called EHS and they could spread to Wisconsin trees. 

“There’s landscaping trees in yards and parks, but there’s also our forests and our Christmas Tree industry is the big concern.”

Gilson says the bugs nest deep, and like to hide themselves. “If you have a wreath hanging on your wall, you wouldn’t see it. It’s on the underside of the needles where these insects feed.”

Make sure to burn the wreath entirely. If you can’t do that, bag it up and have it hauled away to a landfill. “Put them in a garbage bag, seal it up with a twistie-tie or a knot or whatever, put it in the trash can.

 

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified trees as being infested along with wreaths.

Help out the birds at your feeder this winter with tips from DNR

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Winter is here, and if you’re looking to keep birds at your feeder, you might have to make it more attractive to your feathered friends.

DNR biologist Ryan Brady says the best general bird seed you can put out is black sunflower seeds.

“It’s really inexpensive, it works for a lot of different species, and it has a high fat content so it’s good for the birds.”

Brady says you should also be sure to find some cover for the birds that is close enough to the feeder for them to hide in. He suggests low, thick shrubs, or a brush pile.

“A shrubbery that’s going to have a lot of thick branches, provide some cover from the elements. Evergreens or conifers are excellent, so maybe plant a spruce or a fir.”

That shrub can also provide some protection from predators, and make your feeder much more attractive to birds.

 

Flood prevention more than just lowering Lake Mendota, says UW expert

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As cleanup continues across Dane County in the wake of this summer’s floods, the discussion now turns on how best to prevent a flood in the future.

Richard Lathrop from the UW-Madison Limnology department says simply lowering the levels on Lake Mendota during the summer months won’t help during the next flood event.

“Mendota can release it really fast, but the lower lakes can’t take it with the way the system is set up now.”

He says treating the Yahara Lakes simply like a reservoir is the wrong approach, and that more needs to be done by opening channels in the lower lakes, as well as improving flood mitigation in general across Dane County. 

“We have to be able to get rid of the water faster out of the lower lakes, because if we don’t, the water just keeps piling up in Mendota.”

Dane County crews were out in force during the flood opening up channels on Lakes Mendota and Monona, working to clear out weed blockages. Water levels are still above where they’d normally be at this time of year. 

Flooding danger continues for Dane County

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Flooding dangers are not yet over for Dane County residents.

Lake and river levels are already extremely high and many streets remain under water after parts of the county got 13 inches of rain Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Dane County Sheriff David Mahoney says first responders saved countless lives. 

“We lost one life, one tragic loss in the city of Madison. There were dozens if not more, that could have been tragic, without the commitment of our public servants.”

Governor Walker toured the area by air on Wednesday, and vowed to help county officials in every way possible.

“The state stands ready to work with the county executive, the sheriff, with the village and municipal governments throughout this area.”

Crews are busy clearing out the Yahara River to try and help water move downstream. Officials are also watching the dam in Bellville where water was overflowing on Wednesday. Lake levels there are higher than anyone has ever seen before.

The city of Monona and surrounding areas are now at highest risk as flood waters move downstream into Lakes Mendota and Monona.

DNR offers assistance to landowners planting native plants

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Wisconsin landowners and homeowners hoping to help improve habitats for bees and other pollinators can do a lot by just planting some native Wisconsin flowers and plants.

There’s some major efforts underway to specifically help out the Monarch butterfly, which summers in the state. DNR Conservation Biologist Jay Watson says there’s plenty of things you can plant to help foster monarch butterflies in your home and garden.

“Milkweed, which we have multiple species growing across the state, and the other thing is nectaring resources that they need for survival as an adult and their migratory route.”

While there are ‘generic’ wildflower mixes on the market, you should be planting rasses and flowers that are native to Wisconsin, so there’s less risk of spreading invasive species.

Watson says you can find out just what sort of plants you need with a little bit of help.

“There’s great resources on the DNR’s website that you can find out more information on what species, and where they grow, and what type of soils and how much shade that they would need.”

There’s a number of greenhouses and seed libraries across Wisconsin that also provide native plants and wildflowers.

You can find out more online at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/endangeredresources/pollinators.html.

 

USGS confirms Central Wisconsin earthquakes

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Geologists are still monitoring central Wisconsin after a pair of earthquakes hit Waupaca County.

The USGS confirmed a 1.3 magnitude earthquake and a 1.5 magnitude earthquake hit the area on July 7th and 15th.

County Emergency Management Director Andrew Carlin says the shaking and noise were enough to be annoying, but not enough to be dangerous. “There’s nothing we can do about it other than recognize that ‘yep, that’s an earthquake.'”

He says those quakes did little damage, and mostly just spooked people. “A 1.5, it’s driving them nuts when they can’t sleep at night. It’s one of those mysteries of nature, you know?”

The location has been pinpointed to an area North of Iola. While the county does not commonly deal with earthquakes, they did have a similar situation in Clintonville in 2012.

WTAQ

DNR seeks volunteers to clean up parks and natural areas

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The D N R is looking for volunteers to help them clean up parks and natural areas this summer.

It’s part of a year-long program to help remove invasive species from the areas and help keep them clean for residents to enjoy.

Volunteer coordinator Jared Urban says cleaning up your local natural area is a not just a great way to help your environment, it’s also good for you. “Well it’s a great way to get out and get some exercise and get to see why Wisconsin is special.”

Much of the work that volunteers do in the summer is removing invasive plants from the natural areas. “Making sure there’s a place for the native flowers and plants to grow, and in response you get a lot of native wildlife that feeds off the native plants,” says Urban.

Work is coordinated and updated online and you can sign up for mailing lists for your area to learn when you can take part in cleanup opportunities.

“You sign up for that email list, and then you’ll get an email whenever there’s a volunteer event in those counties.”

You can find that page online at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/lands/naturalareas/volunteer.html.

Monroe County frac plant subject of suit against DNR

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is being sued, over handling of a controversial frac sand permit. Clean Wisconsin and the Ho Chunk Nation argue DNR secretary Dan Meyer should not have agreed to review a judge’s ruling, invalidating a permit issued Meteor Timber for a proposed $75 million sand processing and loading plant in Monroe County.

Companion complaints filed this week aim to block the ongoing review while a judge considers if DNR rules even allow the agency to potentially reverse a judge’s order. A DNR spokesman declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.