Rock River Recovery - February Newsletter

ROCK RIVER RECOVERY

Monthly TMDL Implementation Update

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 2017

February
Febuary is one of the most frequently misspelt words in the English language...

 

"All water has a perfect memory and is trying to get back to where it belongs." - Toni Morrison


Canoe

Events

Feb 3-5:  FROZEN ASSETS

Feb 9:  Yahara Lakes 101

Feb 16:  WDNR Ag Runoff Rules and Standards

Feb 22:  Women - Heart of the Farm Conference

Feb 22, 23:  Midwest Manure Summit

Feb 23: WDNR Webinar - TRM NPS Grants

Feb 23:  WDNR Webinar - Urban Stormwater Grants

Mar 2:  Yahara Pride Farms Annual Conference 


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TMDLs FAQ

What is a TMDL?

Impaired Waters

Water Quality Trading

Adaptive Management

Phosphorus Rule

WEBINARS 

   

DNR Contacts

Project Manager 

Ag Nonpoint

Monitoring

Outreach

Stormwater

Wastewater 


Newsletter Archive

Newsletter Archive

Gov Delivery
RCPP Grant Program

RCPP Grant Cycle Open 

NEW! Applications Requested for Innovative Partner Projects

NRCS invites potential conservation partners to submit project applications for fiscal year (FY) 2018 federal funding through RCPP.  Project pre-applications are due on or before April 21, 2017.
 
Through this fourth RCPP Announcement for Program Funding (APF), NRCS will award up to $252 million dollars to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability.  Applicants must match or exceed the federal award with private or local funds. 

Press release about the RCPP APF

Application requirements, process and due dates

DNR Grants 

Targeted Runoff Management Grants 

The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce that application materials for 2018 Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) projects are now available on our website.  Details are in the Ag Sector Team update, below.

Urban NPS Stormwater Grants

The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce that application materials for 2018 Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management (UNPS) Planning projects are now available on our website! Details are in the Stormwater/MS4 Sector Team update, below.


Sector Team Updates

 

Manure Injection

Ag/NPS

Targeted Runoff Management Grants 

The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce that application materials for 2018 Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) projects are now available on our website.  For more information about TRM grants, including what makes a good project, and how to write a strong application, please save the date for an upcoming TRM Grant Webinar, scheduled for February 23, 1:00-2:00 pm. 

The Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grant Program offers competitive cost share grants to local governments for controlling nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. Grants reimburse costs for agriculture or urban runoff management practices in targeted, critical geographic areas with surface water or groundwater quality concerns. Eligible applicants include cities, villages, towns, counties, regional planning commissions, tribal governments and special purpose lake, sewerage and sanitary districts.

  • Small scale TRM grants can fund up to 70% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum $150,000 grant award
  • Large-scale TRM grants can fund up to 70% of eligible project costs, up to a maximum $1,000,000 grant award. Large Scale TRM project areas can be between 8 and 39 square miles.

Applications for projects starting in 2018 must be postmarked no later than Monday, April 17, 2017. 

WDNR Agriculture Rules Update (NR151)

As part of the effort to address groundwater issues and protect drinking water and public health across Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources is working with key public and agriculture industry stakeholders, state agencies, the State Legislature, the governor and the general public to update ch. NR 151, Wis. Adm. Code [exit DNR].

Request for Applications: 2018 Nutrient Management Farmer Education Grants

Nutrient Management Farmer Education Grant cover costs for entities to conduct farmer nutrient management training courses that enable farmers to become qualified to write their own nutrient management plans for their farms. Producer-led groups that meet the qualifications in the Request for Applications are also eligible to apply for this funding.  Deadline: April 15, 2018. 

Rachel Rushmann, Program Manager: 608-224-4622

Cover Crops 101

Matt Ruark, UW Extension, explains what cover crops are and how they are used in farming systems.

http://fyi.uwex.edu/news/2017/01/27/what-are-cover-crops/

2016 Cover Crop Survey

Insight from 2,020 farmers from across the country reflected enthusiasm for cover crops and — for the fourth year in a row — found a yield boost in corn and soybeans following cover crops. Multiyear data shows the yield boost increases as cover crops are planted year after year, a revelation that points to an appealing long-term benefit of the conservation practice.  Read the full summary


Monitoring

Monitoring

Koshkonong Creek Targeted Assessment (TWA)

Field 2016 was completed with sampling of the Koshkonong Creek TWA.  Sampling involved conducting fish index of biotic integrity sampling on 22 sites in the watershed.  Scores ranged from Fair to Excellent, and high lights included the finding of several species of Darters (Johnny, banded, blackside, rainbow, and Iowa) other habitat sensitive species like blackstripe topminnows.  Surveys also included qualitative habitat evaluations at 22 sites scores ranged from Poor to Excellent.  Macroinvertebrates were also sampled at 14 locations within the watershed, those results won’t be available till 2017.  We had intended to sample more places for fish but due to the nature of sections of Koshkonong Creek water depth and depth of fine sediments prevented us from sampling the middle and lower section of the watershed.  These areas are channelized and have historically been dredged in the past.  The wet summer also played a role in increasing flows .

Large River Fish non-wadable sampling was completed at two sites in the Rock River Basin at Indianford  CTH D and Jefferson CTH B, this is part of the pilot study of 2016.  There are 43 sites sampled around the state at or near the long term water quality stations, this is part of a larger monitoring strategy.  In 2017 the entire Rock River will be sampled using the non wadable metrics.  This will include 15 stations on the Rock River, Crawfish River, Bark River, and the Yahara River.  Map displaying locations will be available after 2/15/2017 once approved by Monitoring team.  This will be the first comprehensive look at the Nonwadable Fish Community of the Rock River and its major tributaries. 

2018 WisCALM public comment period

The 2018 Wisconsin Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM) was  open for public comment. From December 20, 2016 to January 27, 2017.  These comments are being considered before the guidance is used to assess water quality in early 2017.

For more information, contact:

dnrimpairedwaters@wisconsin.gov

or via mail to:

Ashley Beranek
DNR Bureau of Water Quality
101 S. Webster St. WQ/3
Madison, WI 53707


Outreach

Outreach

E&O Team Update

Members of the E&O team attended the January Rock River Stormwater Group meeting to learn more about their education & outreach efforts.  This includes an exciting initiative with marketing students from UW Whitewater to develop a focused outreach program and clear messaging on important stormwater and water quality topics.

We will be finalizing plans for the next E&O team meeting.  Please email suggestions for potential topics to include on the meeting agenda.  The current agenda includes;

  • Review of Survey Results
  • Partner Check-in/Updates,
  • Review of Potential Roles/Resources and activities (State, Local/MS4, NGO's, etc.)
  • Website Review

Storm Pond

Stormwater

Urban NPS Stormwater Grants

The Wisconsin DNR is pleased to announce that application materials for 2018 Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water Management (UNPS) Planning projects are now available on our website! For more information about UNPS Planning grants, including what makes a good project and how to write a strong application, please save the date for an upcoming UNPS Planning Grant Webinar, scheduled for February 23, 2:30-3:30 pm.

Please note that if you downloaded the UNPS Planning Grant application or instructions on or before January 13, 2017, the application/instructions contained an error that has now been corrected. You should discard this version and replace it with the current version.

The UNPS Grant Program offers competitive grants for local governments (up to 50% of eligible costs, up to $85,000 maximum grant award) of planning projects for controlling urban nonpoint source and storm water runoff pollution. UNPS grants can reimburse costs for planning activities such as municipal storm water management planning, storm water utility development, local ordinance development, illicit discharge detection and elimination, and public information and outreach activities. Local governments are eligible to apply. Applicants must either have jurisdiction over the project area or be required to control storm water discharge with an inter-governmental agreement between the municipality and the Wisconsin DNR.

Applications for projects starting in 2018 must be postmarked no later than Monday, April 17, 2017.


Wastewater

Wastewater

CAFO Workshops

The 2017 CAFO Workshops are coming up soon!  The 2017 CAFO workshops will be held at the following dates and locations (registration opens 15 minutes before listed start time):

  1. January 31, 2017 – Green Bay (Meal 7:30 AM, program follows)
  2. January 31, 2017 – New London (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows)
  3. February 1, 2017 – Manitowoc (Meal 7:30 AM, program follows)
  4. February 1, 2017 – Fond du Lac (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows)
  5. February 6, 2017 – Jefferson (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows)
  6. February 7, 2017 – Dodgeville (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows)
  7. February 8, 2017 – Marshfield (11 AM)
  8. February 9, 2017 – Rice Lake (Meal 11:30 AM, program follows, earlybird panel 10:30 AM)

The Department of Natural Resources conducts these workshops along with the UW Extension.  These workshops provide an update for WPDES permitted CAFO owners and managers, nutrient management plan writers and engineers. Workshop topics include:

  • Production Site Compliance
  • Runoff control/collection from feed storage areas and animal lots
  • Monitoring & Reporting Compliance
  • Nutrient Management Compliance
  • Surface applications and cover crops requirements for CAFOs
  • DNR Panel Q&A

Registration materials and agendas for each location can be found by clicking on the following link: http://go.wisc.edu/vztbq5