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July 30, 2007
Protect Our
Shorelines From Development
After five
years of research, countless advisory committee meetings, eleven
public hearings and over 50,000 public comments, a new draft of the
statewide shoreland development rules (aka NR115) is up for public
hearing. These rules regulate shoreline development adjacent to
rivers and lakes throughout most of Wisconsin excluding Milwaukee
County and some urban “incorporated” areas at the time of rule
enactment. The current rules are over 40 years old, dating from an
era when no one could have predicted the explosion of development on
lakeshores and along rivers throughout the state, and before people
understood the tremendous impacts of development on the health of
our waterways. The new proposal is based on two simple, universal
facts: stormwater running off hard surfaces such as roofs and
driveways carries pollutants into waterways and causes erosion; and
natural vegetation, especially along the shoreline, helps stop
stormwater runoff and erosion while providing habitat for fish and
wildlife.
Here are some highlights of the DNR’s new proposed shoreland
development rules:
limit the total amount of “impervious surface” permitted per lot;
require maintaining native vegetation within 35 feet of the
shoreline;
maintain building set-back of 75 feet back from the shoreline (this
has been in effect for 40 years); provide more flexibility for
“nonconforming structures”. In the past, there were confusing rules
on how much could be done to repair and rebuild “nonconforming
structures”, which were built within 75 feet of the shoreline. The
proposed rules allow repair as well as some expansion and in
exchange, require preventing any new stormwater generated from
entering the water (through planting of rain gardens, native
vegetation along the shoreline, or other methods approved by the
county).
Overall, we are supportive of the proposed changes, but we are
anticipating extensive opposition from some sectors of the
development community. DNR needs to hear from you, at one of their
upcoming hearings or in writing, to make sure the proposal is not
weakened.
The closest hearing to us takes place tomorrow from 5:45 to 8:00 PM
with a 4:30 presentation and question/answer session at:
August 7 – Waukesha County Technical College
Pewaukee Campus - Richard T. Anderson Education Center
800 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072
(262) 691-5566 or www.WCTC.edu
You can also either email comments or send a letter before September
7th:
Send comments over the internet at:
http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov
Mail your written comments to Toni Herkert, Bureau of Watershed
Management P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707
Please take the time to attend the hearing nearest you, and if you
can’t make it, send a quick email or letter before September 7.
For more information on the Shoreland Management Program, please go
here:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/dsfm/shore/
July 21, 2007
Canoes & Brews
Trip Explores
Milwaukee's
Central Park and Urban Landscapes!
Over 40 people
joined Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers on Saturday, July 21, 2007 for
the annual Canoes & Brews trip from Lincoln Park into downtown
Milwaukee.
Participants enjoyed the serene view of calm waters and lush
greenery as they paddled through Milwaukee’s Central Park, which
ranges from Silver Spring Drive to North Avenue. As paddlers
approached downtown they began to notice the drastic difference
between Milwaukee's preserved green space and the urban development
of downtown.
FMR intern,
Amanda Frahm, spoke highly of her first experience canoeing on the
Milwaukee River, "It made me realize that Milwaukee is unique in
that it has maintained a large amount of natural green space within
its urban setting."
One of the main goals of Canoes & Brews is to get people to see the
value and beauty of the river. By having them participate in
recreational activities; the paddlers view the river as an asset and
advocate for its protection in the future.
Canoes & Brews culminated at Rock Bottom Brewery where paddlers
received a complimentary drink ticket.
If you missed Canoes & Brews do not fret, you can
still join Friends of Milwaukee’s Rivers Milky Moonlight Paddle
trip on August 28, 2007!
Milky Moonlight Paddle Information!
July 20, 2007
Act Now to
Keep the Great Lakes Water in the Great Lakes!
This summer, you may be one of
the thousands of Wisconsinites flocking to the Great Lakes for
picnics, swimming, fishing, and boating. Or you may be one of
thousands whose business depends on the Great Lakes through
commercial fishing, international and inter-state shipping, tourism,
agriculture or industrial manufacturing. Whatever your link, you
know that the Great Lakes don’t just define Wisconsin …they define
us as Wisconsinites.
The Great Lakes contain 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface
water, which makes it easy to understand why other thirsty states
and nations are beginning to eye their sparkling blue waters. It
also makes it easy to understand why we must act now to protect
them.
It’s especially urgent that we act now because there are currently
no consistent rules across the region governing the use of Great
Lakes water, making them vulnerable to tankers and pipelines that
could pump water away from the region. That current “anything goes”
status leaves our region open to water shortages and lowered lake
levels, leading to drinking water contamination and higher water
rates, more beach closings, fewer opportunities to boat and fish,
and job losses in the industries that depend on the Great Lakes.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The Great Lakes Compact, now being
considered by your state legislators, establishes fair and
consistent rules for responsible Great Lakes water use. It’s
critical that legislators pass a Strong Great Lakes Compact- the one
that is best for Wisconsin .
Send a letter to your Assembly Representative, your state Senator
and Governor Doyle asking them to support a Strong Great Lakes
Compact.
Click
Here to Act Now
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