News

EPA Launches New Recreational Water Standards

December 12, 2012


On November 26, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finally released its 2012 Recreational Water Quality Criteria (RWQC).  These criteria for recreational water use were last issued in 1986.  In 2000, the BEACH act directed EPA to conduct more studies associating bacteria and pathogens with human health, and then to publish new criteria for bacteria indicators that would better protect public health.

DNR Plans to Revise State Water Codes

December 5, 2012
In April 2012, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) launched a comprehensive review of rules impacting small business, which was prompted by Governor Walker’s “Executive Order #61-- Relating to Job Creation and Small Business Expansion”” issued on February 22, 2012.  This order required all state agencies to cooperate with the Small Business Regulatory Review Board to identify existing rules hindering job creation and small business growth, and to make recommended changes to rules to reduce burden on small businesses.  

Mayor Barrett Says "Follow the Great Lakes Compact"

December 3, 2012

Milwaukee Riverkeeper strongly agrees with Mayor Barrett's recent op-ed in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the importance of following the Great Lakes Compact while Waukesha seeks approval to use Lake Michigan water.  For Waukesha to access water from the Great Lakes, approval must be granted by all eight Great Lakes states (and two Canadian provinces).  These entities are entrusted with protecting the world's greatest fresh water resource, and it is vital that communities outside the Great Lakes basin, such as Waukesha, fulfill every legal and environmental requirement laid out by the Compact.  

These requirements are explained in Mayor Barrett's op-ed to show why he is so committed to protecting the Great Lakes on this issue.

Underwood Creek Power Lines Issue Gaining Attention

November 27, 2012

With hearings planned for this afternoon and this evening (November 27th) to give community members a chance to voice their concerns to the American Transmission Co. (ATC) and the Public Service Commission (PSC), Wauwatosa’s power line project is making the news.  ATC's plan to build new high voltage power lines along Underwood Creek has received pressure from homeowners, local politiciancs, We Energies, and other organizations (including Milwaukee Riverkeeper) to seek an alternative route.  

Milwaukee Plans to Repair Private Sewer Laterals

November 12, 2012

The effects of the torrential storms of July 2010, which poured more than nine inches of rain in three days, are still being felt in neighborhoods around the city.  Residents are still dealing with damage to their homes and properties from aging, leaking sanitary sewers that fill with rain and stopped flowing, which allowed wastewater to back up into the basements of many households.

Thus far, the city has spent more than $1 million to repair and replace municipal sanitary sewer mains so public sanitary sewers do not leak and allow storm water to enter following a major rainfall.  However, privately owned sanitary laterals that connect houses to the street sewers still need to be addressed.  

Great Lakes Environmental Groups Tour Waukesha

October 24, 2012

WaukeshaPicRepresentatives from environmental and conservation groups from six other Great Lakes states recently toured Waukesha to get a better understanding of Waukesha's need to for Great Lakes water.  Waukesha needs the approval of the eight Great Lakes states to divert Lake Michigan water across the sub-concontinental divide, a practice that has tradionally been prohibited by a Great Lakes protection compact.  Waukesha is the first community outside the Great Lakes drainage basin to seek such an exception.  The out-of-state groups want to make sure that, if the deal were to be approved, Waukesha would follow the rules of the compact.

Wishing the Clean Water Act a Happy Birthday on Lake Effect

October 24, 2012

Lake Effect 10.18.12On October 18th, Milwaukee Riverkeeper Executive Director Karen Schapiro spoke with WUWM Environmental Reporter Susan Bence about the Clean Water Act's 40th Anniversary.  This piece of monumental environmental legislation, passed with strong bi-partisan support, has done more to restore our waterways than any other law - before or since.  Yet, there remains more work to be done today!
 

Be sure to listen to the full Lake Effect segment.

Clean Water Act Exhibit on Display at Discovery World

October 17, 2012

Clean Water Act ExhibitOver 170 people joined us at Discovery World on October 10 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act.  If you didn't make the event, you still have time to see our exhibit, The Clean Water Act: Restoring Milwaukee's Rivers.  The exhibit will be open in the Discovery World Promenade until November 25th.  We hope you'll take a look and learn more about the history of our rivers and the legislation that makes so much of our work possible!
Discovery World info and directions
* Note: there is no charge to see the exhibit!

Waukesha/Oak Creek Water Deal Reached, Put in Jeopardy by Commission

October 4, 2012

WaukeshaPic

This week, the City of  Waukesha and Oak Creek signed a letter of intent  whereby for a period of at least 40 years  Oak Creek would  supply Waukesha an average of 7 million gallons a day of Lake Michigan water starting within the next several years, rising to an average of 10.9 million gallons per day by mid-century.    This letter of intent now becomes part of Waukesha’s application for a diversion of Great Lakes water, which is pending before the DNR, and must be approved by all the Great Lakes governors.

However, the state-wide Public Service Commission quickly ruled that Oak Creek would be precluded from taking on additional wholesale customers if it cannnot fully recover the costs of serving them, thus jeopardizing the water deal with Waukesha.  The Oak Creek Common Council authorized the initial letter of intent, but Oak Creek's Water & Sewer Utility General Manager Steve Yttri does not plan on signing it after this development.
 

Pressure is on to Restore Great Lakes Water Levels

September 28, 2012

Dredging of the St. Clair River in Canada has lowered water levels by nearly two feet in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.  Now pressure is mounting on both American and Canadian governments to figure out how to restore water levels.  Ninety mayors, representing 15 million people in the Great Lakes region, are dissatisfied with a study that says costly restoration projects to repair the damage caused by the dredging could take years and do more harm in the end.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper is dismayed with the study too and, together with partners, has submitted comments to the International Joint Commission (IJC) and testified at hearings, stating the IJC should investigate further.

Read the Front Page article about the issue from last Sunday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.


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