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The City of Madison is proud to announce it is one of nineteen communities in the country selected to join the inaugural Nature Everywhere
Communities initiative. The initiative is designed to increase
equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn, and play. “This
partnership embodies our city`s commitment to sustainability and
equity, recognizing that access to nature is not only a fundamental
human right but also a cornerstone of public health and well-being,”
said City of Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. Nature
Everywhere Communities will receive two years of strategic planning,
technical support, and start-up funding to develop and implement
community-driven plans for connecting children and families to
nature-based experiences and learning. The Madison
Nature Everywhere team is a partnership between Public Health Madison
& Dane County, the Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Nature Net, the City
of Madison, Madison Metropolitan School District, and Madison Parks. The
group worked together throughout the competitive application process to
join the effort. A collective of organizations from across Dane County
are also part of this effort.... ...Full Story Here
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A federal judge has granted a request by conservation groups to temporarily block a proposed land swap, preventing a controversial transmission line from crossing through a Mississippi River wildlife refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge Association, Driftless Area Land Conservancy and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation sued federal agencies earlier this month to halt construction of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line. U.S. District Court Judge William Conley granted the preliminary injunction on Thursday, extending it for now until agencies submit further information in the case. Jennifer Filipiak, executive director of the Driftless Area Land Conservancy, said she’s thankful the judge paused construction within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge...
...Full Story Here
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Researchers are exploring the use of satellite
imagery and artificial intelligence to monitor the times and places when
farmers spread manure, an agricultural practice that threatens water
quality in Wisconsin.After a fresh February snow, a satellite about the size of a shoebox, busy snapping photographs as it circuited the planet at 17,000 miles per hour, captured something dark in Wisconsin.
About 56 tons of livestock bedding and manure had been spread atop Mark Zinke’s frozen alfalfa field.
The image, beamed down to the surface, eventually appeared on the computers of Stanford University researchers, who relayed it to the offices of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
A staff member looked it over. He decided it was noteworthy and passed along the information to another employee in a nearby city...
...Full Story Here
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Climate change threatens this crucial part of Wisconsin culture.Just underneath the surface of Lake Mendota lies one of the true hallmarks of Wisconsin culture: walleye.
Walleye are a freshwater fish prevalent in Midwestern rivers and
lakes. In 2019, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources estimated
that 21,302 adult walleye were present in Lake Mendota — around 2.2 fish per acre.
Named
for their opaque “glassy” eye which helps them see in low-light
conditions and sporting a spiny dorsal fin and sharp teeth, walleye have
become a key player in Wisconsin society.
In ecological terms, a community is a group of species in a
particular location that interact and coexist with one another. While
many neglect to recognize humans as part of the local ecological
community, their actions heavily affect the health of the ecosystem and
the health of the ecosystem affects human social behavior...
...Full Story Here
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Learn how prescribed fire can be used as a tool to benefit forest
ecosystems and restore the environment as the University of
Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Wisconsin Forestry Center continues an online
speaker series on prescribed fire forest management.
Offered free of charge, the year-long webinar series, “Prescribed
Fire for Forest Management,” is held monthly from 8:30-10 a.m. on select
Wednesdays through October. Presentations will be available for viewing
online via Zoom. Registration is required.
The presentation series is designed for natural resource
professionals; however, it is open to all participants that have an
interest in forest management and/or prescribed fire. It will focus on
how the practice is important for ?ecosystem health, forest
regeneration, wildlife habitat, forest health and disease control.
Details can be found at uwsp.edu/wfc...
...Full Story Here
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Notes:
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UW-La Crosse has launched a new major designed to prepare students for careers in the critical, fast-growing field of environmental science. UWL students are now able to declare an Environmental Science major after the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved the program in December. The major, housed in the newly renamed Department of Geography and Environmental Science, draws from the natural and social sciences to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to address pressing environmental issues facing society. “This is a really unique major because it’s interdisciplinary across colleges and departments,” says Professor Joan Bunbury, who played a key role in the major’s development. “You’re pulling in natural science and social science courses from the College of Science and Health and the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities.”..
...Full Story Here
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) announced March 14 that the spring issue of Wisconsin
Natural Resources magazine is now available in print and online. The
latest edition has what you need to enjoy spring in Wisconsin, from
state road trips to rain garden planting tips and more. Informative
stories include details on how to help migrating birds on their way to
Wisconsin breeding grounds, how to volunteer from frogs and toads, and
how to improve your spring cleaning by making it more sustainable and
better for the environment. In
the cover story, “DNR on the Inside,” you’ll learn about the important
work happening behind the scenes at the DNR on behalf of Wisconsin’s
natural resources. And there’s plenty of other great content in the spring issue:.. ...Full Story Here
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Decades’ worth of toxic “forever chemicals” are sitting in landfills,
presenting a new contaminant for waste handlers who didn’t create the
pollution, but now find themselves awash in it. A few companies are
trying to filter PFAS out of their leachate, and researchers are
studying whether it might escape from trash into the air. The white trailer blends into the winter landscape at SKB Environmental’s landfill in Rosemount, Minnesota, but inside, machinery is working to capture one of the most pervasive environmental pollutants of our time.
The landfill is the final stop for industrial waste, incinerator ash and demolition garbage, where all of that material is mixed into massive, lined cells. Like in every landfill, moisture in the trash that’s trucked in mixes with rainfall and collects into a polluted soup known as leachate.
SKB is experimenting with filtering PFAS chemicals out of that liquid. The leachate is pumped inside the trailer, where it travels through several tanks that repeatedly froth it up. These chemicals bubble into a super-concentrated foam – much like soap would. Then that foam is siphoned off, and the cleaned water continues on to a sewage plant.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are thousands of chemicals used to make frying pans nonstick and clothes and carpets stain-resistant, and even to snuff out dangerous fires...
...Full Story Here
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On the first day of March in Havenwoods State Forest, the ground was bare, and the snow from a recent fall had melted. Mia Noel, a natural resources educator at the park, hunted for animal tracks in the mud. Noel is a winter evangelist. She sleds on weekdays after work and hosts outdoor winter games for friends (they compete for hot drinks). Her seasonal catchphrase is “BWE” — Best Winter Ever, that is, owing to her belief that each winter can be the best yet, with the right attitude. Noel leads snowy walks at Havenwoods, drawing participants’ attention to winter`s ability to reveal things you can`t see during other parts of the year... ...Full Story Here
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Waukesha, WI – Represented
by the WMC Litigation Center, Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture
Dairy Cooperative filed an appeal on Friday in their case against the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The dairy groups argue
that DNR has exceeded its authority by requiring hundreds of Wisconsin farmers to obtain a Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit.
This requirement for a discharge permit – which is separate from the
ban on unauthorized discharges – creates a “failure to apply” liability
for farmers, resulting in far greater compliance costs and time
associated with this additional layer of burdensome regulation. “Larger-scale farms in Wisconsin are already some of the most
regulated entities in our state and nationally, and this permit
requirement simply creates additional burdens on our agricultural
community,” said WMC Litigation Center Executive Director Scott Rosenow.
“Further, DNR has exceeded its authority, in violation of Wisconsin’s
uniformity requirement, by being inconsistent with federal law.”.... ...Full Story Here
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This probably won`t surprise you if you spent any time outside over the past few months, but winter 2023-2024 was Wisconsin`s warmest on record by more than two degrees. Experts say a major reason behind this record-setting winter was a particularly strong El Nin?o event. El Nin?o is a regularly and naturally occurring weather phenomenon where sea surface temperatures in parts of the tropical Pacific Ocean warm to above average for multiple months. During a strong El Nin?o year, the northern United States generally experiences milder winter weather. Last year, the National Weather Service said this winter`s El Nin?o was on track to be one of the strongest on record. However, many climate scientists also agree that long-term climate warming trends have contributed to the wild weather we saw this winter, which ranged from Wisconsin`s first-ever February tornado to a 77-degree February day.... ...Full Story Here Ken Notes: A great read but for many it may be behind a pay wall.
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MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (DNR) is seeking public input on updates to the state’s Elk
Management Plan now through April 20, 2024.
Updates to the 2024-2034 Elk Management Plan
include changes based on recommendations from the Natural Resources
Board, Wisconsin Elk Advisory Committee and feedback from private
landowners in the elk management zones.
The public is encouraged to review the proposed plan and share their thoughts via the online comment tool. The DNR will review and consider feedback submitted during the comment period while preparing the final draft of the plan.
Once finalized later this year, the proposed plan will be presented to the Natural Resources Board for approval...
...Full Story Here
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Ken`s Notes: Every week in WDNGreen.com I aggregate a few articles on electric vehicles, these are national articles and often of personal interest to me...
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The Cap Times took home 14 awards for journalism excellence Friday in
an annual judging of Wisconsin newspapers, earning top honors for
photos, opinion writing and coverage of health, the environment and
local government. During an awards ceremony Friday night at The
Madison Concourse Hotel, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation
announced winners from over 2,000 entries submitted by more than 100
newspapers statewide. The Cap Times, competing in the category
with the largest newspapers by circulation, won seven first-place
awards, five second-place, one third-place and one honorable mention... ...Full Story Here
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Back in the fall of 2022, a group of Beloit residents concerned about climate change began monitoring air pollution in the southern Wisconsin industrial city. It was the first time that anyone had systematically surveyed the community’s atmosphere. The early results were troubling, indicating notably high levels of air pollution. The monitoring efforts continued, with the data recorded and displayed in real time on a publicly accessible website. Now a new report that compiles the results of 30,000 air monitoring stations around the world has thrown a new spotlight on the project — identifying the city’s air pollution in 2023 as worst among U.S. cities and 14th worst in North America.... ...Full Story Here
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ANN ARBOR—Ten organizations whose projects focus on advancing
equitable climate adaptation efforts have been awarded funding from the
GLISA Small Grants Program.
The awardees will receive two-year grants of up to $35,000
each to collaborate with GLISA, NOAA’s Great Lakes CAP/RISA team, in
developing equitable climate adaptation projects and advancing the
priorities of frontline communities in the Great Lakes region, according
to Jenna Jorns, Co-Director at GLISA.
“All of these projects will amplify justice, equity,
diversity, and inclusion in climate adaptation efforts in the Great
Lakes,” said Jorns. “Five of the awards have been given to
community-based organizations that GLISA has not partnered with before,
and we’re excited to support their work to implement equitable climate
adaptation programs in their communities.”... - ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability USA: “FloodWise Communities Learn/Do Cohorts.” ??ICLEI USA will deliver two learn/do cohorts that support Michigan and Wisconsin local governments in developing a stormwater system vulnerability assessment leveraging GLISA’s FloodWise Communities program.
...Full Story Here
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Last week, a divided Wisconsin Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling
that limited the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ ability to
regulate PFAS and other emerging contaminants under the state’s
long-standing spills law.
The case is one of two efforts to weaken the spills law.
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Assembly and Senate recently passed Senate Bill 312, sending it to Gov. Tony Evers. The Democrat has implied he will veto the legislation because it contains “poison pill” provisions that allow polluters to dodge accountability.
Among those is a measure that would prevent the department from
forcing PFAS cleanups on lands not owned by the state unless there is an
exceedance of a “promulgated standard.”... ...Full Story Here
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Ken Notes: Share this and if you want to be included: Call us - 608.334.2174 or Editor [at] WDNGreen.com....
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Hot off the “press,” AgSTAR’s updated handbook is a comprehensive compilation of the latest knowledge in the industry on best practices for anaerobic digestion and biogas systems.
For 26 years, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) AgSTAR Program has been helping farmers and communities across the United States develop and implement anaerobic digestion (AD) biogas systems. These systems are critical to reduce methane emissions from manure management operations, while also providing other environmental and economic benefits. As a trusted partnership program, AgSTAR helps educate the public on best practices for designing, implementing and maintaining digester projects and brings together leading experts to discuss opportunities and challenges for advancing the biogas industry.
AgSTAR’s newest resource, the Anaerobic Digester Project Development Handbook,
is a comprehensive compilation of the latest knowledge in the industry
on best practices for AD/ biogas systems. The goal of the Handbook is to
ensure long-term project success for AD biogas systems by providing
background and a framework for AD project development. ...Full Story Here Ken Notes:I would love to see Wisconsin become the leader in this technology! Every farmer and elected official in the state should download this.
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Coverage of local and national eco news for commercial development,
home, transportation, food and community. We search for environmentally
friendly news that makes economic sense for Wisconsin. ONLINE HERE. Please share with a friend. To receive WDNews GREEN on Monday of each week as an email you must subscribe - secure link to subscribe is here. Want to comment, or have an idea:
Ideas[at]WisconsinDevelopment.comWe may now need to build a
coalition that is willing to lobby from a "greener" yet pro business
perspective. Lots of HUGE issues: Sand Mining, CNG, LEED Alternatives,
Focus On Energy, LED Lighting R&D, Cleaner Power Generation,
Recycling, Power Lines, Electric Cars, Wind, Solar, Bio Fuels,
Digestors, Green AG, Business Incentives...And of course the Greenest
and Happiest of Holidays to you! Please consider sponsoring WDNGreen! WDNews GREEN will be emailed on Mondays, included in WDNews on Thursdays, and online all the time at: WDNGreen.com
Each week we will find 10 to 20 articles from Wisconsin and across the
Nation dealing with environmental issues. Our goal is to promote
environmental excellence from a sound business perspective. Our
resource guide at the bottom of this publication will continue to grow,
and you may add links, suggest articles, include your press releases, or
comment by eMailing Me. As always thanks for reading, and if you would like to sponsor or get involved call 608.334.2174... ...Full Story HereKen Notes: Please forward this to friends and colleagues who have an interest in our economy and environment. You may eMail Me Here.
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Start Week: 9 - Query String:SELECT * FROM wdngreen WHERE `issue` > 9 and volume = 24 OR `issue` > 90 ORDER BY sortorder