|
|
Inside This Issue
A Message from the Executive DirectorDear Friends of the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership – Fall is in the air and with it comes several LNRP programs and projects.
 Jim Kettler enjoying a moment with barn dance guests. On the project side, LNRP is working with the Village of Cleveland on plans for restoration of the abandoned millpond on Centerville Creek. We’re working with TRC Environmental Solutions, the Calumet County Land and Water Conservation Department, the National Resource Conservation Service, and the Department of Natural Resources to develop complementary restoration projects for Pine Creek. We’re also working with the Friends of the Branch and Tom Ward, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for Manitowoc County, on mapping invasive species on the Branch River. We’re planning several paint-outs with the Water’s Edge Artists (WEA) in the upcoming year and plan to expand upon our Conservation Gallery on the WEA website. Selected paintings for the 2010 Lakeshore Waterways Calendar are on exhibit now through November 29 at the Rahr-West Art Museum in Manitowoc. Finally, we invite you to purchase your 2010 Calendar by visiting our webiste <link>. As many of you know, the Water’s Edge Artists have partnered with the LNRP and have chosen prominent and otherwise overlooked creeks, streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands to feature in their paintings. We hope this calendar will benefit the community of our Lakeshore Basin by becoming a source of inspiration toward building stronger stewardship of these very special waterways. Lakeshore Champion of Conservation Award ProgramThe Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) and Dominion (NYSE: D), owner of the Kewaunee Power Station, will be hosting their Fall 2009 Lakeshore Champions of Conservation Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 12 at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, 75 Maritime Drive, in Manitowoc. The environmental award program recognizes and honors the outstanding achievements of groups, programs, organizations, businesses or individuals in a wide range of environmental initiatives throughout Northeastern Wisconsin. The award seeks to pay tribute to those that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence, leadership, and accomplishment in their respective fields.
By sponsoring these awards, LNRP and Dominion hope to encourage our communities to emulate the achievements of the successful nominees, thereby promoting innovative environmental efforts and enhancing the quality of life in the Lakeshore Basin. The event is free and open to the public. See you there! Water's Edge Artists
Exhibit at the Rahr-West Art Museum showcases Lakeshore Waterways Exhibit A very accomplished group of artists created the Water’s Edge Artists group and have been working to support the work of the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP). The artists submitted individual pieces to three jurors that selected the best of show and twelve other paintings for the 2010 Lakeshore Waterways Calendar. The Waterways Exhibit is currently being shown at the Rahr-West Art Museum through November 29. The original calendar paintings and other works by the artists are being displayed and are for sale. The public is invited to see the exhibit and reflect upon the artist’s attempt to create stronger stewardship of our waters. By purchasing a painting, you are directly helping to protect our waterways! The Rahr-West Art Museum is located at 610 N. 8th Street in Manitowoc.
The Water’s Edge Artists have chosen prominent and otherwise overlooked creeks, streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands to feature in their paintings. The calendar hopes to capture the essence of these important places through the painters’ direct contact with nature. Click here for our order form or stop by the Rahr-West Museum, the Woodland Dunes Nature Center, or the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. You can also contact any LNRP Board or Staff Member. The calendar sells for $15 including shipping and all proceeds go to protect and restore the waterways of the Lakeshore Basin. Water's Edge Artists Paint-Out Sponsored by Friends of the Branch Saturday, November 7th from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Michael J. Dodge Nature Preserve on the Branch River near Reifs Mills, north of Whitelaw in Manitowoc County. Carol Dodge & her husband Rolli beautifully manage this 80 acre preserve, featuring many ponds, bird habitat areas, vistas, wooded and meadow areas, rustic cabin; all framed by the Branch River. Enjoy the day with the Water’s Edge Artists, an alliance of plein air artists dedicated to the conservation and protection of water resources in the Lakeshore Basin. Get a chance to see the painters in action, ask questions, and learn to appreciate their stewardship ethic. The Friends of the Branch will provide a free lunch beginning at 12 p.m. for the artists and registered guests. A horse drawn wagon will transport viewers to the artist's paint sites. Directions: From I43 take Hwy 10 West (exit # 154) to County Hwy T (just east of the village of Whitelaw), turn right/north to Reifs Mills Rd., turn left/west followed shortly by a turn right/north (still on Reifs Mills Rd.). Immediately on the right side of the road is Carol & Rolli's residence at 11006 Reifs Mills Rd. The next driveway/parking area is the entrance to the Dodge Preserve and where to park. If you go past the curve (there is a Michael J. Dodge Nature Preserve sign before the curve), you have gone too far. 2010 Declared Year of the Niagara Escarpment
In Wisconsin, the Niagara Escarpment spans a distance of over 230 miles and reaches from Waukesha County to the Door County Peninsula. It runs through the counties of Door, Kewaunee, Brown, Manitowoc, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Dodge and Waukesha. Locally, it is often known as and referred to simply as “the Ledge.” The Ledge is a resource that is constantly in flux, particularly with respect to attitudes about land use and conservation. While it is true that the Niagara Escarpment is a globally significant ecological resource, it is also a highly sought after resource in terms of building lots and building construction materials (cut stone, gravel, etc.). In an attempt to balance the competing interests that exist and to better recognize the importance of the Niagara Escarpment, The Niagara Escarpment Resource Network (the ‘Network’) was formed an informal effort in 1998. Lead by the East Central and the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commissions as well as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, this advisory group has over 300 members in including representatives of federal, state, and local agencies, academic groups, non-profit conservation organizations, and citizen members. The group meets regularly to promote better planning, protection, and management for resources related to the Niagara Escarpment. At this point, the Network has no ‘legal’ status (i.e. 501(c) (3) non-profit, etc.), however; good partnerships have been established with participating entities that can assist the organization in accomplishing its goals. The Network has accomplished some major things over the years, including conducting Natural Resource Foundation Tours, doing public and school presentations (with the assistance of LNRP!), facilitating major art shows and conferences, all in an attempt to elevate the awareness of the Niagara Escarpment. In recent months, one of the Network’s most exciting accomplishments to date is the adoption of a proclamation (AJR-1, March. 24, 2009) by the Wisconsin State Legislature which makes the year 2010 Year of the Niagara Escarpment and more specifically, May, 2010 as being Month of the Niagara Escarpment. This effort was led by Rep. Al Ott (R-3rd Assembly District). “I am especially pleased that the Niagara Escarpment is getting this well deserved recognition,” said Ott in a previous press release. “Assembly Joint Resolution 1 will promote awareness and education to this distinctive landscape. The Niagara Escarpment will be acknowledged as an essential geologic and natural resource to our State.” Ott added, “This unique natural element is an important ecologic, historic, economic, cultural and recreational foundation.” The Network is currently developing plans to host an extensive ‘celebration’ for this resource throughout the entire calendar year. To date, over 70 separate events, workshops, field trips, programs and new products have been developed to help the public better understand this simple, yet complex resource. For more information on the Niagara Escarpment Resource Network, including information on how you or your organization can help us celebrate in 2010, please contact Eric Fowle at (920) 751-4770 or via e-mail at efowle@eastcentralrpc.org Barn Dance a Huge Success
Under the banner, Partnering for Progress: Celebrating our Rural Communities, the event featured music by the King Comets, a swing band that focuses on the early roots of rock’n’roll, locally sourced appetizer buffet and refreshment bar, a display of antique farming artifacts show casing the history of the Klessig family, door prizes including paintings from the Water’s Edge Artists, and a short program featuring keynote speaker Secretary of Agriculture Rod Nilsestuen.
We are making this an annual event every September during the harvest season so look for further information on the LNRP website. Next year should be even better! Environmental ManagementThoughts on Improving and Sustaining Dairy’s Rich Traditions When I volunteered to draft a newsletter piece on Environmental Management Systems (EMS) – yes, it really was quite a while ago, and I’m finally getting around to it – I thought my background in leading a national trade association to adoption of a self-imposed system of environmental standards and practices would help me craft the article. I still think that, but admit that a less than comprehensive knowledge of the Lakeshore Basin’s dairy businesses renders me a bit vague on some of the details about how EMS might shape their day-to-day operations. EMS has its roots in a comprehensive set of environmental management standards developed by the International Organization on Standardization, originally published in 1996 and revised in 2004, designated as ISO 14001. ISO 14001 is a series of recommended practices integrated into ongoing business operations that seek to make environmental sensitivity and responsiveness a normal part of business planning and management. I recall when the concept was first introduced on the heals of ISO 9001 – a systematic approach to quality assurance and controls – the two initiatives, taken together, were viewed skeptically (to put it mildly) by some in the United States as a clever way in which others in the global marketplace might induce U.S. businesses to adopt new and expensive ways of doing things that would render them increasingly non-competitive. And, to some extent, I suspect that attitude carries over today, in that manufacturers and producers are reluctant to take on new “requirements” that will increase their costs of doing business. In truth, however, EMS is all about sustainability – a voluntary sustainability at that. Unlike government rules and regulations that are often perceived as needless and ill-conceived intrusions that merely add cost-creating layers of compliance and reporting, EMS’s integration into daily business operations is a means of enhancing environmental performance, acknowledging and reducing so-called “externalities” (costs of cleaning up polluted waters, e.g.) that impose societal costs upon us all, and facilitating better decision-making by employees at all levels of operations.
As incorporated into the Agricultural Watershed Improvement Network (AWIN) partnership’s efforts to improve farm management practices throughout the Lakeshore Basin and better protect the quality of ground and surface waters, EMS requires that cooperating dairy operators adopt a continuous cyclical regime of “Plan, Do, Check and Improve”.
For all its emphasis on environmental performance, EMS brings with it a vastly improved business model for dairying. By building environmental enhancement into planning and operations, rather than being required to overlay and adapt to government-imposed rules and regulations that are frequently formulated, initially, to address a worst-case scenario that an EMS-compliant operator’s business plan is designed to prevent, the dairy farmer is able to realize both economic efficiencies and better environmental outcomes. LNRP’s executive director, Jim Kettler, is part of a team of AWIN operatives who are offering EMS training to Lakeshore Basin dairy farmers. Ultimately, it is hoped that cooperating dairy producers will be eligible to apply for “Green Tier” designation through the Wisconsin DNR. That recognition brings with it an acknowledgement that the farm’s operations not only meet, but exceed, the environmental performance expected of compliance with government regulations, and that superior protections to air, water and land resources result. Audits would be routinely conducted in order to ensure that the EMS is performing to that level. Wisconsin has recently enacted a series of new state programs to preserve and protect working lands – farms and forests, particularly. For the farm element, purchase of agricultural conservation easements (PACE) and creation of agricultural enterprise areas are central features. Both are proposed as means to keep the lands that produce food and fiber intact and producing and, as a valued social construct, support and improve the rural life that defines much of Wisconsin. During the debate on these initiatives, the idea that EMS adoption might be a condition PACE outlays in support of individual farmers was considered, but not included. As the program unfolds, I would expect that discussion to continue. LNRP is proud to be a contributor to the movement to sustain and enhance Wisconsin’s rural heritage, including bettering the environmental performance of its working farms. The success of our recent barn dance, billed as, “Partnering for Progress: Celebrating our Rural Communities”, is testament to that movement. Together with our partners, the Council of Rural Initiatives, UW Extension, Saxon Homestead Farm, and Gathering Waters Conservancy, we will continue to advocate for EMS as a key means of improving and sustaining Wisconsin’s rich dairy traditions. River Walk on the Branch RiverThe Friends of the Branch River and the Lake Shore Natural Resource Partnership sponsored a "Walk the Branch River" on Saturday October 10, from 9 am to 1 pm. This was an opportunity to enjoy the river, fall colors and map invasives species. We had two groups walk two stretches of the river in the Town of Franklin.
We were looking for invasive species such as; phragmites, purple Loostrife, Eurasian water milfoil, buck thorn, wild parsnip, teasel, honeysuckle, garlic mustard, all of which are threatening our riverean habitats. What we found were very few invasive species on the two segments we surveyed! We plan to do several more mapping exercises in the next few months. Once these sites are located and mapped, landowners will be contacted and notified with methods to control and prevent further spread of these invasives. |
Fall 2009
News from LNRPEvents CalendarWanted: Door County and Manitowoc County Landowner FeedbackDuring the past six months several new publications were developed for select audiences in the Lakeshore Basin, “Protect the Water You Drink – Tips for Owners of Rural Homes and Agricultural Lands in Door County” and a series of four “Explore and Restore” watershed brochures for residents in Manitowoc County in the West Twin, East Twin, Manitowoc and Silver Creek watersheds. There is momentum to replicate or expand upon these efforts in several ways throughout the basin, so it is important to evaluate our effectiveness and to identify ways to improve the products and programs. If you have received any of these publications, or even if you have not, but want to review them and provide feedback, please contact UWEX basin educator, Debbie Beyer, 920-459-6644 or deb.beyer@ces.uwex.edu. Your interest and help is greatly appreciated! Now Available! “Land Use and Wetlands: A Local Decision Makers’ Guide to Wetland Conservation”The Wisconsin Wetlands Association (WWA) has released a new publication titled Land Use and Wetlands: A Local Decision Makers’ Guide to Wetland Conservation. The purpose of the Local Decision Makers Guide is to improve wetland conservation and reduce wetland controversies by providing town, village, city and county land use officials with basic information about how wetlands contribute to the economic health, public safety, and quality of life in Wisconsin’s communities. The publication also explains how wetlands are regulated under state law and identifies practical steps that local governments can take to improve consideration of wetlands and wetland laws in land use decision-making. Though tailored specifically for use by local land use decision makers, the Guide can also be used by citizens and lake, river, and watershed groups to help engage local land use officials about the benefits of protecting and restoring wetlands. In fact, WWA developed the publication in direct response to northern Wisconsin lake leaders who expressed a need for tools and information to help them educate local officials on the public benefits of protecting wetlands. Developed with grant support of the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program,
the Local Decision Makers Guide can be viewed or downloaded for free from WWA’s
new local government outreach web-pages at www.wisconsinwetlands.org.
Print copies can also be requested by contacting Kyle Magyera, WWA Policy Specialist,
at 608.250.9971 or email. Landowner Input Sought for Pine Creek ImprovementsBy Don Schwobe The Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership (LNRP) is inviting area residents living near the Pine Creek Watershed to discuss ways to further improve the ecosystem. The TRC Environmental Corporation has been removing PCB contaminated soil and sediment for the last year to make the water and lowland areas safe once again for people, fish and wildlife. We would like to restore Pine and Jordan Creeks and the surrounding lowlands to a better condition than existed before they were contaminated. We hope to expand on the current restoration by working together on the rivers’ cleanup. Restoring the natural habitat and installing conservation practices on land adjoining these rivers can enhance our community’s future. We value this opportunity to work with residents to take this effort to the next level, as a cooperative venture and need their input, ideas and assistance. This interactive meeting will be held at St. Martin’s Heritage Park on Wednesday, October 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, followed by a free catered lunch. Heritage Park is located just south of Hwy 151 on County Trunk T. Natural resource professionals from TRC Environmental Corporation, the Department of Natural Resources, Calumet County Land and Water Conservation Department, and Natural Resource Conservation Service will participate in this event. Feb 23-24 is Great Lakes Day in Washington D.C.Although we are not sure of the exact amount, an unprecedented amount of money - between $400 million and $475 million, will soon be approved to help rehabilitate the Great Lakes. Let congress know you appreciate this, especially leading up to Great Lakes Day in February. Send a thank you note to your congress members for funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Honorable Russ Feingold The Honorable Herb Kohl U.S. Congressman Tom Petri Events CalendarShipwreck Activity Day Learn about diving on shipwrecks, hear famous shipwreck stories,
and more with regular museum admission or membership. Food in Schools Forum For teachers, school administrators, food service staff, school board
members, and those interested in healthy food choices in schools.
UW Extension – Green Bay “Who’s Afraid of
a Radish?” Chilton High School Join us for an enlightening afternoon filled with information focusing on real implementation of Farm to School in the kitchen. Practical methods of production, realigning work schedules, and guidelines for employee training and encouragement are discussed using a step by step process to begin utilizing the fresh, whole foods Farm to School can offer. The first half of the workshop will focus on implementing the program and covering basic ground work. Attendees will be provided with sample work scenarios and solutions for busy production schedules. A short break will follow featuring a full fruit and veggie bar for attendees to sample and enjoy from Chilton School's daily lunch lines. Local costing information will be displayed so attendees can see firsthand the savings and versatility of this program. The second half of the program will be in the form of question and answer with a panel of cooks and leads who have successfully added Farm to School to their programs. Our objective is to give managers and lead cooks the ability to see beyond negative expectations, and be successful in their own programs. Please join us by registering via email at dchapeta@chilton.k12.wi.us, or by phone at (920) 849 2393 on or before November 11th. Woodland Dunes Nature Center Harvest Dinner Aegolius Bird Club Wild Ones For more information on any of these events, call 920-793-4007 Want to donate?I would like to make a tax deductible donation. |
| P.O. Box 62 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 • © 2009 Lakeshore
Natural Resource Partnership, Inc. © 2009 Wisconsin Web Writer, LLC All Rights Reserved |
|
This year’s awardees are the Kewaunee Groundwater Guardians emerging
as the Champion of Environmental Education and Outreach Champion and
selected as the Champion of Champions; Chuck Wagner selected as the
Water Resources Protection Champion; and Terri Lyon selected as Land
Use Protection and Habitat Restoration Champion. All award recipients
receive recognition plaques, the Champion of Champions will be honored
with a donation of $2,000 and other Champions with a donation of $500
made on their behalf to the local non-profit environmental organization
of their choice.
The program begins at 5:30 pm with a wine and appetizer reception along
with guest speaker Joel Brammeier. Joel serves as acting president
and CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. On staff since 2001, Joel
oversees a staff of 20 professionals dedicated to protecting and restoring
clean water, educating citizens and youth and building a sustainable
future for the Great Lakes. He has led the development of laws and regulations
to prevent invasive species in several Great Lakes states and recently
published a report on the urgent need to permanently stop the influx
of invaders like Asian carp. He received his master's degree from the
University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources & Environment
in 1998, and his bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University in 1996.
Prior to joining the Alliance, Joel worked for the American Medical
Association. He has lived in the Great Lakes watershed his entire life
and now resides on the north side of Chicago.
The Niagara Escarpment in many ways defines the watersheds of the Lakeshore
Basin. Quoting Joanne Kluessendorf – “The Niagara Escarpment spans
the middle of the North American continent, connecting countries, as
it stretches from Wisconsin to Niagara Falls in New York State. Its
towering white cliffs create a distinctive and beloved landscape in
Wisconsin, especially here in the northeastern part of the State. This
rocky ledge, so familiar to us, has witnessed many strange and wonderful
changes through its long history. The remnants of an ancient tropical
sea, these strata have been abraded, eroded, tilted, frozen, scoured,
planed and polished. Strong and solid, stone from the escarpment has
been used to help build our cities. Yet, this same stone harbors a
fragile ecosystem that affects wildlife, our water, and our quality
of life.”
A celebration of rural Wisconsin and the people who make it a special
place occurred on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Saxon Homestead in Cleveland,
Wisconsin. The fund-raiser ran from 5 to 10 p.m. in a restored hay
barn in the now designated Saxon Historic Heritage Center.
We raised $15,000.00 in net proceeds to directly support the work
of three nonprofit partners: the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership
(LNRP), Gathering Waters Conservancy (GWC) and the Council of Rural
Initiatives (CRI). Each group devotes time and resources to a common
vision for a healthy natural resource environment, wise land use and
sustainable rural communities. They all work in collaboration with
other partner organizations, providing educational and outreach programs
to address environmental challenges and contribute to community development
and a sustainable future on many levels. These goals and activities
are also pursued by co-hosts of the Partnering for Progress event,
UW Extension and the Saxon Homestead Farm. 
So, what are we really talking about here? 
We began the morning with a brief presentation on the top ten invasive
species of Manitowoc County. Teams were then equipped with maps and
GPS units, and transported to stretches of the Branch River. 