Welcome to Oneida County Clean Waters Action
Exploring the issues that affect our rivers, lakes and ground water.
The Impressive Snapping Turtle
JoAnne Lund's Oneida County Clean Water Minute
A few weeks ago, while paddling the Wisconsin River, I had an exciting experience—a large Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) swam alongside my kayak before gracefully diving beneath me! There’s something truly impressive about these ancient, mud-loving creatures.
What is it about Snapping Turtles that captures your imagination? Is it their impressive size (up to 45 pounds), their large heads and long tails, their powerful, clawed limbs, or perhaps their formidable jaws, which they use to ambush prey?
Despite their fearsome appearance, Snapping Turtles are actually unhurried and unassuming animals. They prefer shallow, slow-moving waters with muddy bottoms, where they can bury themselves and remain hidden. While they typically avoid humans when in the water, they can become defensive and aggressive on land, where they feel more vulnerable.
It’s fascinating to think that today’s Snapping Turtles have remained relatively unchanged for 215 million years. Like other turtles, they lay eggs, but the survival rate of their eggs and juveniles is quite low. Up to 90% of nests are destroyed by predators such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and mink, often within the first night. However, once Snapping Turtles reach adulthood, they have few natural enemies.
Beyond their impressive appearance, Snapping Turtles play an important role in controlling and maintaining balance in populations of fish, waterfowl, invertebrates, and even some plants. By taking small steps to protect these ancient reptiles, we can ensure their survival for generations to come.
- Keep an eye out for Snapping Turtles and other turtles during June, as this is when they are on the move to find nesting sites.
- If you see a turtle crossing the road, assist it safely in the direction it’s heading. For Snapping Turtles, I recommend using a shovel to encourage them to cross, as handling them by their tails can seriously injure them.
JoAnne Lund is an ecologist and naturalist living in Oneida County. She thrives on kayaking, back-country skiing and nature photography.
Public Hearing on Comprehensive Plan Set for July 14th
Best chance to voice grievances on proposed Comp Plan language will be at July hearing.
By Tom Wiensch June 25, 2025- Your chance to comment on comprehensive land use planning by Oneida County is coming on July 14th. County comprehensive plans must be updated every ten years. The Oneida County Planning and Development Committee is close to recommending a new plan to the County Board. The Committee’s draft of that plan indicates significant steps away from conservation and toward development, including development of metallic mines.
On July 14th, at 5:00 P.M., the Committee will hold a public hearing on the new comprehensive plan, and members of the public will be allowed to comment. The hearing will be held in the Community Room of the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office at 2000 East Winnebago St. in Rhinelander. Your input on July 14th is critical.
Although comprehensive plans do not directly serve as land use regulations, they are very significant documents in that certain land use regulations, including zoning codes, must comply with comprehensive plans.
The Committee’s draft plan contains very concerning language that deviates greatly from the past plan. Examples include the following.
- · “The long-term needs of future generations for renewable and non-renewable resources must be considered in any land-use plan. To achieve this goal, the county shall pursue and guarantee appropriate multiple uses of land, including but not limited to . . . metallic and non-metallic mining.”
- · “Require cost benefit analysis for all major conservation projects on public/easement lands, including for forest management plans. Oneida County will evaluate and determine the cost benefit analysis of any and all guidance, executive action, or mandated action offered by any agency, state and federal, governor or president, before initiating any action pursuant to the action requested, to be approved by the county and paid for by the requesting party.”
- · Discourage the conversion of existing privately owned lands to public lands using federal, state, and local tax dollars to purchase existing MFL lands or purchase easements over them. Reducing the tax base in perpetuity is antithetical to the interests of county residents and gives up local control.
- · Oneida County requires that all federal and state agencies and lands utilizing federal, or state funding coordinate any land use activities with the county and impacted towns
Does Oneida County really:
- · Want to “guarantee” metallic mining after the citizens soundly rejected it in a referendum?
- · Have any authority to require the President of the United States (or state and federal agencies, or the governor) to provide cost benefit analyses before undertaking projects on state and federal lands?
- · Want to take an oppositional position on the rights of private landowners to sell conservation easements to the State?
- · Have the ability to require state and federal agencies to “coordinate” (whatever that means) with the county before using its own land?
These are only a few samples of the language included in the draft plan. For more detailed information, please read the other articles on comprehensive planning on this website, which can be found on the "MORE" dropdown tab under “County Comprehensive Plan”.
Readers may recall that the concept of “coordination” came up in Oneida County years ago, when three towns, instead of creating their own comprehensive plans, sent “notices of coordination” to the County. After much time and many tax dollars were spent, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued a formal Attorney General’s Opinion stating that the use of the word “coordination” in various Wisconsin statutes dealing with municipal planning did not impose affirmative duties upon certain municipalities that are in addition to any other affirmative obligations that are imposed under those statutes. That iteration of coordination was a train going nowhere.
Now, the ill-defined concept of “coordination” seems to be back. Interestingly, “coordination” is touted by the Texas based “American Stewards of Liberty” (ASL.) The website of ASL, contains a statement by Wisconsin Congressman Tom Tiffany in support of coordination. It is anything but clear however, how a Wisconsin County would have the authority to require the State and Federal governments to “coordinate” when planning how to use state and federal lands, or what exactly such “coordination” would entail.
So, it appears that the P&D Committee is prepared to recommend a comprehensive plan that will likely last for ten years and will move planning away from conservation of the resources that contribute to our recreation and economy. You have a chance to speak out against these changes. July 14th is the day. Please consider attending the public hearing.
Agenda for hearing can be found here: https://www.oneidacountywi.gov/wp-content/uploads/meetings/7.14.25-Comprehensive-Plan-2025-NPH.pdf
Legal Victory for PFAS Affected Communities
Years of legal wrangling ends up defending the DNR's ability to hold polluters responsible.
By Eric Rempala June 25, 2025- In a January 2023 Town of Stella PFAS meeting OCCWA posed a question. The question asked at the meeting of Senator Felzkowski was "What effect the current litigation by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) might have in limiting the states authority to address PFAS contamination under Wisconsin's Spills Law? Senator Felzkowski chose to not answer citing as a reason "that until the litigation was complete it would be only speculation as to the effects" Of course we at OCCWA were well aware a victory in court for WMC would be devastating to the Wisconsin Spills Law and the Wisconsin's DNR's ability to hold polluters responsible.
Fast forward two years and five months. After years of litigation, one stay, and a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling, we have an answer to that January 2023 question. The answer to that question is, no limiting of the state's/DNR's authority to address PFAS contaminations. The answer became clear due to the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision ruling that the DNR can force responsible parties to clean up pollutants even if they have not yet been officially designated as hazardous.
A case summary from Midwest Environmental Advocates is offered for clarification.
"This case began in 2021 when Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and Leather Rich, Inc. filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to limit the agency’s ability to investigate environmental contamination and require responsible parties to clean up contaminated sites. The lawsuit threatened to fundamentally undermine the Spills Law, a bedrock environmental and public health protection that has protected the people of Wisconsin for more than 40 years.
WMC’s lawsuit could have removed the only meaningful public health protection we have to address PFAS contamination in Wisconsin. Under the Spills Law, DNR is providing critical assistance to people in Marinette, Peshtigo, La Crosse and other communities devastated by PFAS contamination.
For more than four years, MEA fought to make sure WMC didn’t succeed in gutting the Spills Law. Between 2021 and 2025, MEA attorneys filed five amicus briefs in the case.
In 2022, a Waukesha County circuit court judge sided with WMC, though he agreed to place a stay on the decision pending final resolution of the case. The stay prevented the decision from taking effect and allowed the DNR to continue cleaning up PFAS contamination and providing bottled water to families whose drinking water has been contaminated. In March 2024, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals upheld the lower court ruling. MEA subsequently filed an amicus brief urging the State Supreme Court to take the case.
The State Supreme Court heard oral arguments on January 14, 2025. Afterward, MEA held a press conference to explain what’s at stake and how public health and the environment would be harmed if Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce succeeds in undermining the Spills Law.
Legal Victory!
On June 24, 2025, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision rejecting WMC’s reckless attempt to undermine the Spills Law. The decision is a victory for the health and wellbeing of the people of Wisconsin."
So, what does this mean for Oneida County and the Town of Stella?
Well, it may mean that paper mills, and other businesses (Sludge producers) who used PFAS may be forced to pay some portion of the remediation/cleanup costs. This would lessen the taxpayer's burden of cleaning up after them. Of course, our state legislators have done a pretty good job of lessening that burden due to partisan nonsense and their inability to release monies designated for PFAS relief. For the past two years our legislators have had money designated for PFAS relief but chose to use the Spills Law lawsuit as a reason to not release it. With the suit now settled, can we count on them to do their job? I would not bet on it!
What it shouldn't mean is innocent landowners such as farmers (Sludge receivers) who had DNR permitted sludge applications on their fields being held responsible. The DNR has been adamant that those farmers would not be held responsible for clean-up. The DNR in fact stated as much in a 2024 Memo on Enforcement. The memo states:
"The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has long recognized the importance of supporting our farmers and agricultural community, and in working together to prevent and reduce the burden of contamination to our land and water.
The U.S. EPA recently released a PFAS Enforcement Discretion Policy under CERCLA which states that the EPA does not intend to pursue response actions or costs from farmers whose property has been impacted by PFAS because of land spreading.
The DNR also has not and does not intend to pursue farmers who own agricultural land for response actions or costs related to unintentional PFAS contamination resulting from permitted land spreading.
The DNR will continue to work with communities and stakeholders to determine whether and how additional enforcement discretion may be applied."
What's Next?
Of course, getting industry to clean up their mess isn't going to happen overnight if ever. In the meantime, the state needs to designate and release PFAS relief/remediation money immediately. To that point, in our April 24th article we made two requests for the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) to approve two of the Governor's budget recommendations. Those recommendations were as follows:
1) Budget proposal.
Support $725.9 million in revenue bonds that will fund state match requirements and expand loan opportunities through the Drinking Water Loan Program and the Clean Water Fund Program. This critical investment will support much-needed drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across Wisconsin.
2) Budget Proposal.
$143.6 million for the DNR to support PFAS monitoring and remediation across Wisconsin. This will provide support for sampling, research, public health interventions, emergency response, and disposal activities.
Well, the good news is that half that request has come true. In a June 6th WPR article Legislature's budget-writing committee boosts borrowing by $732M for water programs - WPR the details were shared.
"The Joint Committee on Finance voted Thursday to increase borrowing by $732.2 million under the state’s Environmental Improvement Fund, which includes the clean water fund and safe drinking water loan programs.
The fund is supported by federal grants that require a 20 percent state match that generally needs to be in hand prior to receiving federal funds. Lawmakers voted to increase borrowing by $73.6 million to meet the required state match for four years.
The committee also approved a $658.5 million increase to fund about 87 percent of anticipated financial need among communities. The state projects they will seek around $1.6 billion in loans for clean water and safe drinking water projects under the next two-year state budget, as well as nearly $1.3 billion in the 2027-29 biennium."
Now true enough there is much to be excited about. Monies for city and town infrastructure such as public water filtration systems, wastewater treatment plant facilities and more will become more readily available. Perhaps the City of Rhinelander could access these monies to address their PFAS issues? Maybe drill some wells? Possible, but the question one has to ask is, what about private well owners? What about the people in the town of Stella? Where's the money for them?
Those answers have yet to be addressed. Those answers are in the second budget request mentioned but not approved as of yet by the JFC. The $143.6 million for the DNR to support PFAS monitoring and remediation across Wisconsin that will provide support for sampling, research, public health interventions, emergency response, and disposal activities. Yes, that request would address private well owners and all the issues that come along with contaminated soil and aquifers.
Make no mistake, $146 million is only a drop in the bucket, but it is a start. A start that the JFC and our local legislators should not deny. Hopefully, crossed fingers, and some gentle nudging will secure some relief for those who drink from their own well. We at OCCWA have begun our nudging at the recent Oneida County Conservation Committee. We asked the committee to consider urging state legislators to support the budget request. If you would like to do some nudging of your own?
Nudge here it only takes a few minutes:
Senator Felzkowski Contacts
Email Sen.Felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone # (608) 266-2509
Representative Swearingen Contacts
rep.swearingen@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone # (608) 266-7141
Big Beautiful Land Sale?
Federal legislation questioned for being environmentally unfriendly.
By Kathleen Cooper June 25, 2025- One of the greatest assets of the United States of America is our vast natural spaces - the public land that we Americans are so proud of. It is beautiful, for one thing, but there are many other important reasons for us to value, treasure, and keep our public lands. Public lands act as natural filters, improving air and water quality. They provide habitats for diverse plant and animal species, including many that are threatened or endangered. Public lands help maintain healthy ecosystems, which are vital for biodiversity and climate change mitigation.
Public lands also are profitable, they attract visitors, support local businesses and create jobs in the tourism and recreation industries. They also provide timber, minerals, grazing land, and other resources that contribute to the economy. Recreating on public land is good for our physical and mental health. These lands also preserve cultural and historical sites, as well as foster a sense of community by providing gathering places and opportunities for social interaction.
So, everyone loves public land and agrees that public land is important, right? Apparently not. The Big Beautiful Bill calls for selling 250 million acres of the US’s 640 million acres of public land, and some of our Republican leadership thinks that is a great idea. It’s all a part of Project 2025, and the Big Beautiful Bill is the way to bring Project 2025 into reality. In fact, American Stewards of Liberty an admitted contributor to Project 2025 has already been successful in influencing the Oneida County P&D Committee's proposed Comprehensive Plan.
Project 2025 calls for increased resource extraction, such as oil, gas, minerals, and timber. It also advocates reduced federal land protection. It calls for weakened environmental regulations, and weakening protections for wildlife, including iconic Western species like grizzly bears and gray wolves. It also includes proposals to block federal support for conservation easements and give state and local politicians veto power over the use of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. ln other words, it would give extractive industries nearly unfettered access to public lands, severely restrict the power of the Endangered Species Act, open up millions of acres of Alaska wilderness to drilling, mining, and logging. It would also roll back protections for spectacular landscapes like Oregon’s Cascade Siskiyou National Monument and seek to revitalize the dying coal industry in the West by restarting coal leasing in Wyoming and Montana.
The only ones who will profit from this desecration of our public lands are the oil, gas, mining, and timber companies. Afterwards we will be stuck living in a barren wasteland, devoid of trees, greenery, or any semblance of natural life. Once we desecrate our beautiful land, air, and water, we will never get it back.
Please let your voices be heard. Call your elected representatives, protest, write letters. Our beautiful American wilderness, second to none of the world, depends on it.
Setting Knowles Nelson Record Straight
Gathering Waters, Wisconsin's Alliance for Land Trusts provides facts on Knowles Nelson Program.
Posted June 20, 2025,
Setting the Record Straight: A Response to Claims About the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has been a cornerstone of our state's conservation efforts for over three decades, protecting precious natural resources while providing outdoor recreation opportunities for all Wisconsinites. If you hunt, fish, hike, ride bikes, or just enjoy a picnic outside, Knowles-Nelson has worked for you. And that’s why more than nine out of ten voters support continuing the program. Recently, Senate President Mary Felzkowski, in a Facebook video, made several claims about the program that deserve a close look. Policy debates should always be grounded in accurate information.
The cost of Knowles-Nelson
Senator Felzkowski claims that Wisconsin spends "over 1.5 million per week" on the stewardship program, presenting this figure as cause for alarm. First, this exaggerates the actual cost by approximately 20%. The weekly debt service for Knowles-Nelson is actually about $1.23 million.
More importantly, this figure lacks context. When we break down the true cost, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program costs each Wisconsin resident less than $11 per year—just 21 cents per person per week. This modest investment has yielded extraordinary returns in protected lands, clean water, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Knowles-Nelson costs pale in comparison to other debts the state carries. For example, Wisconsin's debt service for transportation infrastructure costs $1.21 million per day—nearly six times more than our weekly investment in conservation.
Bonding is how governments finance long-term purchases, just like when one of us buys a house. If an investment has a high upfront cost but provides benefits for a long time (think paving roads, building schools, or purchasing land), then it makes sense to spread the cost out over the life of the investment. That’s what bonding does.
Most importantly, Wisconsin is in excellent financial condition, carrying less debt than at any time in the past 25 years. There are no legitimate concerns about our state's debt load that would justify scaling back this successful program.
Wisconsin's Public Land: Behind the Curve, Not Ahead
Senator Felzkowski suggests that Wisconsin already has plenty of public land, claiming that "approximately 20% of all land in Wisconsin is publicly owned." This figure is inflated. The actual percentage of public land in Wisconsin is just under 17% and includes federal land as well as conservation lands owned by the state, local governments, and nonprofits. The difference between 17 and 20 percent is bigger than it may seem at first. Three percent of Wisconsin’s land is more than one million acres. Less than that has been conserved in the entire 35 years of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.
Far from having "enough" public land, Wisconsin actually trails behind both the national average of 25% and our neighbors Michigan and Minnesota. Wisconsin's conservation efforts have been comparatively modest, making continued investment in the Knowles-Nelson program all the more important.
Restoring, Not Eroding, Checks and Balances
Perhaps most concerning is Senator Felzkowski's characterization of the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in the case Evers v. Marklein. She claims that Governor Evers' lawsuit "seriously damaged the relationship between the legislature and the stewardship program" and resulted in "an erosion of checks and balances."
This turns the court's ruling on its head. The Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a 6-1 decision that crossed ideological lines, ruled that the legislature had grossly overstepped its constitutional authority. The court found that anonymous objections by individual legislators violated the separation of powers enshrined in our state constitution.
The court recognized that once the full legislature appropriates funds through the budget process, individual legislators cannot anonymously block those expenditures. This decision restored constitutional governance, not damaged it.
Oversight Remains Strong
Senator Felzkowski's claim that stewardship funds now constitute "a blank check for Governor Evers" is simply false. The Department of Natural Resources operates under extensive statutes and administrative rules that govern Knowles-Nelson. Rigorous applications, appraisals, and strict limits on the kinds of projects that can be funded all direct the DNR’s work. And the legislature retains full authority to modify these rules at any time through the normal legislative process.
Senator Pat Testin and Representative Tony Kurtz, recently introduced a bill to update the Knowles-Nelson statutes and provide new guidance for the program. The bill has not received a committee hearing in the senate. As Senate President, Senator Felzkowski is uniquely empowered to advance such legislation and restructure the program.
The Truth About "Vanishing" Acres
The claim that "120,000 acres of stewardship land has literally vanished from the DNR records" is misleading. No land nor records have vanished. What happened was a significant, but correctable, administrative error on the part of the Department of Natural Resources.
The Department of Natural Resources discovered that it had incorrectly attributed some land acquisitions to the Knowles-Nelson program when those purchases were actually funded through other sources. All public lands remain protected. The issue is how those purchases are coded in the DNR database.
It's worth noting that years of legislative budget cuts have forced the DNR to operate with antiquated computer systems, contributing to such record-keeping challenges. This doesn't excuse the error, but it highlights the importance of adequate funding for basic administrative functions.
Rhetoric vs Legislative Record
Senator Felzkowski states that she is "focused on maintaining the public land Wisconsin currently has." However, her actions suggest otherwise. During her tenure, the legislature has consistently underfunded state parks and land management accounts, creating an enormous backlog of maintenance needs. The very Knowles-Nelson program she criticizes would provide crucial funding for maintaining and improving our existing public lands under the bill introduced by Rep. Kurtz and Sen. Testin.
Legislators who prioritize maintaining our public lands should support robust funding for the programs that make such maintenance possible.
Moving Forward Together
Wisconsin's natural resources are indeed a critical asset, as Senator Felzkowski correctly notes. Our forests, lakes, trails, and parks support a thriving outdoor recreation economy worth more than $11 billion annually.. They provide hunting, fishing, hiking, and countless other opportunities that enrich the lives of Wisconsin families.
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has been remarkably successful for over 30 years, enjoying broad bipartisan support throughout its history. Rather than mischaracterizing its costs and operations, we should be working together to ensure this vital program continues to serve Wisconsin's conservation needs.
Charlie Carlin
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts
“Stand strong and demand that some Knowles-Nelson funding be included in the state budget. Compromise is fine, but we cannot accept zero funding for Knowles-Nelson.”
Team Knowles Nelson Update
Consider supporting Knowles Nelson Program, protector of Wisconsin’s land, water, and wildlife.
Team Knowles Nelson June 12, 2025-
You have all worked so hard to speak up for Knowles-Nelson and to tell legislators that we want to find a pragmatic path forward for the program. Now, we're facing a critical situation that requires immediate action.
Legislation Stalled
As part of the legislative process to renew Knowles-Nelson, Assembly Bill 315 was introduced last week. Legislators planned to pass this policy bill first and then fund Knowles-Nelson in the budget.
Hundreds of you spoke up in support.
But, almost as soon as it was introduced, the bill stalled. The Senate has not scheduled a public hearing and time is running short.
Here's the problem: Without the policy bill advancing, it's our understanding that legislators do NOT intend to fund Knowles-Nelson in the budget.
Funding Will Lapse
If Knowles-Nelson is not included in the state budget, funding for the program will lapse. While the program technically expires June 30, 2026, most Knowles-Nelson grant funds have already been awarded. Land trusts and local governments are planning applications for fiscal year 2027 and beyond. A lapse in funding means an uncertain future for conservation work across the state.
There is a Solution...
The Joint Finance Committee can extend funding for Knowles-Nelson -- even for a short time -- to create space to continue the policy discussions later this summer and into the fall.
Take Action RIGHT NOW
Please, contact your legislators and Joint Finance Committee members immediately. In just a few clicks you will deliver a strong message to your legislators and all members of the Joint Finance Committee.
Ask them to renew funding for Knowles-Nelson in the state budget.
The future of Knowles-Nelson will be decided in the coming days. Together, let's ensure that Knowles-Nelson continues to work for Wisconsin.
Charles Carlin
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Gathering Waters: Wisconsin's Alliance for Land Trusts
Share your support for Knowles Nelson Program at: Take Action – Knowles Nelson Stewardship
Concern for Federal Funding of Forests
Wisconsin Council on Forestry crafts letter in response to potential federal forestry actions.
By Eric Rempala June 2, 2025- In response to questions about federal budget threats, the Wisconsin Council on Forestry sent an advisory letter to Governor Tony Evers, Senator Romaine Quinn, Chair - Senate Committee on Rural Issues and Forestry and, Representative Jeff Mursau, Chair - Assembly Committee on Forestry, Parks and Outdoor Recreation.
In the letter which can be viewed here: COF_Federal Impacts Final.pdf the Council addressed many issues including their deep concerns about federal funding and staff cuts. The excerpt below highlights those concerns.
"The Wisconsin Council on Forestry continues its focus on recommending and promoting efforts to support healthy, resilient, and productive forests amid increasing threats. We recognize and appreciate the acknowledgement of the Council's work, and the essential budgetary considerations needed to support these endeavors in the 2025-’27 Executive Biennial Budget. While the federal policy and budget mechanisms are very much in flux, we are deeply concerned about how funding and staff cuts will impact Wisconsin’s ability to support our forests and the vast environmental, social, and economic benefits they provide."
A year ago, OCCWA had the honor of being invited by the Council to share our experiences promoting the Pelican River Forest Project. At that meeting we found the Council led by Chairman Tom Hittle and Vice-Chair Matt Dallman to be extremely focused and capable of managing the states forests in a sustainable manner. Hopefully federal funding will continue supporting their efforts.
We also found it interesting that the Council in their letter shared the Wisconsin's Green Fire paper, "Forests at Risk". In fact, they went so far as to include the link WGF_2024_OppsNow_Forests_final.pdf to the paper in their letter. This is not hard to understand though, as Green Fire has been and continues to be a leader in non-profit environmental resource analysis in our state.
What is the impetus for the state's and councils' concerns?
Well concerns of the Trump administration fast-tracking reviews of logging projects in Wisconsin seems to be at least one of the motivating factors. In an April 10th article from WPR Trump administration will fast-track reviews to ramp up logging in Wisconsin - WPR reports that the Trump Administration will be speeding up environmental reviews on projects in the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest (CNNF). An excerpt from the article states:
"The Trump administration is speeding up environmental reviews of logging projects on more than half of the country’s national forests, including parts of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin."
There are questions if speeding up the process is even necessary considering that the current process seems to be working while protecting Northwoods values. A quote in the article from Ron Eckstein a Northwoods resident and forester states:
"Ron Eckstein is the co-chair of the public lands and forestry work group for Wisconsin’s Green Fire. He said he doesn’t think existing federal regulations are too burdensome for loggers. “We can produce the timber we need to produce. We can protect against wildfire using the (National Environmental Policy Act) process and Endangered Species Act and still produce forest products yet, protecting all the other values of the national forests, like wildlife, watershed, recreation, including timber,” he said. Eckstein noted the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is already one of the top timber-producing national forests in the country. The forest sold around 125 million board feet in fiscal year 2024. The Forest Service sells an average of 3 billion board feet each year nationwide."
This is a situation that bears monitoring. Hopefully current protections in place for woods, water, wildlife, and way of life will not be diminished. The CNNF is a source for many clean watersheds in Wisconsin. It is incumbent on Northern Wisconsin residents to continue to practice responsible stewardship.
PFAS, Wave Boats, and Moving Away from Northwoods Lifestyle
Legislators listening session has few answers other than supporting County's pro-development.
By Kathleen Cooper May 26, 2025- Wisconsin State Senator Mary Felzkowski and Assemblyman Rob Swearingen held a series of "listening sessions" during this past month. The sessions were well attended and covered many issues affecting the residents of Northern Wisconsin. At the Rhinelander session on May 6th, it became apparent that the Senator's vision for the future of the Northwoods, and what the people who live and work here want, may be two very different things.
The first topic discussed was the PFAS crisis in the Northwoods, particularly in Stella, but also in Rhinelander. $125 million was budgeted 2 years ago by the Wisconsin Legislature to aide in remediation, but that money has not yet been released by the Joint Finance Committee. A dispute between the Governor and the Republican Party about who is an innocent landowner and the DNR's ability to hold those not innocent accountable is the cause of the money not being distributed. When asked about this, Senator Felzkowski blamed Governor Evers for vetoing Republican authored bills that he thought would not allow the DNR to hold industry polluters responsible. The Senator also shifted blame to the DNR for continuing to allow sludge to be spread on fields in Oneida County.
In the listening session, it was brought to the legislator's attention that though she and State Representative Swearingen did attend the initial town of Stella/DNR PFAS meeting, they failed to attend either of the two following meetings. Since the discovery of PFAS in Stella, the Wisconsin DNR has provided folks with bottled water, helped pay for well-replacements, and filter installations to help people get clean drinking water, but there have been drawbacks. Newly elected Stella Town Chairperson Casey Crump told Felzkowski and Swearingen that some of the new wells are testing positive for PFAS and maintenance on the in-home PFAS filters can cost up to $600 every few months. In a quote from WXPR article Wake boats, housing, and PFAS among top concerns brought up in Northwoods listening session | WXPR Chaiman Crump stated:
“They can't sell their homes, obviously, because they don't have clean water, so nobody's going to buy it. They're living off the bottled water. How long will that last? Who knows. When you live your life around this, bottles for brushing my teeth, this bottles for this, this bottle for this, it's pretty tough. I've got quite a few citizens out there that have some real concerns,” said Crump.
Another hot topic was Wake Boats. Senator Felzkowski contends that if a bill is introduced with wake boat restrictions that protect the lakes in northern Wisconsin, it would cause an increase in traffic on the state's southern lakes. Therefore, any bill to protect our lakes, she stated, won't get the votes needed to pass from downstate legislators. It seemed like the interests of wake boaters and wake boat manufacturers were more important to her than the science behind the recommended restrictions to keep our northern lakes healthy.
It was during a discussion about the lack of public-school funding in Northern Wisconsin that we saw the Senator's true vision of the future of the Northwoods. She said that the problematic state formula for funding Wisconsin public schools was not the problem. Rather, declining enrollments were the cause of the funding crisis in Northwood schools. She dismissed placing any blame on the dilution of public-school funds by private school vouchers. Instead, she said that we need to "economically reinvest" in the Northwoods to bring in young families and increase enrollments in the schools. In a quote from the shared WXPR above Senator Felzkowski stated:
“That means you're going to have an influx of business. You're going to have an influx of people, and you're going to kind of lose the pristine Northwoods, to a certain extent. Your zoning cannot be one house every 40 acres. It cannot be one house every 10 acres. And those are harsh realities,” said Felzkowski."
One has to question the Senator's vision of a developed Northwoods, where the natural resources that we know, love, and enjoy are exploited and replaced with sulfide mines and urban sprawl with smaller lot sizes. Our water is clean, our air is clean, and our forests provide sources of income and well-being to our residents. A thriving economy depends on industry, but it should not come at the expense of our natural resources. If all our land is privatized and developed, we will be just like anywhere else, only colder, and we will lose what makes this place special. We will also lose our tourism dollars- the $291 million in yearly visitor spending, the $381 million in economic impact and the support of over 2,100 jobs, and the $1,459,500 in sales taxes from visitor direct spending (21% of the total sales tax collected by Oneida County).
Our forests and bodies of water provide so much more than income. Living in a natural setting like ours is a gift that people in urban areas don't have. The physical benefits of living here include improved cardiovascular health, increased physical activity, boosted immune systems, better sleep quality, and faster recovery from illness. The mental health benefits are reduced stress and anxiety, improved mood and emotional well-being, enhanced cognitive function, and reduced risk of psychiatric disorders. Maybe our "Wisconsin nice" is because we have so much access to nature here. I'd like to think it is.
What do you think? How would you like to see the Northwoods 20 years from now? Would you like to see mines razing our forestlands and polluting our water? Public lands sold off and developed, driving off wildlife? Budget problems solved by exploiting nature while holding back money already designated to help? Or do you want to continue to fish, hunt, hike, ATV, snowmobile, boat, and bike? When you look out your windows do you want to see forests and lakes, or see subdivisions, Cul de sacs, clear cuts, and barrenness? At night, do you want to see the stars or light pollution? Humans have a tendency not to appreciate what they have until after it's gone, and when our water and forests are destroyed, we will never get them back. Please step outside, take a breath, and look around. It doesn't get much better than this.
Knowles Nelson Programs Value to County
Oneida County property owner shares letter sent in support of Knowles Nelson Program funding.
May 19, 2025
Dear Oneida County Board Member,
The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program is a rare bipartisan success story in Wisconsin. For decades, it has protected our natural resources while boosting local economies across the state. Investments through the program have enhanced public lands and outdoor infrastructure, drawing tourists, increasing property values, and supporting local businesses like sport shops, hotels and restaurants.
Communities such as Rhinelander, Lake Tomahawk, Minocqua and Three Lakes benefit from amenities funded through Stewardship which has enhanced local parks raised the quality of life. It’s one of the reasons people want to visit and live here.
In recent years, the focus of Stewardship has shifted from land acquisition to upgrading and maintaining state land infrastructure—much of which is aging and underfunded. Wisconsin’s state parks face over $1 billion in deferred maintenance. Most Wisconsinites don’t realize that in 2015, taxpayer support for state park operations was eliminated, making Wisconsin one of the only self-funded state park systems in the country. Much of the infrastructure still in use today was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is now in need of repair or replacement.
Outdoor recreation is a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s economy, contributing more than $10 billion annually to the state’s GDP—growing nearly twice as fast as the overall economy over the past decade. The sector supports nearly 10,000 manufacturing jobs and fuels our $25 billion tourism industry. Yet Wisconsin ranks dead last in state park funding per visit—trailing even Mississippi and Texas.
Despite the program’s proven success, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program faces ongoing political and financial threats. Though many of its subprograms require a 50% local match—effectively doubling the state’s investment—funding remains inadequate. We need to consider sustainable alternatives to long-term debt funding, such as: Using part of the state’s surplus to retire debt and establish a permanent endowment; Adopting a State Parks Passport program, modeled after Michigan’s, which triple what the WI park sticker does, Allocating a small percentage of sales tax revenue to conservation efforts.
Wisconsin spends only $19.6 million annually on its state parks—far less than neighbors like Minnesota and Michigan, which invest $70–$90 million. And it shows. Visitors encounter crumbling bathrooms, outdated septic systems, unsafe trails, and closed facilities due to disrepair. Many families rely on public lands for affordable access to nature, recreation, and mental well-being—they can’t afford private cottages or land.
The Stewardship Program is essential to Wisconsin’s environment, economy, and quality of life. A recent 2025 New Bridge Survey found that 91% of voters support continued funding—including 80% of Republicans and MAGA-aligned voters. Voters also view legislators more favorably when they support Stewardship.
Please vote to support Stewardship on Resolution 28-2025 at the May 20 Board meeting. As the state legislature begins its budget deliberations, we urge Oneida County Board Members to recognize the enormous value of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program brings to our area. The Stewardship Program has invested in conservation and outdoor recreation projects throughout Oneida County including boat landings, park facilities, and recreational trail development, expanding public recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.
As the state legislature commences budget deliberations, we respectfully encourage Oneida County Board Members to acknowledge the significant benefits provided by the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. This program has greatly enhanced the quality of life in our region.
Michael and Karen McFadzen
Public Land Liquidation Sale?
Congressional Republicans work to sell off thousands of acres of our lands.
By Tom Wiensch May 15, 2025- Where have you gone Teddy Roosevelt? Our nation turns its tired eyes to you. With apologies to Paul Simon, where has the spirit of President Theodore Roosevelt gone, and who in the Republican Party will step up and assume his role as American conservationist during a time when it seems like nearly everything is for sale?
I write these words a few days after returning from a visit to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. The park, in Western North Dakota, is a fitting tribute to one of America’s greatest conservationists. The Little Missouri River runs through the park and past the site of Roosevelt’s ranch. All of this is set a beautiful landscape of hills, sagebrush, and cottonwood and juniper forests. The Park itself is set in the Little Missouri National Grassland, and together they contain immense opportunities for recreation.
In 1907, President Roosevelt (R) said
“The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem it will avail us little to solve all others.”
He was right. If we don’t protect the air, water, and land that we depend on, nothing else will really matter.
During his presidency, Roosevelt played a major role in the creation of the U.S. Forest Service, and signed into law the creation of five national parks. He was also instrumental in establishing 150 national forests as well as bird and game reserves. Using executive orders he protected about 150 million acres of land.
The national parks may be the crown jewels of our national lands, but the National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands make up a larger portion of our national treasure. Those lands provide recreational opportunities such as camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and many others for millions of Americans. They also provide land for logging and grazing. Together, those recreational and other activities pump an untold amount of money into local and regional economies – FOREVER.
At least most of us thought it was forever. After all, who would want to rid us of the treasured lands that provide such recreational and economic benefit? Well, as it turns out, maybe a committee ruled by members of Teddy Roosevelt’s former party wish to do just that.
The Republican led House of Representatives has been working toward creating a budget bill. In the early morning hours of May 7th, one house committee stepped into the process, working to get approval to sell off many thousands of acres of our public land. That Committee is the House Committee on Natural Resources. It has 25 members from the Republican Party and 19 members from the Democratic Party. A member of that Committee is Wisconsin’s Representative Tom Tiffany. There are several subcommittees under that committee, including the subcommittee on Federal Lands. The website for the Committee describes the role of the subcommittee as:
“The Subcommittee on Federal Lands is responsible for all matters related to the National Park System, U.S. Forests, federal lands, and national monuments.”
There are 9 members of the subcommittee. Every one of them is a Republican. The chair of the subcommittee is Representative Tiffany. Early on May 7, members of the committee pushed forward a bill to sell nearly a half-million acres of our public lands. The Conservation Group Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (BHA) had these things to say about that move:
“(BHA) is condemning a late-night maneuver that sidestepped stakeholder engagement and ignored conservation impacts. Just before midnight, members of the House Natural Resources Committee advanced an amendment authorizing the sale of upwards of 500,000 acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada. The surprise provision was opposed by all Democratic members of the committee and Representative Jeff Hurd (R-CO).”
And
“The amendment, inserted into the reconciliation bill without adequate time for analysis or committee-wide consultation, would use the relatively minimal revenue generated from the land sales as negligible offset to a budget expected to reach almost $7 trillion – circumventing the intent of the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA), a bipartisan law BHA supports and worked to make permanent.”
The Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA) is a law that requires that proceeds from the sale of BLM lands be placed in a fund and used to purchase other lands which have been identified as having high conservation or recreational value. The amendment by the Committee seems to represent an attempt to dodge that bipartisan law and decrease the amount of land that belongs to all Americans.
BHA further reported that the amendment attempts to cause the following:
- -Changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that could limit environmental review and weaken safeguards for public access, wildlife habitat, and water quality
- -Rollbacks to land management plans affecting millions of acres across the West
- -Cuts to conservation funding for federal land management agencies
- -Amendments to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) that risk undermining protections for key landscapes like Alaska’s Brooks Range
- -Reversal of a 20-year mineral withdrawal from the Superior National Forest in Minnesota that threatens conservation of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness”
Outdoor Life Magazine reported that, during the night of May 6th and the morning of May 7th, House Democrats offered many amendments to the land sale provisions. The Republicans who control the house allowed there to be debate on none of them.
Outdoor Life further reported:
“The bill, one part of the House budget reconciliation package, would require nearly every acre of federal land to be available to mineral leasing, approves a controversial mine near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, requires energy leasing in much of Alaska’s North Slope, and forbids lawsuits challenging public-land development. The bill claws back funding from land-management agencies while requiring them to approve logging, coal mining, and creation of a controversial water project in California that critics say would impair one of the state’s last free-flowing rivers.”
The magazine also reported that the ranking Democrat on the Committee, Representative Jared Huffman of California, called the bill “the most extreme, anti-environment bill in American history.”
If the House passes a budget bill with these provisions in it, many thousands of acres of our land will apparently be sold off, mining will likely be allowed to happen in many very environmentally sensitive areas such as the Superior National Forest in Minnesota, and protection of our lands and waters from polluters will be severely diminished.
Thinking of my visit to the national park named after President Theodore Roosevelt with its wild bison and magnificent landscapes, I wondered if it could be sold. I also thought about all the national parks, forests, and other public lands that I've visited and considered whether any of them might be sold. Then I asked myself, what would Teddy Roosevelt think?
Please consider contacting Representative Tiffany and letting him know that you don’t want the public lands that belong to all of us to be sold. After all, the proceeds from those sales will get quickly spent and then be gone. If we keep the land, it will provide recreation, forestry, grazing, and money for area economies – FOREVER
Congressman Tiffany contact link- Contact | Representative Tom Tiffany
Loon Watch's Final Year at Northland College
Waldo and Mercer Lake resident hope for program continuing at new venue next year.
By Wendy Kraly, May 11, 2025 - I wanted to share Waldo’s story as a part of Loon Appreciation Week. It all started around June 1st 2024, while watching our Mercer Lake resident loons Lucy and Ricky in our bay, I noticed a couple of black balls of feathers perched on Lucy’s back. I ran up to grab the binoculars, and upon zooming into a closer view, two little heads became visible. Lucy and Ricky were proud parents! It had been a few years since we had two chicks on our lake, so I decided that I was going to do all that I could to protect these little miracles on water.
I got out in my kayak almost every day during peak boating activity with my binoculars to keep eyes on the chicks at a safe distance. In mid-July, one of the chicks became a wanderer, so we started asking everyone, “Where’s Waldo?”. We named the other chick Wanda, who usually stuck with Mom or Dad, but Waldo loved to explore every inch of the lake.
At the end of the summer on a stormy August day, I spotted Waldo on his own, as per usual, and Mom with Wanda were across the lake. I paddled to viewing distance with my binoculars. Waldo swam parallel to me and glanced over. He started to run and tried to lift off, but didn’t make it, so he swam back to his starting point and began to run across the water…this time, taking off! He circled around and flew right over me, then went over Mom and Wanda, continued to circle one more time, finally ending with a smooth landing across the lake. A couple of minutes felt like a couple of hours. I was in AWE… I can’t explain it, but I felt a strong connection to Waldo, and it was as though he was giving me a beautiful message at that moment, ‘Thanks for watching over me. See I can fly! I will be okay!’
Please be on the lookout as loon chicks will hatch soon. As you venture out on the water, be watchful. Loon babies are so small that they may drown from the wake of any watercraft.
This year’s Loon Appreciation Week Poster illustrates one lucky loon’s survival from lead poisoning and fishing line entanglement. Please share his story in the hopes it will encourage more people to take a stand on protecting wildlife and cleaning up our waters. A few simple tips can be taken to prevent unnecessary and avoidable painful deaths:
- Avoid using lead fishing tackle.Switch to non-poisonous alternatives such as tungsten, steel, bismuth, pewter, ceramic or tin.
- Never leave fishing lines unattended and properly dispose of discarded lines.
Sadly, Northland College, the home of Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute’s Loon Watch, will be officially closing its doors at the end of this month.
However, Loon Watch is holding Loon Ranger training this weekend and will hopefully find another place soon to continue their very important work.
Enhanced Wakes Legislation on Horizon
Last chance for residents to weigh in on enhanced wave restrictions is here.
By Eric Rempala May 11, 2025- The latest Enhanced Wave rumor is indicating that an industry backed proposal is on the horizon. Senator Felzkowski has stated that she’s asked groups opposed to and in favor of wake boats to meet on May 28th to find a compromise that everyone can agree to.
As you may or may not know, over a year ago Senator Felzkowski and Representative Swearingen proposed a woefully inadequate Enhanced Wave Bill sponsored by the Boating Industry. Not only were the restrictions on how far from shore and what depth a Wave Boat could be operated ridiculously low, but there was also a ban on local ordinances being more protective than the state limits set by the legislature's bill.
Residents of Vilas and Oneida Counties at that time sniffed out the legislators rushed attempt to appease the industry and overwhelmingly opposed the bill. Hundreds of residents packed listening sessions in Eagle River, Minocqua, and Rhinelander to voice their concerns. The result was the bill being pulled for reconsideration.
Fast forward to one year later, and the newest information on wave boats from the latest Felzkowski/Swearingen listening session in Rhinelander on May 6th came back mixed.
In a quote below from WXPR's article Wake boats, housing, and PFAS among top concerns brought up in Northwoods listening session | WXPR it appears the legislators finally got the message on not blocking locals' ability to be more protective of their lakes.
“The legislation will ensure local control with no limitations on it. We are looking at the spreading of invasives. We are looking at public safety, and we are looking at distance from shore,” Felzkowski said."
Less promising is Senator Felzkowski's convoluted explanation on why legislators in the southern part of the state should influence our Northwoods Glacial Lake protections. a second quote from WXPR's article stated:
"Senator Felzkowski told those at the listening session, one of the biggest problems with getting lawmakers to agree to legislation is the distribution of lakes in the state.She says if they put too big of restrictions on it that wake boaters are limited to the larger lakes in the southern half of the state, then the lawmakers that represent those districts likely won’t vote in favor of it."
It sounds like legislators down south with bigger lakes able to host wave boats with minimal impacts want lower state restrictions to lessen the number of boats on their lakes regardless of the damage smaller lakes may incur.
Though the details and timeline for the new bill are not decided, the time to reaffirm support of a more protective bill is now. If you were not able to attend any of the recent local listening sessions, and have not weighed in yet, you may still send your legislators a gentle reminder not to bring back a bill straight from the boating industry again.
Call or send your emails to:
Senator Felzkowski Contacts
Email Sen.Felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone # (608) 266-2509
Representative Swearingen Contacts
rep.swearingen@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone # (608) 266-7141
As of 4/28/2025, OCCWA is one of a 76 organization coalition throughout the state with widely varying political ideologies that support the creation of minimum state standards for water sports activities employing enhanced wake creation techniques such as ballast, fins or other wave-shaping devices, and bow-up artificial wake creation. The coalitions agreed upon recommended standards are below.
Recommended Minimum State Standards Due to the large number of lakes and rivers in Wisconsin and the diversity of municipalities in which they reside, State-wide minimum standards will provide a modicum of protection for one of our State’s greatest assets while providing recreational opportunities for all users. The minimum standards that this diverse coalition recommend are as follows:
1) Enhanced wake creation activities shall only occur 700 feet or more from a lake and river shoreline or island shoreline.
2) Enhanced wake creation activities shall only occur at water depths in excess of 30 feet.
3) Ballast systems must comply with DNR regulations NR19.055 and NR40. All ballast systems are subject to the “Home Lake Rule”, requiring thermal decontamination by a certified individual before launching and owner certification paperwork for single-lake use. Boats must be professionally decontaminated when relocating to a different lake or river and receive accompanying paperwork. Furthermore, any anti-freeze in ballast tanks must be fully purged before a boat enters a Wisconsin lake or river. These regulations take effect one year after enactment.
4) Local units of government shall continue to have the right to enact ordinances more restrictive than these State minimum standards when necessary to fully protect the waters under their jurisdiction. Any currently existing local ordinances that are stricter than these state minimums shall be allowed to continue to be in effect.
Local Legislators Ignoring PFAS Problem?
By listening session, email, or phone, it's time to hold local legislators accountable on PFAS.
By Eric Rempala April 24, 2025- It's time for Oneida County residents to speak up for themselves and their neighbors affected by PFAS. It's time to find out who carries more weight, constituents or lobbyists. With Wisconsin's current budget process ongoing, there's no better time to join the discussion. Most importantly, with multiple upcoming listening sessions scheduled by local legislators there's no reason not to participate in the process.
Perhaps you might like to ask Senator Felzkowski and Representative Swearingen why they have failed to attend the last two DNR/Town of Stella PFAS meetings?
Both the Senator and the Representative did attend the original DNR/Stella meeting on January 19th, 2023, but passed on the two subsequent meetings in August of 2023 and May of 2024. Maybe nothing of consequence has happened in the 2 years and 2 months since the first meeting on contaminated water in their districts?
Maybe you just want them to share with you all they have done on PFAS so far and what are their plans for the future?
Senator Felzkowski and Representative Swearingen will be hosting listening sessions across the 34th Assembly District, which covers Vilas and Oneida Counties.
All are welcome to attend listening sessions, and pre-registration is not needed. Listening sessions are a time for respectful discussion of state government and the budget process, to express concerns, and to ask questions. Individuals who are not respectful and attend with the intent to cause a disturbance will be asked to leave.
Listening sessions will be held at the following times:
Manitowish Waters
May 5th, 10:00am-11:00am
Town Hall - 5733 Airport Rd, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545
Minocqua
May 5th, 3:00pm-4:00pm
Town Hall - 415 Menominee Street, Minocqua, WI 54548
Eagle River
May 6th, 11:00am-12:00pm
City Hall - 525 E. Maple St, Eagle River, WI 54521
Rhinelander
May 6th, 2:30pm-3:30pm
City Hall - 135 S. Stevens St, Rhinelander, WI 54501
Consider the State of Wisconsin's PFAS Failures
The State of Wisconsin has done a poor job addressing PFAS financial relief, investigation, and remediation for affected communities. It is appalling that more than 7 years ago the town of Marinette was discovered to have PFAS contamination, and the legislature has yet to secure an effective financial commitment to address the problem.
It is equally appalling that the legislature has failed to hold corporate polluters financially responsible for their mess. It's high time Legislators stop pandering to corporate lobbyists such as Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) and come up with a plan with their constituents as the priority. WMC who by the way, according to PBS Wisconsin, reported spending more than $700,000 on lobbying in 2024. Who spent the most money in 2024 to lobby Wisconsin lawmakers?
Recommendations to Legislators for your consideration.
Oppose Senate Bills SB 127 and SB 128 as written.
Senator Wimberger’s proposed Senate bills, SB 127 and SB 128, are the latest PFAS-related proposals before our state legislature.
There are two reasons for opposing SB 127 & SB 128, the first being the bills don’t appropriate the funds the legislature set aside two years ago for PFAS clean up. In other words, "yes, we have the money and no you can't have it".
The second reason is that these bills have too broad of a definition of “innocent” landowners that could extend exemptions to corporate entities. One would think that most people do not consider corporate PFAS polluters as innocent. Surely, there is a commonsense definition of an innocent landowner that the Legislature and the Governor can agree on rather than force taxpayers to pay for clean-up of corporate PFAS pollution.
Support the two current Governors budget proposals below, pertaining to PFAS.
1) Budget proposal.
Support $725.9 million in revenue bonds that will fund state match requirements and expand loan opportunities through the Drinking Water Loan Program and the Clean Water Fund Program. This critical investment will support much-needed drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure across Wisconsin.
2) Budget Proposal.
$143.6 million for the DNR to support PFAS monitoring and remediation across Wisconsin. This will provide support for sampling, research, public health interventions, emergency response, and disposal activities.
Considering the PFAS contamination in the town of Stella as well as the yet to be discovered contamination elsewhere in our county, one can't imagine how a legislator could oppose these proposals.
Support suspending the REINS Act from the DNR process of promulgating PFAS standards for groundwater.
For more than seven years the state of Wisconsin has fumbled the ball on setting health-based PFAS standards for groundwater which is a main source of drinking water for all of Oneida County.
It is a fact that the REINS Act, a 2017 law prevents agencies from working on regulations without legislative approval if compliance costs go beyond $10 million in any two-year period. For years now, the Wisconsin REINS Act has prevented the DNR from setting groundwater PFAS standards which directly apply to Oneida County and Town of Stella residents who get their water via wells. There have been past overtures to the legislature to waive the REINS ACT for PFAS standards to no avail.
The legislature must remove the enforcement of the REINS Act from the process of the DNR promulgating PFAS Standards. Unless of course, the Legislature would instead choose to approve compliance costs above $10 million in two years related to PFAS groundwater standards promulgation. It is not acceptable for the state of Wisconsin with its significant PFAS problems to not have a PFAS standard for groundwater.
Can't attend any of the listening sessions? No problem!
Call or Email with your concerns to:
Senator Felzkowski Contacts
Email Sen.Felzkowski@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone # (608) 266-2509
Representative Swearingen Contacts
rep.swearingen@legis.wisconsin.gov
Phone # (608) 266-7141
To sign on to a petition requesting legislators set PFAS standards on groundwater visit https://conservationvoters.org/action-alerts/take-action-groundwater-standards
Concern for Climate Change in Northwoods?
Climate Action and the Quiet Majority: What Northern Wisconsin Lakes Need Us to Know.
By Beckie Gaskill April 22, 2025 (Photo Credit Len Hyke) - Here’s something you might not expect, especially in today’s political climate: most people worldwide—a whopping 80 to 89 percent—want their governments to do more to tackle climate change. That’s not fringe. That’s not even 50/50. That’s nearly 9 out of every 10 people. If 9 of 10 people recommended a certain pub for a fish fry, would you take that recommendation? For sure!
But here’s the kicker: most of those people believe they’re in the minority when it comes to concerns over climate change.
It’s a phenomenon called the “false consensus effect”—and it’s the driving force behind the 89 Percent Project, a global initiative that shines a spotlight on this silent supermajority and encourages folks to speak up, act out, and push policy forward.
And up here in Northern Wisconsin, where the health of our lakes defines so much of our lifestyle, economy, and identity, we cannot afford to stay quiet.
What’s at Stake: Climate Change and Northern Wisconsin’s Lakes
Our lakes are more than just pretty postcards. They’re complex ecosystems, economic engines, and places where families make memories—whether it’s early-morning paddles, late-night loon calls, or a kid’s first bluegill on the line. We all have special memories on and around the lakes we love.
But climate change is threatening all of that, and in very specific, very local ways.
Warming Waters and Fish Stress
Cold-water species like walleye and cisco are under pressure. As lakes warm, their preferred habitat shrinks—and sometimes disappears altogether in the hottest months. This affects not just the fish, but the entire food chain around them.
More Algal Blooms
Warmer temperatures and more frequent intense rainfall events increase nutrient runoff from shorelines and roads. This fuels algal blooms, including harmful blue-green algae that can shut down beaches and make water unsafe for people and pets.
Disrupted Ice Cover
We’re seeing shorter ice seasons and thinner ice, which throws off everything from lake stratification (the way water layers) to safe ice fishing. Those changes ripple through aquatic ecosystems—and through communities that rely on winter tourism. Most of us in the Northwoods have seen some strange ice conditions, or lack thereof, in the past few years. We are starting to truly see the effects of the variability in ice- on and ice-off dates on our lakes.
Invasive Species Love the Chaos
Many invasive aquatic species thrive in warmer, more disturbed systems. As native species struggle to adapt, invasives like Eurasian watermilfoil or zebra mussels find more room to spread—and do damage. Species that have been knocking on our proverbial door could easily find that door opening wider with climate change looming.
The Real Majority Is Us
Here’s the wild part: most people care. Most people want their government to take stronger action to protect places like these. But because we’re all quietly thinking, “Am I the only one who feels this way?” we don’t speak up. We don’t push for bold policies. We don’t demand protection for the lakes we love.
That’s what the 89 Percent Project is trying to fix. It’s a reminder that you are not alone, and that change is more possible than we think—especially when we realize we’ve already got the numbers on our side.
What You Can Do in Oneida County
- Talk about it. Let your neighbors know how much you care about clean water and climate action. Conversations change culture.
- Support lake associations and conservation efforts working on shoreline restoration, runoff prevention, and invasive species control.
- Encourage local leaders to adopt climate-resilient land use and zoning practices that protect lakes long-term.
- Vote with water in mind. Support candidates who back science-based climate policies and clean water protections.
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Let’s make the silent majority the unstoppable majority. Our lakes are worth it. And the truth is, we don’t need to wait for someone else to speak first—we are the 89%.
Beckie Gaskill
Freelance journalist- FLaG Media
Midwest Conservation on Substack
Trout Lake Station Studying Northern Lakes
More than meets the eye at this Northwoods University of Wisconsin research center.
By Susan Knight April 16, 2025- In the 1920s, E.A. Birge, a zoology professor whose career focused on zooplankton, retired as president of the University of Wisconsin and refocused on founding the new discipline of Limnology, or the study of inland waters. Birge was drawn north to establish Trout Lake Station (TLS) on the shores of Trout Lake in Boulder Junction. He invited other professors, graduate students and assistants to this new facility to study the chemistry, physics, and biology of the Northern Highlands lakes.
Trout Lake Station moved from its original location to its current home on the south end of Trout Lake in the 1960’s but is still dedicated to studying our northern lakes and training the next generation of lake scientists. Trout Lake Station is the northern laboratory of the Center for Limnology and is the sister facility of the Hasler Lab, located on the shore of Lake Mendota on the UW-Madison campus. There are 9 full-time staff at TLS but that number swells to about 30-40 visiting researchers in summer, including faculty, graduate students and undergraduates from UW-Madison and other institutions across the US.
Over the years, there have been many research projects at Trout Lake Station. A key project has been the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program. Since the early 1980s, researchers have been sampling and studying seven nearby lakes, sampling every two weeks in the open water season and monthly during winter. This effort has provided over 40 years of consistent and publicly available data on water quality, plants and animals and other aspects of lake life. The data are helpful in finding patterns and detecting change over time and providing a robust platform for many other research projects.
For example, shortly after the program was started, rusty crayfish invaded Trout Lake and slowly made their way around the entire shoreline. From routine crayfish sampling and plant surveys, we could see how the progression of the crayfish decimated the plant population. But, in the last few years, there has been a reversal, as the crayfish succumbed to a parasitic disease (studied by one of our visiting researchers) and the plant populations have rebounded.
Ongoing and past projects include an investigation of why walleye are declining in area lakes, the effect of rainbow smelt on lake fisheries, how climate change might disrupt the timing of seasonal changes in the lake, why wild rice is declining in so many area lakes, how trees are affected by lake water levels and many others.
Trout Lake Station is committed to sharing our research through outreach efforts. We hold an annual Open House where we highlight the current research projects, have a display of common aquatic plants and invertebrates and offer pontoon rides to demonstrate some of our sampling gear. Our monthly science café, Science on Tap-Minocqua, held at Rocky Reef Brewery, brings in scientists from UW-Madison, and other organizations to talk about a variety of science topics, with plenty of time for audience questions. In winter, we host students from area schools to sample lakes through the ice and learn about limnology. We have an ongoing art and science program encouraging visiting artists to interact with scientists and bring new dimensions to our science.
Trout Lake Station is an exciting place to work or visit, and we hope to see you at our next Open House on August 1, 2025.
Trout Lake Station website: Trout Lake Station Welcomes Our New “Wisconsin Idea” Lakes Limnologist – Center for Limnology – UW–Madison
The Future of National Forests in Wisconsin
Threat of privatizing public land for extraction coming to the Northwoods?
By Tom Wiensch March 18, 2025- The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has played an outsized role in Wisconsin’s long history of forest products and recreation. After the early logging left much of Wisconsin a denuded landscape of stumps and sticks, great fires swept across the land. The most famous of these was the deadly Peshtigo Fire of October 8, 1871. It was far from the only fire in Wisconsin in that era though, and some of these fires burned so hot that they consumed the duff all the way down to mineral soil.
In the late 1910’s and 1920’s, land speculation companies purchased tracts of the former lumber company land. These companies tried to sell the land to families, advertising it as cleared farm land. Many families moved north, cleared huge amounts of rocks, and made a try at farming. Many found that the soil wasn’t amenable to much agriculture, the land was far from markets, and transportation was limited. Hosts of families lost their dreams and abandoned their land.
The question then became – What to do with these clearcut lands? The State and Federal Governments realized that something had to be done to protect and reforest these lands. The establishment of a National Forest was the answer. Counties had taken title to many abandoned lands by tax sales. They in turn sold the lands to our federal government. Starting in 1928, the Nicolet National Forest began to take shape in Oneida, Vilas and Forest Counties. Over succeeding years, more land was acquired. In 1933, the National Forest was separated into two- The Nicolet National Forest, and the Chequamegon National Forest (they were merged to become Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in 1998.)
The great cut of the early days was very different from the sustainable forestry that is practiced in the modern era. The great pineries were clear cut, leaving inadequate numbers of trees for seed sources. The huge swaths of hemlock were cut for bark to use in hide tanning, often with the wood being left to rot. Some species, such as aspen, could come back on their own. Others could not. Much planting had to be done. The Civilian Conservation Corp and others helped to replant the forests.
The result of the creation of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest was a miracle of multiple use land management. Generations of loggers have worked the Forest for wood products, while generations of the public have recreated in the Forest – hunting and hiking the lands, camping at National Forest Campgrounds, and fishing in the many public lakes and rivers in the forest.
Now, our National Government has changed in some fundamental ways, and many are asking what the future of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest will be. Meanwhile, certain special interest groups have opposed traditional conservation, fighting against easements that protect land, and in some cases calling for the sale of our federal lands. On March 10th, The Hill reported that President Trump pledged to use federal land for housing developments.
On February 26, 2025, Outdoor Life Magazine posted an article titled “How Seriously Should We Take the Sale of Federal Lands? Very Seriously, Experts Say.” The sub-headline reads “From the Trump Administration to Congress and even state legislatures, the movement to dispose of America’s public land is gaining traction.” The article notes that the newly appointed Secretary of the interior, Doug Bergum estimated the value of our federal land at one to two trillion dollars. He also noted that selling the land could be a way to pay down some of the national debt. The magazine also raised the question of whether federal lands will be sold to pay for the tax cuts that President Trump is proposing.
That Outdoor Life article also states:
“Meanwhile, one of the incoming Congress’s first acts was a rule change that relieves the House of Representatives of lost revenue if it gives federal land to states or other interests. That action “is intended to create the illusion that disposal of these lands does not come as a financial loss, streamlining misguided legislative proposals that benefit special interests over the American people,” observes Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.”
Outdoor Life also notes that there are efforts to get the courts to rule that it is unconstitutional for our national government to even own land, and that some state legislatures seem to be aiming to ask the federal government to turn over all or most federal lands to states. In fact, the Wyoming legislature recently took a vote on whether to ask the federal government to turn over to Wyoming all federal lands in the State, except Yellowstone National Park. That vote failed because the vote was tied.
In February of this year, U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore resigned his position. The Wyofile website reports that his resignation came amid “resignations, layoffs, and turmoil” in the agency That article reports layoffs of huge numbers of Forest Service Employees in certain parts of the country. On March 5th, Wisconsin Public Radio reported that at least a dozen Forest Service employees in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest had already been fired.
Meanwhile, MSN recently posted an article from The Daily Yonder with a headline that read “Experts Warn Selling-Off Public Lands Could be the Goal Behind Dismantling of Public Agencies. Cited in that article is Michael Carrol, BLM Campaign Director of the Wilderness Society, who said that if federal land is turned over to states, “… it most likely would be sold off to developers.
In his memo to Forest Service Staff at the time of his resignation, chief Randy Moore wrote:
“Our agency’s work supports the nation’s wellbeing and its economy by providing community protection, jobs, goods and services and a place to retreat and enjoy nature’s beauty. Many small businesses generate their livelihoods through permits to operate on national forests and grasslands. We provide drinking water to over 80 million Americans. We also help provide energy independence to the nation, issuing nearly 3,000 oil and gas leases.”
The USFS website indicates that this memo was addressed to “All Staff.” Presumably that includes those who work in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
What would it mean for Northern Wisconsin if the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest were sold for development and to fund tax cuts or debt service. It would mean a drastic decline in the forest industry in Wisconsin. Land that is fragmented and developed is not as available for logging as large tracts of land. This would also mean downstream effects on those who earn their living in the forest products industry, including paper mill workers, sawmill operators, truckers, and others.
Recreationally, this would change the face of Northern Wisconsin. If the land is sold, gone would be the systems of snowmobile and ATV trails. Gone would be the miles of public trout streams. Gone would be the wild, undeveloped lakes. Gone would be the vast lands where people can hike and hunt.
Certainly, those who could afford hunting parcels might still be able to deer hunt, but other kinds of hunting such as upland bird hunting, and some bear hunting require access to large amounts of land. Also, not everyone can afford recreational lands. Many people who hunt the national forests would simply be shut out. Gone would be the great egalitarian American tradition of access to wild land for hunting and outdoor recreation that vanished from Europe ages ago. Gone would be Northern Wisconsin as we know it.
All of the wonderful economic and cultural traditions of our National Forest would be destroyed, and for what? Housing developments? It’s not reasonable to believe that our housing needs can be satisfied out in the wilds of the Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest.
What about paying for tax cuts or debt service? The proceeds from selling off our public lands could be applied to those things. The thing is, once the money is gone, it is gone forever. On the other hand, if we keep our National Forests, money can be made from them by loggers, truckers and mills, resorts, restaurants, taverns, gas stations guides, and sporting good sellers forever. What prodigal son would use up our inheritance of the land for a quick pay off?
When it’s all gone, I suppose we could import more wood products from Canada. But what of our own Northern Wisconsin economy? Perhaps we could manufacture plastic “No Trespassing” signs.
Link to February 26th Outdoor Life article- How Seriously Should We Take the Sale of Federal Lands? Very Seriously, Experts Say | Outdoor Life
WPR March 19th coverage Timber expansion executive order could lead to more logging in the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest | WXPR
