Clean Water Updates
Short posts and shared links to latest news on clean water issues pertinent to Northern Wisconsin.
Posted October 29, 2026- Town of Stella PFAS meeting with DNR, DHS, and EPA provides updates and answers to questions, some good, some not so good.
On October 20th the DNR, DHS, EPA, and U.W.'s Dr. Amy Schultz all showed up at the town of Stella PFAS meeting. The meeting organized by the town was to provide PFAS information updates as well as allow Stella residents to ask any questions they might have. OCCWA was on hand at the meeting to garner as much information as possible to help provide accurate updates.
Some of the good answers
1) State funds have been released resulting in municipality grants to continue testing for PFAS. Oneida County is in the process of determining what that testing program will look like before applying for grant money. The county is working closely with the town of Stella to include testing specific to Stella while also considering testing across the rest of the County. More info on the grant program may be viewed here: PFAS Sampling | | Wisconsin DNR
2) Dr. Amy Schultz a University of Wisconsin environmental epidemiologist has received a $3 million National Institute of Health grant to conduct a study on the effects of PFAS on Stella residents which includes free blood testing. You may find more details on the study in our OCCWA homepage article dated October 26th.
Some of the not so good answers
1) The DNR shared that the "do not eat" fish consumption advisory for the Moen Chain and Snowden Lake will not change anytime soon. When asked when the fish will be retested, the DNR explained that historical testing tells us that without removing the PFAS source to the lakes, no improvement of contamination to fish can be expected. Therefore, no fish testing is planned for several years at least.
2) The EPA shared that they are still just in the beginning of the Superfund Site evaluation and that more complicated site evaluations can take decades. They also said that even if Stella is designated as Superfund Site and added to the National Priorities List (NPL) the NPL cleanup process is only a last resort option after other federal, state, or local options are exhausted.
3) The EPA also explained the Stella contamination is in two clusters, the Starks Cluster and the Snowden Lake Cluster and both are eligible for Superfund evaluation. More information on the EPA Stella investigation can be found at: Stella Township PFAS Contamination | US EPA The EPA slide presentation from the meeting was actually quite good and can be viewed here: PRESENTATION SLIDES - OCTOBER 1, 2025 - INFORMATIONAL MEETING
WXPR Stella PFAS meeting coverage: Town of Stella hears important PFAS updates | WXPR
Posted October 23, 2026- Silent Sports Magazine October edition includes Mike McFadzen article on Mel's Trading Post in Rhinelander. (Photo credit Silent Sports Magazine October cover)
Many Oneida County residents and visitors have relied on Mel's Trading Post to help them access the Northwoods for years. Whether it's hiking, biking, skiing, paddling, hunting or fishing Mel's has outfitted them all. Silent Sports Magazine's October article, Mel’s Trading Post - Silent Sports shares the trading posts storied history.
A quote from the article states:
"Founded in 1946 by Mel Mode and now run by his son, Mitch, the Trading Post began humbly as a small variety store that sold a bit of everything – household appliances, televisions, toys, souvenirs, and outdoor equipment, a mix that reflected the needs of a small Northwoods community at the time. People came in for practical items, but the store also became a place where customers could ask questions about local hunting, fishing, and outdoor conditions. Eventually, Mel stopped selling household goods and put more attention on outdoor recreation – skiing especially."
If the name of the article's author looks familiar, Mike McFadzen has occasionally contributed content to OCCWA. Mike's local connections as well as being an avid silent sportsman more than qualify him for sharing this story on a local outfitting institution.
You can subscribe to Silent Sports Magazine on their website at: Home - Silent Sports
Mel's Trading Post website: Mel's Trading Post
Oneida County silent sport trails may be found at: Silent Sports Trails – Oneida County, WI
Posted October 21, 2026- Midwest Environmental Advocates (MEA)
secures settlement for broad statewide review of Data Centers.
Rather than settle for an environmental statement on the Port Washington Data Center project, a comprehensive statewide review of the environmental impacts of data centers will be conducted by the DNR. Below is MEA's letter Good news! Legal settlement secured by MEA and Sierra Club will bring greater scrutiny to data center development in Wisconsin announcing the settlement:
MEA Letter
We have good news to share!
A legal settlement secured by MEA on behalf of Sierra Club will bring greater transparency and accountability to data center development in Wisconsin.
The settlement resolves MEA and Sierra Club’s lawsuit challenging the DNR’s decision to issue permits for the Vantage data center campus in Port Washington without preparing a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
What started as a lawsuit over the environmental review of one data center has become an opportunity to address the data center issue on a much bigger scale.
According to the terms of the settlement, the DNR has until January 2028 to complete a comprehensive statewide review of the environmental impacts of data center development. The agency's analysis must take into account demands on water and energy resources, impacts on air quality and climate, and the effects of related infrastructure such as power plants and transmission lines.
The settlement also requires the DNR to provide opportunities for public engagement and input as part of the review process. Public input is essential to making informed decisions about where, how and under what conditions data centers should be developed in Wisconsin.
This settlement shows what can be accomplished when we work together to demand transparency and environmental accountability.
Thank you for making this work possible. Your support helps MEA take on important legal fights like this one that protect our environment and the health and wellbeing of Wisconsin residents.
You may support MEA at: Default Donation Form (Individual)
Related WXPR Article: Wisconsin will examine environmental cost of data centers in lawsuit settlement - WPR
Posted October 19, 2026- The Northwoods Ledger's guide to the 35ft managed zone relates directly to the county's rewrite of their Shoreland Protection Ordinance.
In the Ledger's February 8th post they shared some of the benefits of environmentally managing lake and river shorelines. An excerpt from the article below:
The "Ribbon of Life": Why Lake Health Equals Equity
A manicured lawn to the water's edge is a biological desert. To understand the buffer, you have to understand how a lake breathes and filters itself.
- The Phosphorus Barrier: Native buffer plants filter up to 90% of phosphorus and 80% of sediment from upland runoff. Without this "living filter," your bay becomes a breeding ground for the blue-green algae blooms that turn clear water into a stagnant green soup.
- Structural Stability: Native sedges and shrubs have root systems that dive several feet deep. This is unlike turf grass, which only reaches 2 to 3 inches. These roots act as biological rebar, protecting your bank from the "ice-shove" and wave energy that causes land loss.
- Thermal Regulation: An intact canopy of cedar or alder shades the near-shore shallows. This keeps water temperatures stable for everything from nesting loons to the aquatic insects that anchor the entire food chain.
- The Goose Deterrent: Canada Geese are grazers that prefer open sightlines to watch for predators. A thick, native buffer is the most effective, non-toxic way to keep geese and their waste off your lawn.
The full article may be viewed here: A Northwoods guide to the 35-Foot Managed Zone • Buttondown
You may subscribe to Northwoods Ledger here: Northwoods Ledger
Posted October 19, 2026- Oneida County's own Bob Martini in concert with Wisconsin's Greenfire and River Alliance of Wisconsin shared a webinar on why the Clean Water Act was a win-win for industry and conservation.
On October 13th, Wisconsin's Greenfire and River Alliance of Wisconsin celebrated 54 years of the Clean Water Act and the collective work to build a clean water future.
Bob Martini told his story of the cleanup of the Wisconsin River the “hardest working river in the nation,” a conservation success story that unfolded over decades and tireless collaboration.
OCCWA has great respect for all Bob has done for conservation in his lifetime and highly recommend taking advantage of his insight and experience in documenting the efforts over the years in cleaning up the Wisconsin river. Much of Bob's presentation documented the cleanup of the river in Oneida County.
The full webinar may be viewed at: Webinar Recording: The Regulations Worked - A win-win for industry and conservation on the Wisconsin River • Wisconsin’s Green Fire
Posted October 8th, 2026- Raptor Education Group Inc (REGI) shares loon rescue on Crescent Lake.
OCCWA has shared the work that REGI does all across Northern Wisconsin including Oneida County. We are sharing their latest Facebook post below of a recent loon rescue on Crescent Lake. REGI's Facebook page can be viewed at Facebook and donations can be made at their website Raptor Education Group, Inc. Please consider supporting this wonderful organization.
REGI Crescent loon rescue Facebook Post
An Amazing Story of a Loon Rescue from Crescent Lake and the Patients Fascinating Connection to REGI and the World of Science
REGI recently admitted a beautiful adult female loon (#586-26) from Crescent Lake near Rhinelander, Wisconsin, after an encounter with a bald eagle.
Linda Grenzer of Loon Rescue alerted us after Crescent Lake residents saw a bald eagle tussle with the loon before the eagle flew off. The residents stayed nearby, tracking the bleeding bird until rescuers arrived. Although Linda was out of state, she, and Kevin—the heart and soul of Loon Rescue—conduct 98% of the organization’s loon-related work. In her absense, Linda turned to local Loon Rescue team member extraordinaire, Larry Mathein. Larry quickly responded, gathered his gear, and made the drive to Crescent Lake where he met with the caring and resolute residents that were waiting with their boat and additional gear.
The loon had begun to dive underwater by the time Larry arrived at the site. A diving loon requires a different capture technique which includes night capture. Larry and the lake's residents remained at the site and waited for nightfall. The loon was safely captured and Larry made the hour’s drive to transport her to REGI where we were waiting in the clinic after hours.
We immediately assessed and treated the loon's injury. She had a deep but clean laceration on the back of her neck that was bleeding. Further examination and radiographs revealed no other serious injuries. Federal and color bands indicated that she was part of a study. That news stirred our interest as to her past however with no additional information at that time, our patient was treated as a typical loon patient with a good prognosis.
The loon’s band offered valuable information about her age and history. Records identified her as an important study bird from Walter Piper’s, Loon Project. The loon was leg banded as an adult; therefore, her exact age is not known, but we do know that she is at least 27 years old.
Her story became even more remarkable when we discovered that a fifteen year old banded loon treated at REGI for lead poisoning in April 2020, was our current patient’s daughter. We are grateful to contribute to the science that deepens our understanding of these extraordinary birds, and to Walter Piper, whose decades of research have expanded that knowledge. Long-term studies like his are essential to understanding wild species.
Loon 586-26 is recovering steadily, eating well, and gaining weight. Once fully healed, she will return to the wild before migrating south for the winter.
I will include a link below that will take you to the story from April 2020. It is the story of our current patient’s daughters’ story of her recovery from lead poisoning at REGI. https://www.facebook.com/groups/942848699396690/permalink/1160631014285123/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=0SmyxxxwaZaL0Q1R#
A huge thank you to lake residents and other caring community members are heroes to injured loons and wild birds. We can treat these patients, but it is the public that often finds and protects them until help arrives. Linda and Kevin Grenzer of Loon Rescue are our personal heroes. Linda’s years of work with Walter Piper and The Loon Project laid the foundation for their efforts and transformed loon rescue across North America.
Posted October 8, 2026- Numbers don't lie, public not buying in on Trump Adminstrations' plan to repeal Roadless Rule.
To no one's surprise except perhaps the current administration, public comment overwhelmingly (99.1%) opposes repealing the federal Roadless Rule. The latest analysis by The Center for Western Priorities Analysis: 99.1 percent of public comments oppose Roadless Rule repeal - Center for Western Priorities stated:
"A new analysis by the Center for Western Priorities found that 99.1 percent of the 370,238 public comments posted on the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule oppose the Trump administration’s plan. The comment period closed October 6."
Before you say the Roadless Rule only impacts western states, remember that 4.5% or nearly 69,000 acres of the Chequamegon National Forest's 1.5 million acres is designated roadless. That fact and the desire to maintain those protections were voiced in a Sierra Club sponsored town hall at Nicolet College in June. WXPR coverage of the town hall: Northwoods residents share concerns about proposed roadless rule rescission | WXPR
The point of repealing the Roadless Rule according to the administration is to combat wildfires. That point has been contested by many environmentally focused groups professing just the opposite. A quote from WXPR article The roadless rule is facing repeal, experts want to be clear about wildfires and roads | WXPR
"Most wildfires in the United States are caused by people. According to the Fire Research and Management Exchange System, most ignitions began within 50 meters of a road.
Dr. Camille Stevens-Rumann is an associate professor of forest and rangeland stewardship, and director of the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute at Colorado State University.
“It's a situation of numbers where if you're having increased ignitions, that's unlikely to be helpful to have increased access for firefighters, because they're also just having to respond to more fires because of that increased human access to two areas,” said Stevens-Rumann."
99.1% is a big number. It will be interesting if 364,043 public comments will override extractive industry's desire to exploit the nations roadless forests.
