Clean Water Updates

Short posts and shared links to latest news on clean water issues pertinent to Northern Wisconsin.

Posted June 25, 2026- Oneida County Clean Waters Action attended and provided public comment in support of the Roadless Rule at the June 4th Town Hall at Nicolet College in Rhinelander.

On hand at the Town Hall were nearly 100 Northwood residents as well as sponsor groups Wisconsin's Greenfire, Sierra Club of Wisconsin, League of Women Voters of the Northwoods and Environmental Law & Policy Center. The Town Hall Flyer provided questions and answers for consideration.

What is Roadless Rule?

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule is a critical policy that ensures a tiny percentage of our land remains free from roads and commercial logging.

How much land is impacted?

In Wisconsin only 0.2% of the land base is roadless.

Why does it matter?

The land is critical for supporting ecosystem health. It protects clean water and supports diverse wildlife, including threatened and endangered species.

Former U.S. Forest Service Chief and Wisconsin resident Mike Dombeck was the main presenter at the Town Hall. Over 20 Northwoods residents also shared their concerns in public comment. WXPR's Katie Thoresen did a fantastic job covering the meeting with her article Northwoods residents share concerns about proposed roadless rule rescission | WXPR

Wisconsin's GreenFire's perspective on the Roadless Rule

GreenFire’s Position on the Roadless Rule

GreenFire, a Wisconsin-based conservation group, is actively opposing a Senate move to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule through a legislative amendment to the Wildfire Prevention Act of 2025 Wisconsin's Green Fire.

What the Roadless Rule Does

The 2001 Roadless Rule prohibits new road construction and intensive timber harvests on about 45 million acres of national forests and grasslands. It is designed to protect ecosystems, water quality, wildlife habitat, and recreational areas, while still allowing prescribed burning and forest thinning for fire prevention.

Current Legislative Action

On June 10, 2026, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted to include an amendment in the Wildfire Prevention Act that would repeal the Roadless Rule without a full public comment period. This bypasses the normal Forest Service rulemaking process, which had been used in previous years to consider rescission.

GreenFire’s Concerns

GreenFire argues that the repeal would:

Remove protections for clean water, healthier forests, and wildlife habitat.
Increase wildfire risk, as research shows roadless areas can be less risky for fires.
Disrupt migration corridors for species like elk, mule deer, bears, and fish such as cutthroat trout and salmon.
Reduce public input opportunities, as the Forest Service was not hosting meetings during the Senate vote.

If you would like to sign on to a letter supporting the Roadless Rule, the Sierra Club of Wisconsin provides and easy way to submit your comments at: Take Action to Defend the Roadless Rule | Sierra Club

Related OPB article on the U.S. Senates attempt to rescind the Roadless Rule mat be viewed here: Senate Republicans propose rescinding ‘roadless rule’ — by tacking it onto federal wildfire bill - OPB

** June 22, 2026, Update** A Northern News Now June 11th broadcast shares the latest news that despite recent assurances, the Brule Fish Hatchery will be closing.

The 3-minute clip which can be viewed at Brule Fish Hatchery to Close Despite Funding Approval shares the reasons for the closing in a quote:

"The Brule State Fish Hatchery is expected to close this year despite approved funding for fish maintenance.

The the recent finance committee motion that offered funding contained an amendment that only allowed money to be used for fish stocking, not for worker salary.

Todd Berg, a member of the Friends of Wisconsin Fisheries, said he and his fellow members are shocked and saddened by the closure. He said the closure relates to the DNR’s budget struggles.

“They are basically operating today on the same dollars that they were operating on in 2008,” Berg said."

Clearly stagnant state licensing fees and the legislature's failure to compensate for inflation since 2008 is the issue. This issue along with letting Knowles Nelson funding lapse are just two of many high-profile conservation failures in the past year by our elected officials.

** May 19th Update**

Related to our May 16th post of Northwoods Ledger' article below:

Responding to public expressed outrage JCF acts to release funding for fish hatcheries.

Following yet another failed attempt to micromanage the DNR, the JCF magnanimously released funding for fish hatcheries while accepting no responsibility for the delay. The good news is the quick response to the public outcry. The bad news is that it even had to get this far. In the latest 2-minute video update from Northern News Now Wisconsin lawmakers approve funding to keep Brule Hatchery open, restore fish stocking quotas lawmakers provide direct quotes on the issue. Good luck making any sense out of them.

Posted May 16, 2026- Our friends at Northwoods Ledger have shared an article on how the Joint Committee on Finance is blocking northern fish hatchery funds.

The article The Slush Fund Decoy: How MacIver’s Rhetoric Ransoms the Northwoods • Buttondown shares how the blocking of state funding for fish hatcheries seems to be focused more on the hatcheries in the Northern part of the state. A quote from the article questions some of the JCF's actions and their environmental history:

" The JCF has a documented history of using these legislative vetoes to block funding for projects such as land conservation and PFAS cleanup that the full legislature already approved"

Locally, you may recall that the JCF blocked funding for the conservation easement on the second half of the Pelican River Forest, and of course, we all know how long the process has been to finally secure state PFAS relief funding.

Another part of the article addresses methods that some legislators use to attack bureaucrats. The "Bureaucrat Rant" paints unelected government employees as evil wielders of power that the legislature is unable to control. When in fact it's simply part of the partisan power struggles that we all have become familiar with. In some cases, the DNR winds up being the target of Bureaucrat Ranters. A quote from the article supports the activity:

" Because MacIver has successfully convinced the public that the DNR is a mismanaged bureaucracy, the JCF can block the funding without taking the blame. When sportsmen complain about the cuts, the committee points to slush fund reports as justification for protecting the taxpayer. This loop ensures public anger remains directed at the agency while the JCF holds the checkbook behind closed doors."

The Northwoods Ledger article does a good job of painting part of the legislative bickering and dysfunction in our state that's affecting our hatcheries.

Posted June 17, 2026- Our friends at Northwoods Land Trust invites you to their 25-year anniversary celebration at Nicolet College.

Annual Meeting & 25th Anniversary

June 19 @ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Celebrate 25 years of local land and water conservation with the Northwoods Land Trust at Nicolet College’s Lakeside Center in Rhinelander.

Doors open at noon.
The business meeting is from 1-2 PM. Staff and board members will share conservation accomplishments from the past year and present the financial position of the organization.
The social is from 2-4 PM. Live music by Amanda Anderson. Delicious food by CT’s Deli and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Nicolet will have their cash bar open with beer and wine. Enjoy the outdoor patio and stretch your legs on the college campus grounds surrounding Lake Julia.

Register in advance for the business meeting at: Northwoods Land Trust, Inc. · Event: Annual Meeting & 25 Anniversary - June 19, 2026

Address: Nicolet College’s Lakeside Center, 5364 College Dr, Rhinelander, WI 54501. Google map link.
Please note, major road construction is underway in the US Highway 8 corridor in Rhinelander which will impact travel to the event.
Check the WI DOT 511 road construction website: https://projects.511wi.gov/us8rhinelander/ prior to traveling to the event.
Questions: Email carrie@northwoodslandtrust.org or call us at (715) 479-2490.

Future Northwoods Land Trust events

Paddle the Gile Flowage
July 12 @ 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Sign up to paddle with the Northwoods Land Trust on the Gile Flowage in Montreal, WI.
This 3,400-acre flowage is located in Iron County and was created by a dam on the West Branch of the Montreal River. During the paddle, we will look at plants and animals we encounter, discuss federal licensing of the Gile Dam, and learn about some of the geological features of the area.
Participants will start at Spring Camp Road boat landing on the west side of the flowage; paddle 3+ miles; and provide their own watercraft, paddles, PFD, snack and water.
To register for the event, please register using the link below by July 10. Participation is limited to 18 people.
The event will be cancelled in the event of hazardous weather such as heavy rain, wind, or lightning.

Register here: Northwoods Land Trust, Inc. · Event: Paddle the Gile- July 12, 2026

Related WPR Gile Flowage acquisition article: Iron County celebrates 1.1K-acre land purchase around Gile Flowage in northern Wisconsin - WPR

OCLRA Shares Event and New Lake Program

Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting

Register now for the 2026 Lakes and Rivers Meeting

Our theme this year is What's Your Lake's Report Card?
Learn about OCRLA's new Lake Steward Program, the Oneida County Lakes Classification System, the DNR Fisheries Classification System, How Manoomin (wild rice) and indicate your lake's report card rating and much more. Last Wilderness Alliance will also give an update on enhanced wakes and the status of lawsuits filed against municipalities who have enacted enhanced wake ordinances.

The event is free and will be held that the James Williams Middle School in Rhinelander on Friday, July 17, 2026.

Pre-registration is not required but is highly recommended.

Six County Lakes and Rivers Meeting - What's Your Lake's Report Card? Tickets, Friday, July 17 • 8 AM - 12:30 PM | Eventbrite

Lake Steward Program

The Lake Steward program sponsored by the Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association will be officially launched at the Northwoods Six-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting on July 17 at James Williams Middle School in Rhinelander. Lake Steward helps waterfront property owners apply best practices that keep shorelines natural and protect water quality, wildlife habitat, and scenic beauty.

The program is modeled on a similar initiative introduced in Minnesota, where it has been adopted by some 50 lake associations and lake districts. It is also being successfully applied by the Moen Lake Chain association here in Oneida County. The idea is simple: landowners who take six actions to make their properties more lake-friendly receive a colorful sign (like the one shown here) to display on their property. It recognizes their care for the lake and encourages neighbors follow their example.

All are welcome to attend the Six-County meeting and hear a presentation.

Posted May 27, 2026- The wonderful work of Trout Lake Station is highlighted in their Summer 2026 newsletter, including a July 31st open house.

Trout Lake Station's Director Gretchen Gerrish share's her introduction letter below. The full TLS newsletter may be viewed at Trout-Lake-Station-Newsletter-2026.pdf . If you have never visited, we recommend you attend their always educational and entertaining open house.

As I sit writing this note by the fire pit on the shore of Trout Lake (yes, many of you likely know the exact spot!), I assure you that the cool and calm depths of this water persist.

Persistence is the guiding principle that keeps all of us at Trout Lake Station (TLS) focused on our ultimate mission to support the next generation of students pursuing water knowledge. Trout Lake students will engage in a variety of research projects this coming summer. Planned student projects include testing how forward-facing sonar changes catch efficiencies for different game fish species, evaluating aquatic plant and fish interactions in lakes invaded with Eurasian watermilfoil, testing the implications of plant succession in Manoomin (Wild Rice) waters, and measuring greenhouse gas production across lake productivity gradients. Other students will write about these projects and create art, media, educational and outreach materials to share.

We are so grateful for everyone’s Day of the Badger support which goes directly toward these student experiences. The Center for Limnology was a top five Day of the Badger fundraiser for all of UW Madison in 2026. Your support directly translates to more student research experiences at TLS and Hasler Lab this summer and beyond At Oneida County Clean Waters Action, we are dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and protecting our planet. We believe in sustainable living and strive to help individuals and communities make more eco-friendly choices. Our organization was founded in 2005 and has since been working towards a greener future for all.

While the federal funding landscape continues to be tumultuous, we are working hard to ensure the persistence of the North-Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research (NTL-LTER) program. Federal funding remains a possibility and alternate funding models are being considered with new partners throughout the state. We are also exploring innovative fee-for-service activities like our new community-engaged water temperature data collection service using DockSensIQTM (pages 4-5).

The summer of 2026 is gearing up to be one of our busiest seasons yet with every cabin full of student and early career researchers. New and returning projects continue to build and grow in scope and in the number of people employed and partnering throughout the region. In addition, Trout Lake Station staff are already starting to plan for the next Intertribal Manoomin Camp in September and Science in the Northwoods in October. Keep your eye out for our Save-the-Dates for these upcoming opportunities to connect.

And come visit this summer during our annual Open House on Friday, July 31st to see all the amazing work. While here, join me by the lake to enjoy some of that cool calm Trout Lake holds and to meet some of our young, emerging leaders. Enjoy a few of their stories shared here!

Gretchen Gerrish, Director, Trout Lake Station

ggerrish@wisc.edu

University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology

Posted April 29, 2026- Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association yearly membership drive is underway, please consider supporting this fine local organization.

Dear Friends of Our Lakes and Rivers:

The lake ice is melting, and OCLRA is gearing up for an exciting 2026. Last year we built on a couple of regular initiatives and added a new one. We’re looking forward to your support during a new year of life on our lakes and streams.

Last September we held our first Grant Writing Seminar with the Vilas County Lakes and Rivers Association (VCLRA), and it will be repeated this year on a fall date to be determined. We’ve scheduled the annual Northwoods 6-County Lakes and Rivers Meeting for July 17 with an expanded program and a new venue, James Williams Middle School in Rhinelander. Details will be forthcoming. Meanwhile, the Moen Lake Chain Association has successfully pilot-tested a Lake Steward program to recognize property owners for maintaining shoreline buffers and other best practices. A committee is now working on a plan to make Lake Steward available to lake associations in Oneida and Vilas Counties, and elsewhere. Here are several more highlights of our 2025 activity:

Supported local ordinances to limit enhanced boat wakes, and helped fight off bills in the state legislature that would have offered inadequate protection for our lakes.
Continued regular connections with Wisconsin Lakes, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.
Continued to monitor the county Planning and Development Committee and provide input on topics relevant to water quality protection and sound land-use planning.
Offered and supported an amendment to the county Shoreland Protection Ordinance to prohibit clear-cutting in access and viewing corridors (county board action pending).
Exhibited at local events, including the Earth Day expo at Nicolet College.
Supported Oneida County’s aquatic invasive species prevention program and CBCW.
Added three new members to our board: Gary Mastalish, Cheryl Schultz, and Mary Jung
Worked with the Northwoods Land Trust on a workshop promoting natural shoreline preservation and permanent protection of high-quality waterfront parcel.

Your support for OCLRA can help advance these and other initiatives to protect our lakes and rivers in the year ahead. We welcome your comments and suggestions as we move into the active seasons of 2026. You can share your thoughts and ideas by email to oclra100@gmail.com. You are also welcome to attend our board meetings, held at 9 a.m. on the second Monday of each month at the ADRC building in Rhinelander. And most important, we invite you to affirm your support by establishing or renewing membership in OCLRA.

All best wishes,

Ted Rulseh

President, OCLRA

Apply for OCLRA membership at: Membership ~ Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association OCLRA

Posted May 21, 2026- Wisconsin Wetlands Association shares Water is Medicine video highlighting the Sokaogon Chippewa Community's efforts to protect wetlands.

Approximately 10 miles east of Oneida County's northeastern border is the home of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The community is located in the Town of Nashville, in Forest County, Wisconsin and the Reservation lies southwest of the city of Crandon, nestled among Mole Lake and Rice Lake.

The recent Wisconsin Wetlands Association video Water is Medicine: Caring for the Wetlands of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community | Videos & Movies on Vimeo sheds light on our tribal neighbors' efforts to protect wetlands and a way of life. In the 9-minute video several Mole Lake members share their insight on preserving and protecting the land and water. Also, the video shares the heartwarming history of the tribal and non-tribal unified efforts to prevent the proposed Crandon Mine. Don't pass up this unique chance to learn about these special Northwoods Water Protectors.

Posted May 19, 2026- Town of Pelican passes Wave Boat Ordinance.

The Town of Pelican has joined other Oneida County towns in passing a Wake Boat Ordinance. As reported by The Northwoods River News on May 4th the town completed the ordinance process to the delight of residents in attendance. The excerpt below, from The Northwoods River News article recapped the meeting:

"A round of applause from a near-roomful of residents rewarded the Pelican town board at its meeting on May 4.

There, the board completed what it had begun at its Feb. 9 meeting, when it had agreed to take the first step toward enacting an ordinance to prevent enhanced wake boating on the town’s 59-acre Buck Lake, 71-acre Fish Lake, 58-acre Hixon Lake, 443-acre Lake George and 401-acre Lake Thompson by submitting a draft ordinance and condition report to local government recreation administrator-conservation warden Robert Kneeland.

With more than 60 days having passed since the DNR received the materials for review, the board voted to enact the ordinance as it was presented, delighting the gathered crowd.

A round of applause from a near-roomful of residents rewarded the Pelican town board at its meeting on May 4.

With more than 60 days having passed since the DNR received the materials for review, the board voted to enact the ordinance as it was presented, delighting the gathered crowd. The other Oneida County towns who have already adopted Wake Boat ordinances"

Pelican now joins Lake Tomahawk, Newbold, Cassian, and Hazelhurst as Oneida County towns who have chosen to protect their lakes from the damages of unregulated wake boating. For any other towns interested in creating their own wake boat ordinances, we recommend contacting The Last Wilderness Alliance at: Contact 1 — Last Wilderness Alliance

Posted May 19, 2026- OCCWA agrees with P&D Committee's action for County to consider placing a 1-year moratorium on Data Centers.

OCCWA was in attendance at the April 29th Oneida County P&D meeting. The agenda topic that caught our attention was agenda item #9 Discussion/decision concerning data centers. The committee will be discussing placement in zoning districts and a possible moratorium of data centers. OCCWA was one of four public commentors to voice concerns with data centers' environmental impacts and zoning restriction consideration.

The P&D discussion was short and to the point with the committee deciding to have Planning and Zoning's Karl Jennrich put together a proposal for the County Board to consider and vote on placing a 1-year moratorium on data centers in the county. The purpose of the moratorium would be to allow the County time to investigate and prepare for any future data center solicitations. As stated in the meeting minutes, a Motion by Bob Almekinder, second by Michael Tautges, to put a one (1) year moratorium on data centers. With all members present voting “Aye,” the motion carried. With data centers virtually invading Wisconsin, time is of the essence. Hopefully an agenda item to approve the moratorium will be on the June County Board meeting. We will keep you posted when public comment may be given.

We commend the P&D for quickly taking action on this fast-developing issue in our state. On our homepage we have a May 14th article sharing the latest statewide data center developments and our concerns for their impacts on communities and natural resources.

Related from our friends at Northwoods Ledger: Oneida County WI Halts Data Centers to Protect Power Grid • Buttondown