Make sure you read this timely and informative op-ed published in the Green Bay Press-Gazette about flaws in Waukesha's quest for an expensive and controversial diversion of Great Lakes water.
The op-ed author is George Meyer, former Wisconsin DNR Secretary during the Tommy Thompson years and current Executive Director of the non-profit Wisconsin Wildlife Federation:
Including the bigger picture about Wisconsin's growing disregard for water conservation.
The op-ed author is George Meyer, former Wisconsin DNR Secretary during the Tommy Thompson years and current Executive Director of the non-profit Wisconsin Wildlife Federation:
Waukesha can sustainably meet its current and future water needs for its water service supply area by treating existing deep groundwater wells for radium and other contaminants, without depleting its groundwater supply. And it can do this at one-half the cost to their ratepayers...
The DNR released its draft environmental impact study and preliminary decision on Waukesha's diversion application on June 25. Comments on both are being accepted until Aug. 28 at DNRWaukeshaDiversionApp@wisconsin.gov. We urge concerned citizens to attend hearings, submit comments and stay apprised of any further developments by visiting www.protectourgreatlakes.org.Also - - here are links to the hearing schedule referenced in the op-ed and to more information from this blog.
Including the bigger picture about Wisconsin's growing disregard for water conservation.
This group claims that Waukesha can continue to use depleted aquifers "with no environmental impact to surrounding wetlands, surface waters or the deep groundwater aquifer."
ReplyDeleteSeems like just yesterday, the League of Conservation Voters said, "All water is connected. When groundwater is depleted, everyone – businesses, municipalities, farmers, fishermen, boaters, and more – pays the price." But apparently not in the case of Waukesha, where Meyer's coalition claims there is no impact from groundwater use.
The DNR's groundwater modeling seems a lot more plausible than those claims. It said groundwater use -- at levels well below forecasts, like the coalition is pushing for -- would damage 700 to 2,300 acres of wetlands, along with streams, lakes and aquifers. But apparently the coalition is OK with that, as long as Waukesha cannot use and then return Lake Michigan water. So much for the Compact's goal of basing decisions on science.