Mike Wiggins Jr. Guest Post; The Bad River Watershed's Value

Mike Wiggins Jr., Chairman of the Bad River tribe, posted this essay on his Facebook page about the Bad River watershed. The region is threatened by the proposed GTac open-pit iron ore mine. His posting is reproduced below, with his permission:
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       Does the Bad River Watershed contain "aquatic resources of national interest"?  The answer is yes, but let me explain. 

At this point I could sound off about the environmental riches of the Bad River Watershed. Ancestral wild rice beds, migratory flyways, pristine upper and lower watersheds, sturgeon and other Lake Superior fish spawning areas, cold clean water, humans, 40% of the wetlands of Lake Superior, artesian wells, and a watershed map colored up with exceptional and outstanding waters. 

I could add in context like climate change, water scarcity at a National level, and wood turtles...but...let’s put that stuff aside for a few minutes.

The Bad River Watershed has a Federally Recognized Tribal Sovereign Nation within it. A Tribe intrinsically connected to the Watershed hydrology and ecosystems for life, identity and Nationhood.

Is Bad River's National Interest, the same interest as the United States? Is the United States interest the same as Bad River's?

The spirit or power that spurs a small dust devil on the side of a backcountry road is the same spirit or power that drives an F5 twister across the backcountry. Scale differs, spirit is one and the same.

That handful of beach sand you looked at when you were nine years old and you realized for the first time that sand was nothing more than tiny rocks, is no different than the black bear sized rocks strewn about the Lake Superior Watershed by glaciers. 

Glacial drift rock is no different than the giant mountain rock outcroppings that go on for miles. Returning full circle…mountain rock is no different than the tiniest rocks of all...the frac sands. Scale differs, spirit is one and the same.

Through the conduit and umbrella of trust responsibility guaranteed in Treaties with the United States Government, Bad River in many ways is one and the same with the U.S. Our small Bad River Tribal Nation burns with the same self-determination, Nation building aspirations, and hopes for survivability as a part of, and in relation to, the more massive Nation (US). Scale differs, spirit is one and the same.

The trust responsibility that is in place with the Feds prioritizes life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and hunting, fishing and gathering, as foundational underpinnings for Nationhood. 

Our Tribal water resources, and ecosystems become a filter of Nationhood and life at a level equal to public health and welfare of citizens. 

Trust responsibility puts forth a covenant between governments that recognizes the importance of homeland as a necessary foundation for existence. Drinking water, clean air and food are the driving forces that our homelands produce for the web of life, including citizens.

The United States interest thereby becomes the Bad River Tribal Nations and vice versa as it pertains to survival and health. Treaties and trust responsibility cement the formality of this mutualism between us.

Our anishinabe ogitchidaa (warriors, veterans) serve as a prime example of where these interests become one. During times of War, Native Americans always had the highest percentage of service per demographic group. In short, when the United States is threatened, Anishinabe Ogitchidaa have always been there in force.

Our veterans who serve believe in their Tribal Nations, believe in the United States and believe in freedom. Our veterans who sacrificed all believed in the possibility of a good long life for those they loved and ultimately a better World within their Nations.

Indian Country and the United States become one. Interests synergize. Scale differs but the Spirit is one and the same.

Is the Bad River Watershed an aquatic resource of National Interest?

Yes.

With Bad River Watershed groundwaters and surface waters and air toxified, diminished, and rendered incapable of perennial renewal… the Bad River Tribal Nation and U.S. citizens within the Watershed sicken and die quicker.

Trust responsibility, the transfer of Spirit with the bigger U.S. Nation, and our Ogitchidaa…..tell me that the words “national interest” translate to the United States and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

It is in everyone’s interest for our Nations to protect our homelands and our people's.

US Senators Oppose Racist Team Name, But In WI...

Once players begin to take a stand - - as have 50 Democratic Party members of the US Senate today (minus any Republicans, of course, and shame on the five cowardly racism-enabling Democrats who chickened out) - - the slur that is the name and face of my home town professional football team will finally be erased.

If the NBA can ban a racist owner, the NFL in 2014 can get rid of a racist symbol that infects the league's credibility and degrades every team-related piece of memorabilia, merchandise and news coverage.

Further delay by team owner Daniel Snyder and the league is inexcusable.

No professional sports team would create and advertise a symbol, logo or nickname equally insulting to any other race, religion, ethnic or minority group.

Though in Wisconsin - - true story - - Gov. Scott Walker and his legislative allies - - egged by right-wing talk radio - - actually wrote and signed a 2013 state law making it easier for local Wisconsin schools to retain racist team and school identities.

Run for President on that, Governor.

Scott Walker, On 'No Doe' Plan:

You know he wants to say, I'm in.

And: Can you put it on a billboard?

Details.

What's Noteworthy In Latest Walker Jobs-Fail Numbers

[Updated 12:01 p.m.] First off, the takeaway in the story isn't that he cannot meet his signature campaign promise to create 250,000 new private-sector jobs. Sorry for the double-negative, but Walker's failing data and his intentionally-failed response is pure double-negative inspiration.

For the record, he made the now-infamous promise often in the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, and during the 2012 recall campaign, too, with braggadocio, that the number was a floor, not a ceiling, and that once the pesky recall protesters went away, the economy and his leadership fortunes would take off like a rocket.

In fact, he's doubled-down on the double-down, if you can see through the nuance.

But in reality, the promise has been a political and economic dud for years, a classic, perhaps historic Wisconsin unforced error.

A failure guaranteed by hitting the middle and working classes here with ideologically-driven austerity, - - killing Amtrak construction, closing up train assembly, discouraging wind turbine manufacturing, cutting a billion dollars from education and other public programs and even taxing the poor.

Do that and the economy will stall, though Walker was never reticent about responding with excuses - - from the federal fiscal cliff to ObamaCare, to troubles in Syria, to Jim Doyle (not Governor since January, 2011), to certain numbers that he plain didn't like.

And he's tried other 'solutions,' like walking away from the pledge, and scrubbing it from his websites.

And claiming he should get an extra year to make it happen, as if a four-year-term actually comes with a bonus, fifth year.

Basketball ref to Coach Walker: You have six players on the court.  

Coach Walker to ref:  My rules. We get an extra player.

But the numbers don't lie - - he's just over 40% there with less than a year in his term to go - - but lies have been caught as Walker has repeatedly and rightly earned false ratings and other scorn for misrepresentations and bogus claims about the data, and his progress towards meeting the goal.

What's significant in the Journal Sentinel's most recent accounting of Walker's jobs-fail is that the paper asked Walker's people for an interview on the subject and they declined.

It's a pattern: Walker fails, the paper demands accountability and Walker stonewalls.

But Walker's handlers and image-makers will use a taxpayer-paid website put up by his dysfunctional and ethically-challenged business development plaything - - the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Scott Walker, Chairman of the Board! (it's a corporation, doncha know, so give it conservative style points but not much credit for job-creating) - - to slap Walker's name on news releases about 20 jobs in Eau Claire and 50+ in Antigo.

They'll put him in a WEDC video or in another on yet a different taxpayer-paid website posted by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism and on other state sites - - but a real-time interview with the state's biggest newspaper which twice endorsed his gubernatorial campaigns (and three times for Milwaukee County Executive), where he doesn't control the message?

Nope.

Walker put signs up at the border when he was elected declaring that Wisconsin was open for business.

But is his administration and its business and its leadership really open?

As Walker would say:

No comment.

As Tea Party Flounders, Don't Forget Scott Walker's Embrace

How things change.

Today they're writing the Tea Party's obit, but it wasn't that long ago that Scott Walker wanted credit for being its original in Wisconsin, so don't deny him his legacy:

From this CNN interview with Walker in 2012 - -  

Walker: 'I was the original Tea Party in Wisconsin' 

"When people ask me, 'How do you appeal to Tea Party folks?' I say: I was the original Tea Party in Wisconsin," Walker said.

Owner Of Plant With Molten Metal Accident Had Bashed OSHA, Obama

No doubt OSHA will bring more bad tidings on behalf of the workforce to this Saukville, WI businessman. I'm told four of the eight injured are still in the hospital.

Buzzfeed Lauds Milwaukee, The City That Scott Walker Trashed

The website Buzzfeed.com said Milwaukee was one of 14 places in America you should pick up and move to:

The unsung gem of the Midwest, this little city offers everything from an eclectic music scene to the House of Harley-Davidson.

But Gov. Walker, after laying waste to Milwaukee as its County Executive-running-for-Governor-against-the-city-in2012, warned voters his opponent would turn Wisconsin into "another Milwaukee."

The Milwaukee which Walker still dismisses and ignores on the state's tourism website.

Right. You wouldn't more of what Buzzfeed showed the world:

Milwaukee, WI

Henryk Sadura / Getty Images

Don Klumpp / Getty Images

Raymond Boyd / Getty Images

I'd Bet Righty Walker Is In Emergency Righty Fund-Raising Mode Right Now

Tied with Mary Burke in a poll, the panicked incumbent is no doubt dialing donors for mega-dollars.

So-Called Sloppy Process Gets WI Pols More Lobbyists' Checks

Wisconsin Legislature, Gov. Walker, state politics go all Gordy Barry:

Give them money, that's what they want…

Expanded a bit at Purple Wisconsin:

So-called bill-writing sloppiness is rewarded in the state that is now wide-open to money and monkey-business as the Wisconsin Legislature, Gov. Walker, and state politics in general go all Gordy Barry. 

With the Government Accountability Board as back-up singers. 

Give them money, that's what they want... 

Let the lobbyists' checks rain down. 

And no doubt the far-right, which always bashes the GAB, will love it tomorrow - - and apologies to The Shirelles, who deserve better.

New Milwaukee Riverkeeper Leader Is Atty. Jennifer Bolger Breceda

MILWAUKEE RIVERKEEPER NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MILWAUKEE (Monday,  May 19) ---  – Milwaukee Riverkeeper has named Jennifer Bolger Breceda as the new Executive Director.

Jennifer comes to Milwaukee Riverkeeper with years of experience practicing Environmental Law, most recently at von Briesen & Roper and, previously, at Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan, and Friebert, Finerty & St. John.

She has a history of serving as an active Board member at the Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee Riverkeeper and several legal organizations.  Jennifer will lead the organization in its programmatic and advocacy efforts to ensure clean drinking water and fishable, swimmable rivers in the Milwaukee River Basin.

Mustafa Emir, Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s Board President, in making the announcement said, “We are extremely pleased to have Ms Breceda in the role of Executive Director.  She has the experience, drive and professionalism to lead the organization’s growth.”

“Jennifer impressed us with her vision of Milwaukee Riverkeeper as a collaborative partner in Milwaukee’s rise as the global freshwater capital, ” added Demaris Kenwood, Milwaukee Riverkeeper Interim Administrator. “She has the knowledge and commitment to work with diverse members of the community to promote the sustainable enjoyment and use of our water resources.”

Riverkeeper Cheryl Nenn added, “I am pleased to have an environmental lawyer of Jennifer’s caliber on the team and anticipate that by working together, we will make great strides towards restoring and protecting our rivers in the Milwaukee River Basin.”

In acknowledging the new position, Jennifer remarked, “I look forward to furthering Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s mission through deepening our relationships with all of the community stakeholders and using our extensive scientific monitoring to advocate for fishable, swimmable rivers.”

Jennifer begins her tenure as Executive Director on May 20, 2014.  She can be reached at jennifer@milwaukeeriverkeeper.org or at (414) 287-0207 ext. 3.

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Jennifer Breceda:

Jennifer has worked as an environmental lawyer for the past 15 years.   She most recently was a shareholder at von Briesen & Roper and, previously, at Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan.  She started her career with scientific research followed by working as an associate at Friebert, Finerty & St. John.

She has served on a myriad of legal professional associations and has been active in environmental, charitable and service organizations in Milwaukee.  She was a Wisconsin Rising Star^SM for Environmental Law, 2006-2010, and a Future Milwaukee graduate of the class of 2002.

Jennifer earned her B.A. from Marquette University and J.D. from Marquette University Law School.

About Milwaukee Riverkeeper

Milwaukee Riverkeeper is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting water quality and wildlife habitat in the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic River watersheds.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper advocates for compliance with environmental laws and is licensed by the Waterkeeper Alliance, an international network with over 200 organizations worldwide dedicated to clean waters and healthy communities.

For more information about Milwaukee Riverkeeper, visit:

www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org.

1st-Hand Account Of How DNR's Advisory Committee Set 2014 Wolf Kill Quota

There has been extensive discussion on this blog about wolf hunting in Wisconsin. I count 121 posts since 2011, with a recent focus on how the State of Wisconsin sets its wolf hunting season kill quotas. 

Other subjects have included the only-in-Wisconsin permitted use of dogs in wolf hunting and legal efforts to ban the practice.

The Wisconsin Legislature authorized the wolf hunt in 2012.

One recent post was a guest submission by Douglas County wolf advocate Rachel Tilseth. She has submitted the account below of the May 19, 2014 meeting of the DNR's Wolf Advisory Committee meeting where its members made their 2014-'15 wolf kill quota recommendation.

The final kill quota determination will be made by the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board, to which the DNR reports. The Board accepted the committee's 2012-'13 and 2013-'14 wolf kill quota recommendations.

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The division between science-based versus recreational hunting factions was very apparent at this meeting. Fortunately for wild wolves, the science and biology experts were heard.

The agenda was to cover the following:

Review of US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan (PDM) criteria

http://www.fws.gov/pdm/regs.html

Tracking report by Biologist David MacFarland

 http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/volunteer.html

It was noted that more DNR personnel tracked wolves than in past years. Pro- hunter committee members stated several times that they receive numerous calls of wolves in areas not being tracked. DNR asked them to send in these incidents and they would investigate the sighting and add more trackers if necessary. DNR reiterated that this winter track survey is a minimum number, but not exact science. However, this is the best model for tracking wolves, to date.

Review of population data

http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Lookup.asp?id=3195

This is the concern noted by the DNR biologists, that the quota must be lowered this years to maintain a healthy population of wild wolves. Discussion on the data revealing that pack size is smaller this year, down to 3.2 wolves per pack. And unfortunately, the breeding numbers were down. The majority of the committee was in agreement that the quota should be kept within a 12% or lower number in order to stabilize the population.

Adrian Wydeven suggesting that 40 to 180 number is best to maintain healthy wolf populations. There was sharp disagreement from Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association

and Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, who are members of this committee. 

These members believe the 1998 wolf management plan calling for a maximum wolf population of 350 must be the objective goal. Other members of the committee explained that 1998 plan is out-dated and a new one would be written that takes in all of the scientific factors of today.

2014 season objective/quota considerations

Chair Dave MacFarland asked each committee member to fill out an anonymous questionnaire putting their highest quota and their lowest quota numbers and quota percentile on them. The chair then put the data gathered from the questionnaire into a chart. 

It was noted that one committee member abstained. This data showed the consensus of the committee to be 156. Committee members raised concerns for or against the quota, with the majority in agreement to accept the 156 numbers, except Wisconsin Bear hunters Association which wanted a 300 quota and maintained an objection to the 156 numbers. 

Review of population models Stenglein/Roberts

http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/vandeelen/people/jennifer-stenglein/

Quota recommendations

A consensus of 156 was approved and was then distributed to the zones.

Quota allocation to zones

Each zone was filled with numbers based on need for problem areas of wolf depredations or public safety. There was considerable discussion on Zone 6, which is part of the state considered unsuitable wolf habitat. Wisconsin Bear Hunters suggested a unlimited number of wolf tags with Timber Wolf Alliance objections.  It was decided that  a higher number of tags could be allotted in Zone 6 but not an unlimited number as requested.  

Dog training regulations

Due to time constraints, sadly this was not addressed. This was the most important topic for Wolves of Douglas County, (WODCW).

Hunting/trapping regulations

Lack of time tabled this discussion as well.

For the first time the chair allowed the public input portion of the meeting to take place before the quota was decided, asking them to be as brief as possible to allow for more discussion.

Public Input

The public input part of the meeting there were 9 pro-wolf attendees that made statements. I made the statement that we would like to see the wolves back on the endangered species list, in total agreement with both Humane Society of the United States statements from new state Director, Melissa Tedrowe and Minnesota Director, Howard Goldman.

Then went on to discuss WODCW‘s primary focus to remove the dogs from the wolf hunt because we believe than this is not necessary, and that public does not want dogs in the wolf hunt. Furthermore, that we will be conducting a statewide petition drive to remove the dogs from the wolf hunt. I requested that the dogs be removed from the hunt. Other pro-wolf commentators also gave their statements against the wolf hunt. It must be noted that this committee is stacked heavily in favor of pro-wolf killing interests. But it was made clear by other anti-wolf hunting commentators that a wolf hunt is not needed.  Interestingly enough, the only pro-wolf hunting advocates in the room, sat on the Wolf Advisory Committee.

It is important to note here that this is a middle-of-the-road number, the 156. It was clear that a few members of the committee, namely, Wisconsin Bear Hunters and Wisconsin  Wildlife Federation, refused to acknowledge any scientific justification on keeping quota within safe numbers for the health of wild wolf populations. I had heard about a lack of science being taken seriously by committee members, but what I saw amounted to a shameful lack of compromise from these two organizations' representatives on the committee.   

However, I do have to complement the DNR biologists, Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife, and Timber Wolf Alliance for holding the line in favor for  sound scientific data that supports wild wolves in Wisconsin. If given the vote on this issue, I would advocate for 0 quota, instead focus on non- lethal methods of wolf management. 

I would like to add that this is not over yet, that this is an advisory committee and that these numbers will be discussed at the June 25th Wisconsin Natural Resources Board meeting in Milwaukee. 

- - Rachel Tilseth is founder of Wolves of Douglas County Wisconsin, a wolf advocacy organization.

www.facebook.com/WolvesOfDouglasCountyWisconsin

"Wolf hounding is barbaric, in-humane and archaic and has no place in a civilized society." Rachel Tilseth