Hello and welcome back to the newest edition of my E-Update!  A lot has happened here at the Capitol since my last E-update that I would like to share with you. 

Ground Water

One of the most difficult and urgent issues that I have had to deal with during my time in the Assembly has been the groundwater contamination problem in Kewaunee County. It is a complex problem that has developed over a long period, and there is no simple immediate fix for the problem. I believe that, through the efforts of many citizens and government officials of Kewaunee County, we have the full attention of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). While it may not occur as quickly as we may like, I believe that real progress is being made.

Russ Rasmussen, the Director of the Water Division of the DNR, has made numerous trips to the area and has organized four committees charged with addressing various aspects of the problem. Major announcements pertaining to the work of these committees will likely come forward in the next few weeks, but I would like to provide you with background information and the current status. The committees include the:

1. Short-term Solutions Group: This committee is charged with getting clean water to those in the county with contaminated wells. It is vital that we first help those in immediate need while we work toward the long-term solution to the problem. Superintendent Nick Cochart of the Algoma School District recently announced that water would be dispensed from the school to those in need. This is scheduled to begin in December. Additionally, the committee is continuing to work with county government to provide water to residents. Grant money may be available to help those that need new wells or filters. It should be noted, however, that in order to be eligible for these grants it will be necessary to document the problems with these wells.

2. Sensitive Areas/Best Practices Group: This group is organizing a set of guidelines for farmers to avoid contaminating groundwater. The majority of our problems can be avoided if farmers follow Best Practices’ guidelines for manure distribution. These involve the timing and methodology of manure application and the avoidance of spreading near sensitive areas. Guidelines will be written to avoid spreading near waterways and sinkholes as well as guidelines for increasing green areas to act as buffer zones. If changes in state law are necessary to address the unique geology of our area, these recommendations will come from this group.

Advancements in technology will likely play a significant role in the solution to the groundwater problems in Kewaunee County. Digesters and reverse osmosis systems, which remove the majority of the water as well as pathogens and nutrients, will likely appear in the county in the near future.

3. Compliance Group: This group will work to assure that Best Practices’ guidelines are followed. The leadership of Kewaunee County would like to implement these recommendations on a voluntary basis if at all possible. For many years, Door County has had more stringent rules regarding manure handling, and they have been effective in avoiding many of the problems we see in Kewaunee County. This progress has come at a heavy price, however, as it became financially impossible for many smaller farms to comply, and they had to stop farming as a result. My sincere hope is that this voluntary approach will be effective, and I will do everything in my power to encourage cooperation. We must move past the notion that this is only a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) problem, however.

4. Communications Group: This group is charged with communicating this information to the public and encouraging cooperation. Many people in the community are distrustful of the DNR and are reluctant to work with them. I would like to try to dispel that perception. This is a good-faith effort, coming from the highest levels of the DNR to deal with a very serious problem. They have committed $80,000 for a fall and spring Kewaunee County well-testing project as well as huge amounts of time from some of their most senior officials.

In addition to the work being done by the DNR committees, County Conservationist Davina Bonness announced at the recent Kewaunee groundwater task force that she will be locally coordinating the study of 420 wells in Kewaunee County correlated with their depth to bedrock. There will be two major well-testing periods: one this fall and another in the spring during the major recharge period. This will be the first scientific study of well contamination data and should provide valuable information as to the extent of the problem in the county. Funding will come primarily through the DNR. Additionally, a survey is being conducted to determine the number of county residents who currently purchase bottled water due to concerns about their wells.

I welcome this progress, but clearly, we have a long way to go. It has been an emotional, painful process, but activists have been successful in bringing the groundwater problems of Kewaunee County to the forefront. We all now know that this is a critical threat to the economy of the county and to the health of its citizens. It is unimaginable that families are afraid to drink water from their taps, but I hope that we have reached the stage where we can stop pointing fingers and start working together toward a solution. I am absolutely certain that we will only solve this by working together. Please support the efforts being made by the DNR, as well as our local officials, to bring clean groundwater back to Kewaunee County.

Eagle Tower Update

I have studied this report and am not convinced that the main supports, and therefore the tower itself, are condemnable. Certainly the decking and rails need to be replaced, but the existing tower should be salvageable. We have requested that the tower not be destroyed until further information is available. The assessment of Eagle Tower is currently under peer review, and the DNR has requested further radiographic, ultrasonic, and stress testing on the tower. These extensive tests will provide us with a more accurate report of the tower’s condition. Further information is expected to be available when the DNR kicks off master planning for Peninsula and other Door County State Parks in December.

If you would like to study the assessment of Eagle Tower, please contact my office, and we will work to provide you with a copy.

Forestry Tour

While there will likely always be a certain amount of conflict between loggers and environmentalists, I was impressed by the focus on sustainability and the efforts being made to minimize the environmental impact.

Picture Top Left: Our tour guide for our tour of the PCA Paper Mill in Tomahawk was Danny Stawicki, a 2010 Sturgeon Bay High School graduate and an engineer for PCA.

Picture Bottom Right: The Tour Participants.
 

Blue Books Available

If you would like a complimentary copy of the 2015-2016 Wisconsin State Blue Book, please follow the proved link:

          http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/01/kitchens/constituent-services/ 

The 2015-2016 Blue Book is also available online:

          http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/publications/wisconsin-blue-book/

In Closing...

Thank you for taking the time to read over my E-Update. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact my office.

Representative Joel Kitchens