clean lakes & rivers
Wisconsin's water: valuable, vulnerable, vanishing?
Wisconsinites are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful waters where we can swim, fish, boat or simply enjoy the view from one of the state’s hundreds of beaches, parks or piers.
The cultural and economic importance of Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers and streams cannot be overstated. That’s why Clean Wisconsin works hard year-round to protect our wonderful waters.
These waters do more than make Wisconsin a beautiful place to live, however; they also support a thriving tourism industry that brings billions of dollars to the state and employs thousands of residents. Wisconsin's fishing industry alone brings $2.75 billion of revenue to the state and directly employs more than 30,000 individuals.
|
|
Our priorities for cleaning our lakes and rivers are:
|
|
|
 |
Reducing polluted runoff
Polluted runoff is a top threat to our waterways. Clean Wisconsin works to reduce this threat, with emphasis on reducing phosphorus pollution, the main culprit responsible for algae blooms. In 2010, we helped pass a precedent-setting rules package that enables farmers and municipalities to work together to curb phosphorus pollution.
|
|
|
 |
Restoring watersheds
Clean Wisconsin participates in collaborative restoration projects designed to implement proactive, achievable and affordable plans for cleaning up local watersheds. Clean Wisconsin's depth and breadth of legal and water policy expertise enable us to make a difference in these local watershed projects. (Photo credit: Kristopher Volkman/flickr)
|
|
|
 |
Curbing toxic mercury pollution
A powerful neurotoxin, mercury pollution comes from many sources and the fight to reduce mercury in our environment is being fought on many fronts. As long as our waters remain polluted with mercury and fish are unsafe to eat, Clean Wisconsin will continue to seek new ways to curb the amount of mercury entering our water and air.
|
|
|
|
|
