Transformative change: Fixing our broken food system As Clean Wisconsin’s Water Program Director, I am reminded daily that you cannot work on water issues today without being constantly confronted by the challenges climate change poses. In addition to my role at Clean Wisconsin, my wife and I also run an organic vegetable farm in
To date, the Mississippi River, one of America’s iconic waterways, has received no such investment, but hopefully that will soon change. Clean Wisconsin recently joined the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI), a coalition of national, regional, and state groups seeking to create a program like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for the Mississippi River Basin.
While Wisconsin’s water quality challenges have received more attention from lawmakers the last couple of years, we haven’t seen the bold, transformative policies necessary to put Wisconsin on a firm path to cleaner water come to fruition. A host of complications, from a once-in-a-century pandemic to continued resistance from key lawmakers, have preserved the frustrating
Early last year, in his State of the State Address, Gov. Evers declared 2019 the Year of Clean Drinking Water. While 2019 is behind us, the governor has continually reiterated—through his words and actions—his support for efforts to address polluted drinking water that plagues too many Wisconsin residents.
In the months ahead, we’ll be working with lawmakers and state agencies to make sure these rules protect drinking water and public health and offer every resident in Wisconsin with a well polluted by nitrates hope clean drinking water in the future.
Legislators have heard from citizens, researchers, county officials, and many other stakeholders about the diversity of water issues Wisconsin citizens face but haven’t given a lot of indication about what actions they are prepared to take to address these challenges.
Too often, lawmakers convene groups to study and consider issues at length, but don’t make enough progress toward real solutions.
The results from the first round of sampling for the Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology (SWIGG) study released earlier this month indicate serious problems with well water contamination in the region. For years, Clean Wisconsin has worked hard to push for strong drinking water protections, and these results confirm that we need bold action from local and state leaders to ensure every Wisconsin resident has access to clean drinking water.
