Every two years, the DNR is required under the US Clean Water Act to tell the US EPA how many Wisconsin waterways are newly-polluted to reach "impaired" status, and how many have been clean enough to be delisted.
In 2014, 28 rivers were removed from the 2012 listing, but 147 were added to an existing total exceeding 700, DNR records show.
In 2016, the DNR told the EPA that Wisconsin would be adding another 225 waterways to the impaired list while only delisting ten:
Helluva trend, Bucky.
No surprise, actually, since Wisconsin has intentionally eased prohibitions against phosphorous dumping, leading to a big dead zone in Lake Michigan and multiple unchecked manure discharges from the big dairy operations Wisconsin continues to expand.
Remember this the next time you hear right-wing GOP Gov. and WMC bellhop Scott Walker tell you the state is heading in the right direction.
And keep it in mind when you read that Trump intends to break the EPA into little pieces. It wouldn't surprise me if among the many regulatory rollbacks his industry friends want is the elimination of these kinds of standards and reports.
More in this Washington Post special report, your must read of the day:
In 2014, 28 rivers were removed from the 2012 listing, but 147 were added to an existing total exceeding 700, DNR records show.
In 2016, the DNR told the EPA that Wisconsin would be adding another 225 waterways to the impaired list while only delisting ten:
A majority of the listing additions were waters that exceed total phosphorus criteria. A significant number of new listings were also based on poor biological condition. Ten waterbodies are proposed to be delisted.So for about every water that finally meets water quality standards, about ten more fail.
Helluva trend, Bucky.
No surprise, actually, since Wisconsin has intentionally eased prohibitions against phosphorous dumping, leading to a big dead zone in Lake Michigan and multiple unchecked manure discharges from the big dairy operations Wisconsin continues to expand.
Remember this the next time you hear right-wing GOP Gov. and WMC bellhop Scott Walker tell you the state is heading in the right direction.
And keep it in mind when you read that Trump intends to break the EPA into little pieces. It wouldn't surprise me if among the many regulatory rollbacks his industry friends want is the elimination of these kinds of standards and reports.
More in this Washington Post special report, your must read of the day:
EPA emerges as major target after Trump solicits policy advice from industry