Props to River Alliance of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Riverkeeper and grassroots activists for pushing the DNR to confront phosphorous-related algae contamination in the Wisconsin River.
It's a needed, long-overdue response that acknowledges the scandalous increase in waterway pollution in Wisconsin that has followed the rollover by Walker and the GOP-led legislature to industry which won a rollback four years ago of phosphorous controls on the books.
The same dynamic is playing out in rural Wisconsin, where Walker's pro-business agenda weakened state runoff enforcement from large ag and dairy operations and well water contamination remains a persistent health hazard.
And the legislature's recent approval of toxic metal mining in Wisconsin, its removal of protections for perhaps 100,000 acres of wetlands statewide, and giving Foxconn a broad permission slip to have its way with lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands on thousands of acres in Racine County is at cross-purposes with waterway cleanup statewide.
I'm sure the ruling party's sudden dip of a toe into environmental action for cleaner water and 'its happening as the 2019 primary elections loom is not a coincidence - - since when it comes to Walker, business agendas, the GOP-led legislature and the environment there haven't been any coincidences since 2011 - - but a cleaner Wisconsin River is a testament to hard work by groups and activists and deserves everyone's praise.
It's a needed, long-overdue response that acknowledges the scandalous increase in waterway pollution in Wisconsin that has followed the rollover by Walker and the GOP-led legislature to industry which won a rollback four years ago of phosphorous controls on the books.
Scott Walker signs bill easing phosphorus rules for communities
The same dynamic is playing out in rural Wisconsin, where Walker's pro-business agenda weakened state runoff enforcement from large ag and dairy operations and well water contamination remains a persistent health hazard.
And the legislature's recent approval of toxic metal mining in Wisconsin, its removal of protections for perhaps 100,000 acres of wetlands statewide, and giving Foxconn a broad permission slip to have its way with lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands on thousands of acres in Racine County is at cross-purposes with waterway cleanup statewide.
I'm sure the ruling party's sudden dip of a toe into environmental action for cleaner water and 'its happening as the 2019 primary elections loom is not a coincidence - - since when it comes to Walker, business agendas, the GOP-led legislature and the environment there haven't been any coincidences since 2011 - - but a cleaner Wisconsin River is a testament to hard work by groups and activists and deserves everyone's praise.