Sustainable La Crosse Commission program May 16

The following notice is from the Sustain
La Crosse Commission, and is included in its entirety in this blog post.   Groundwater contamination problems in Wisconsin have been documented for years - LWV UMRR explored this topic at our 2017 Annual Meeting in La Crosse.  Check out this talk from that meeting, this related story in the La Crosse Tribune and this more recent story on Wisconsin Public Radio.   (Photo from the La Crosse Tribune story)

And here's the meeting notice:

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            La Crosse County Water Challenges and Improvement Opportunities
                                            Thursday, May 16 5:30 – 6:30 PM Basement Auditorium (Room 0430)
                                                                   La Crosse County Admin. Center 212 6th Street N.

The Sustainable La Crosse Commission will host a public program about issues related to ground and surface water quality in La Crosse County and surrounding areas.

Nitrates in well water and its impact on health
The first topic will include a discussion on groundwater nitrate contamination from animal production units and other sources. This topic has received attention lately because of the results of studies conducted in the Towns of Onalaska and Holland on nitrate levels in local resident’s wells. The panelist for this portion will be Jennifer Rombalski, La Crosse County Health Department La Crosse River watershed

Nutrient credits for shoreland improvements
The second topic will include a discussion on opportunities to use “nutrient credits” derived from shoreline improvements, establishment of buffer zones, etc. to offset more stringent output water phosphorus levels that the La Crosse Sanitary Sewer Utility will be facing in the future. The panelist for this portion will be Karl Green, UW Madison Division of Extension La Crosse County.
 
The second topic is directly related to a goal that has been established by the Sustainable La Crosse Commission – Water Work Group: To restore water quality of the rivers, streams, lakes and ponds that make up La Crosse River watershed by concentrating efforts to reduce non-point source phosphorus pollution. Advocate for stream bank protection, restoration and permanent easements with the goal of removing the La Crosse River from the “Impaired” water classification, as established by the WI DNR

Thank you for your interest in water sustainability. We hope that you can attend, learn, provide your input and help us to achieve our goal.

About the Sustainable La Crosse Commission In 2009, the City and County of La Crosse passed a join resolution establishing a “joint long-term sustainability committee.” The Commission created a Strategic Plan for Sustainability and works to advise and make recommendations on policy and funding related to sustainability and to educate the public about sustainability issues.

For more information, contact Rick Cornforth Sustainability Commission Chair, rcornforth@lacrossecounty.org