DNR launches water pollution control plan

ALGOMA - An effort to reduce pollution in streams in eastern Wisconsin was explained by a pair of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources scientists at a session this week in Algoma.

The DNR is developing what is called a TMDL — Total Maximum Daily Load — plan that would control pollutants and improve water quality in rivers and streams stretching from Door County to Port Washington.

The DNR describes a TMDL as “'a budget' for a water body or watershed that establishes reductions needed for each pollutant source to meet water quality goals.”

TMDLs have been completed for four Wisconsin watersheds, including the Rock River in southern Wisconsin and the lower Fox River from Oshkosh to Green Bay. Several others are in development.

Among the processes involved in developing the TMDL for the portion of Wisconsin east of Lake Winnebago and north of Milwaukee, is developing an inventory of pollution sources, drawing plans for control of farm field runoff, and creating barriers along stream banks.

About 30 to 40 people filled the Algoma City Council chambers, peppering the DNR's Brian Weigel and Kevin Kirsch with questions during the two-hour session Monday afternoon, with the Ahnapee River as the focus for much of the discussion.

The Ahnapee originates in the Door County town of Gardner. It feeds into the mill pond at Forestville Dam County Park, crosses into Kewaunee County and empties into Lake Michigan at Algoma.

Residents said they're concerned about pollution harming Algoma's Crescent Beach — the white sandy stretch of Lake Michigan shore that's visible from Wisconsin 42 and County S.

“We know there's a problem in the Ahnapee River,” Weigel said.

“This is a Band-Aid approach” to fixing the Ahnapee's problems, one woman said.

Weigel agreed. “This is not a silver bullet,” he said.

Kirsch said an aim of the TMDL — that would take four years to complete — would be developing better methods of farming crops along Wisconsin streams. “We're doing the same things (on today's farms) we were doing in the Middle Ages.”

State Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, who hosted the event, said the TMDL is “looking for full implementation," addressing not only farming practices, but what he called “legacy phosphorus,” such as long dead trees and animal waste from centuries ago that is in Wisconsin soil.

In addition to the Ahnapee, other streams planned for inclusion on the DNR study are Stoney Creek in Door County, Krok Creek in Kewaunee County along with the East and West Twin Rivers, the Manitowoc River plus other creeks and rivers in Sheboygan and Ozaukee counties.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: DNR launches water pollution control plan