FORH letter on Wisconsin wetlands threat

Dear Friends of the Refuge Headwaters:

The Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge was created not to protect beautiful land and water, but because enough people realized that habitat is essential to wildlife.

Since the refuge was created, we learned that wetlands are particularly important. We now know they are critical habitat for many species.  In addition, they serve as giant sponges that absorb water to reduce or prevent floods and then release water during drier periods to maintain higher levels of rivers and lakes.  They are also filters of water, rendering it cleaner.  Finally, they aborb large amounts of greenhouse gases.

But we don’t know these things until it was too late.  Largely treated as useless or even threatening until the middle of the 20th century, we drained or buried most of what originally existed when Europeans arrived here. We don’t have much left.  Hunters have been particularly influential in preserving and maintaining our wetlands, successfully creating programs that give incentives to farmers to do just that.

Wisconsin’s new Governor Walker wants to allow the destruction of a large portion of the wetlands Wisconsin does have.  If this comes about, it would harm the Refuge that serves as our basis.

Please read on below, and on behalf of the Refuge, take action.

Thank you! Todd  

Todd Paddock President, Friends of the Refuge Headwaters 507-454-4176 before 9pm

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Please see the important alert below from Wisconsin Wetlands Association about the potential threat to "isolated" wetlands in Wisconsin.

Governor Walker would like to exempt wetlands less than two acres from current requirements. Two acres are about the size of two football fields - a large area for small, but important creatures (frogs, salamanders, freshwater shrimp, and many more) and those that depend on them (especially herons, shorebirds, and ducks).

Please contact the governor and your legislators soon (info below).

Thanks so much.

Urgent: Wisconsin's isolated wetlands threatened Walker Administration proposes rollback in protection as part of special session  January 4, 2011

On Day 1 of his administration, Governor Walker released an Executive Order that calls for "exemptions from water quality certification and wetland mitigation requirements for certain non-federal wetlands that are less than two acres in size" (see item 6 in the Executive Order). In other words, Governor Walker wants to make it easier for developers and industry to destroy isolated wetlands in hopes of creating jobs. 

We do not know the extent of what's proposed because the administration has not yet released the language, but the intent is clearly to remove protections for at least some, maybe all, isolated wetlands.

This news is disheartening and alarming. In 2001 Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to enact state protections for isolated wetlands (2001 WI Act 6) after federal protections were unexpectedly removed following a Supreme Court decision (SWANCC). The public strongly supported isolated wetland protections, and the bill passed both houses of the legislature with unanimous support.

We will share the proposed wetland protection rollback language as soon as it is available; however, we expect the bill to move quickly upon introduction so it is critical that we mobilize now. The only way to slow this down is to make it clear that an overwhelming majority of Wisconsin citizens oppose wetland destruction under most circumstances.

In This Alert

· Who should care about destruction of isolated wetlands?

· Which wetlands may be affected and where?

· Here's how you can help · Who to contact

· What to say

Which wetlands may be affected and where?

We won't know for sure how many wetlands are in jeopardy until we see the bill. What we do know from an analysis done by the Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in 2001 is that an estimated 30% of all wetlands in the state are considered non-federal or "isolated wetlands." Of even greater concern is that the distribution of isolated wetlands is uneven across the state. So, for example, the estimated percentage of isolated wetlands exceeds 30% of all wetlands in at least 26 counties and exceeds 50% in Ashland, Dane, Forest, Green, Iron, and Rock counties. To view WDNR's 2001 analysis of isolated wetlands by county, click here.

Here's how you can help

1. Call and write Governor Walker and your representatives in the state senate and state assembly today to tell them you oppose removal of protections for isolated wetlands and expect them to solicit public input before passing any legislation that weakens wetland protection. (See below for contact info and additional talking points.)

2. Forward this alert (and the more detailed one to follow) to as many individuals and organizations as you can and urge them to do the same.

Consider making a special contribution to the Wisconsin Wetlands Association or other conservation organizations that are involved in efforts to protect Wisconsin's wetland heritage.

Other wetland-focused organizations that helped enact our current wetland protection laws include: Ducks Unlimited, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, and the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association. A list of other state and local organizations that have or may stand up for wetland protections can be found on the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters' website here.

Who to contact Click here to find contact information for your State Senator and State Representative.

Click here to find contact information for Governor Walker* Submit "citizen suggestions" on how wetland protection and economic development can coexist to Governor Walker's office using this response form. *Note - as of this morning (1/4) the contact information posted is still for the Walker transition team and transition office. What to say Dear Governor Walker and Senator/Representative X:

1. I use (e.g., hunt, fish, paddle, birdwatch), enjoy and value Wisconsin's wetlands and want to see them protected.

2. I supported passage of state legislation to protect isolated wetlands in 2001 and still support that law today.

3. The isolated wetlands law (2001 WI Act 6) passed both houses unanimously in a Republican controlled legislature and was signed by a Republican Governor. Overturning those protections today is akin to breaking a promise with the public.

4. Because of the controversial nature of this proposal, it should not be pushed through without public input. At a minimum, legislative hearings should be held.

5. It would be irresponsible of this administration and legislature to weaken state wetland protection laws without a full understanding of how many wetlands, of what type, and where, are likely to be destroyed. Time should also be allowed for an analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposal. Your decision(s) should be based on the results of that analysis.

6. Economic development and wetland protection can co-exist. Though some wetland loss is to be expected, in the vast majority of cases it is not necessary to destroy wetlands to create jobs.

Who should care about destruction of isolated wetlands?

Duck hunters Upland game hunters (75% of all wildlife species in the state depend on wetlands for some portion of their lifecycle)

Anglers, paddlers, bird watchers, photographers

Citizens living in flood-prone communities Families who care about clean water

Farmers and others concerned about changing land use Amphibian lovers (frogs and salamanders depend upon isolated, fish-free wetlands for breeding)

People who care about the fate of threatened and endangered plants and animals (33% of all threatened and endangered species in Wisconsin rely on wetlands)

In short, all the citizens of Wisconsin should care about isolated wetlands, because no matter who you are or where you live, wetlands benefit your life.