Opening Keynote

A Land Ethic in the Red Cedar Watershed

As citizens, organizations, and agencies work to improve the health of the Red Cedar Watershed it is equally imperative to have in place the social capacity and commitment necessary to have this progress be enduring.  Buddy will explore the roots of Aldo Leopold's vision of a Land Ethic where individuals recognize that people are a part of the biological community as opposed to apart from the biological community and how this concept applies to the work in Red Cedar Watershed.

1-The Red Cedar Watershed- An Overview
Dan Zerr, Regional Natural Resource Educator, UW Extension

The Red Cedar River watershed covers 1,893 square miles of western Wisconsin.  It includes smaller rivers, lakes and reservoirs, the land draining into these water bodies, and the people who live on this land.  This presentation will discuss the Watershed, the water quality issues, and solutions that can include all of us.

2-The Value of Shoreland Areas
John Haack, Regional Natural Resource Educator, UW Extension

Join us to learn about the value of natural lake shore areas.   Lake edges are important and busy places that form a ribbon of life along our shores where many species of fish and wildlife spend some or all of their life along lakeshores.  Natural shorelands and adjacent uplands filter and infiltrate water as it flows lakeward.
Handout 1

3-Civic Engagement and Producing Sustainable Communities
Nels Paulson, Assistant Professor, Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Stout

You watched a documentary- now what? This session will provide social science insight into civic engagement and producing sustainable communities. Specifically, addressing the effect of viewing a documentary video, "Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story", on viewers' knowledge of water pollution and their action in response. While respondents indicated that the documentary provided information that made them feel more aware of the causes of and solutions to water pollution in the Red Cedar Basin, the only behavior respondents indicated willingness to change were "personal behaviors" related to water quality in their communities. Expectations of discussing water quality issues and engaging in group activities to address water quality were strikingly low. This indicates some substantial challenges to achieving sustainable water and land use in the Red Cedar Basin. This session will explore what some of the best research and theory in sociology, political science, economics, geography, and anthropology has to tell us about getting people involved in meaningful civic engagement after watching an informative documentary.

Concurrent Breakout Sessions 4-6

4-Following the Water in the Watershed –What are the Implications for Phosphorus?
Paul McGinley, Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Paul J. La Liberte, Wastewater Field Supervisor, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

This session will explore the movement of water in the watershed and some important implications for the transfer of phosphorus.  This can be a complex journey and we will briefly survey the influence of storm characteristics, availability of nutrients, and processes that occur on the land and in the stream.  We will try to put these ideas together to better understand how changes to land, weather and climate can influence nutrient movement, nutrient loads, and nutrient concentrations.

The session will also summarize the local situation including the 1) recommendations / requirements of the Red Cedar TMDL for point sources and nonpoint sources 2) what is known about the current phosphorus levels in the watershed and 3) land use trends in the watershed likely to affect phosphorus levels.

5-Shoreland Zoning- How Does It Impact Me?
Cleo Herrick, Zoning Administrator, Dunn County Zoning Division
Michael D. Wenholz, Shoreland Specialist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Shoreland zoning is a topic that has been in the news and elicits many opinions.  This presentation will include an overview of what shoreland zoning is and the benefits it provides.  Additionally, several key components of state shoreland zoning code will be described, including vegetative buffers, impervious surfaces, and shoreland mitigation.  Finally, some details of the new Dunn County Shoreland Wetland Zoning Ordinance and how it is being implemented will be provided.

6-Watersheds and Farmers: Working with the People that Feed You
Matt Zoschke, County Conservationist, Clark County, Wisconsin

The Mead Lake Watershed and Partnership has been implementing the Mead Lake TMDL since 2009. Over the last four years, the Clark County Land Conservation Department has worked with the Partnership to implement numerous conservation projects within the watershed. These projects have led to a phosphorus reduction of more than 4,000lbs, thereby exceeding the TMDL's recommended phosphorus reduction goal in just four years. This reduction has occurred despite an increase in cattle numbers and an increase in tillable acres. However, farmers within the watershed and lake users realized that all reductions in phosphorus and gains in water quality should be considered temporary. Therefore, in order to sustain the reduction in phosphorus, it was recognized that continued cooperation is needed between the watershed's community members. The Mead Lake Watershed has diverse group of farmers, with about half of the farming population being Amish or Mennonite and therefore not too comfortable with any kind of governmental involvement. The Land Conservation Department continues to work with the watershed's landowners on a one-on-one basis and continues to build a network of cooperation throughout the watershed with the hope that conservation will begin to be viewed as a journey to cleaner water, and not just a means to an end. This session will focus on how Matt builds a relationship of trust with people by respecting that which we all have in common…the need to eat.

Afternoon Keynote

Health Effects of Blue-Green Algae

Blue-green algae are photosynthetic bacteria (cyanobacteria), members of an ancient and ubiquitous group of organisms that can increase to "bloom" densities under certain conditions.   Issues associated with blue-green algae blooms include discolored water, foul odor, reduced light penetration, dissolved oxygen depletion, and toxin production.  Blue-green algae can produce several different types of toxins, including neurotoxins that may affect the central nervous system, and hepatotoxins that may affect the liver.  Given the frequency, duration and magnitude of blue-green algae blooms in the Red Cedar River watershed, it is important we have some understanding of the potential health effects associated with exposure to these blooms.

7- Implementing the Red Cedar TMDL through discharge permits and Farmer Led Councils
Paul J. La Liberte, Wastewater Field Supervisor, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Pete Kling, St. Croix County Resource Development Agent
Dan Prestebak, County Conservationist, Dunn County Land Conservation Division
Julia Olmstead, Watershed Council Coordinator, UW Extension

Now that EPA has approved a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Study in the Red Cedar River Basin, what are the next steps?  What effects will the newly passed water quality standard for phosphorus have in the watershed?  What will happen with discharge permits?  What will happen with agriculture?  This session will include a Farmer Led Councils Panel discussion covering many topics including, community based water quality management, the Farmer Led Watershed Project in Red Cedar and St. Croix Basins, and the perspective the County Land and Water Conservation Department.

8- Blue-green Algae: The Effects of Their Blooms in Wisconsin Waters
Gina LaLiberte, Research Scientist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Blue-green algae are a natural part of all of Wisconsin's lakes. If they grow out of control, blue-green algae blooms can be detrimental to lakes, and pose health hazards and aesthetic challenges to our enjoyment of lakes. In this session, Gina will provide an overview of the biology and ecology of blue-green algae, discuss the conditions which promote algal blooms, and present a summary of algal monitoring results from the Red Cedar River watershed.

9-Agricultural Practices Roundtable/Panel discussion
Steve Olson, Dunn County Farmer
Mark Dietsche, Dunn County Farmer
John Kettenecker, Barron County Farmer

Interact with agricultural producers who are putting conservation practices in place to reduce phosphorus and sediment losses from their fields.  We will discuss what is working for them and how conservation and farm profitability can complement each other.

Closing Keynote

Civic Participation & Engagement: Overcoming Obstacles and Hurdles

Why do people participate and volunteer in local organizations and communities? What are the most important obstacles people face in participating in local activities? We discuss the recent research on these topics and examine some "best practices" for promoting full-participation in local organizations.