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Forming a Watershed Association in Advance of Environmental Problems
Northwest Wisconsin, along the shore of Lake Superior, is frequently called "God's Country." Views of the largest Great Lake, calming forest landscapes, and countless inland lakes and cool-water trout streams characterize this exquisite part of the country. This is a place where the "pines outnumber the people," and most people want it to stay that way. However, building permit applications have been doubling every year as city dwellers nearing retirement discover the quality of life here.
Fast forward to the formation of the Bad River Watershed Association (BRWA), whose has made it their mission to involve all citizens in maintaining the integrity of the watershed for future generations. "Most watershed associations form around a highly visible problem-poor water quality, industrial pollution, or dense and inappropriate development," stated Dorothy Lagerroos with BRWA. "We had none of the above, although all were possible in the relatively near future if we didn't take steps. Nevertheless, we needed to find a way to excite people into action without an immediate crisis." The BRWA was so successful creating this excitement that, in collaboration with other organizations and with the support of community members, Bayfield County strengthened its shoreland-zoning ordinance and Ashland County embarked on land use planning.
The BRWA continues to serve as a voice for the watershed and to cultivate stewards in protecting the watershed from future environmental threats. For five years, volunteers have tended their water sampling sites to gather chemical, biological and physical data, volunteers check on culverts to be sure the fish can get through and participate in one day field events to eradicate invasive species.
For information on how to form a watershed group in advance of ecological problems, contact Dorothy Lagerroos with BRWA at dorothyl@cheqnet.net.
Freshwater Future builds effective community-based citizen action to protect and restore the water quality of the Great Lakes basin. We work toward this goal by providing financial assistance, communications and networking assistance and technical assistance to citizens and grassroots watershed groups throughout the Great Lakes basin. Through these efforts we work with over 1,800 grassroots watershed groups and citizens to protect and restore the rivers, lakes and wetlands in their communities. Freshwater Future, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
For more information, please contact:
info@freshwaterfuture.org
P.O. Box 2479, Petoskey, MI 49770
PH (231) 348-8200