EM Insight 2024 Quarter 2: April - June

Quarterly News and Highlights From the Environmental Management (EM) Division

Photograph of purple flowers in a green bush on the shore of a blue lake. Photo is "Lupines of the Montreal” by Glenn Mancel and was submitted for the 2014 Great Waters Photo Contest. — "Lupines of the Montreal" by Glenn Mancel. 2014 Great Waters Photo Contest. Photo Credit: Glenn Mancel.

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The EM Insight is a quarterly report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Environmental Management (EM) Division that profiles some of the great results that our staff, teams and partnerships have achieved. The division is pleased to present the following highlights of our work from April - June 2024.

PFAS Updates

Work Towards Implementation Of Federal Standards For PFAS In Drinking Water

In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new enforceable federal standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. This includes a new enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt) individually for PFOA and PFOS and 10 ppt individually for PFNA, PFHxS and GenX. Additionally, the EPA finalized an MCL at a hazard index of 1 when any combination of PFNA, PFHxS, GenX or PFBS is present in a mixture.

The DNR plans to initiate rulemaking to comply with the EPA's drinking water standards. Additionally, the DNR will work with PFAS-impacted public water systems on potential actions to reduce contamination in water provided to the community. Of Wisconsin's nearly 2,000 public water systems, approximately 95% have PFAS levels below the EPA's standards. Sampling results for municipal public drinking water systems are available to view on the PFAS Interactive Data Viewer.

Headline News

Press Conference Celebrated New Fish Passage Around Kletzsch Dam On The Milwaukee River

An aerial view of the Milwaukee River, Kletzsch Dam and the new fish passage that connects above and below the dam to allow fish to move up and down the river. Photo credit: Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

Wisconsin DNR Deputy Secretary Steven Little and several project partners spoke at a press conference on June 11 to celebrate the completion of the new fish passage around Kletzsch Dam on the Milwaukee River. The project addressed needed dam repairs and was vital in addressing fish and wildlife habitat loss in the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern.

Before this project, the Kletzsch Dam was the largest remaining barrier to fish moving through the Milwaukee River between Lake Michigan and Grafton. Fish such as lake sturgeon, northern pike, smallmouth bass and other native species need to be able to swim up the Milwaukee River to access food sources, reproduce and establish healthy, stable populations.

The new passage now allows fish in the Milwaukee Estuary to move from Lake Michigan to upstream areas encompassing 25 miles of river north of the dam, 29 miles of tributary streams that feed into the river and 2,400 acres of wetlands – reconnecting river habitats and allowing fish to migrate throughout the region.

Sensors placed in the passage by DNR fisheries biologists show that lake sturgeon, northern pike, smallmouth bass, steelhead and walleye are among the species using the bypass channel. The new fish passage is a designated refuge, so no fishing is allowed in the channel where fish are vulnerable.

Fish passage project partners include Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Milwaukee County Parks and Wisconsin DNR. Funding for the project was provided by the U.S. EPA through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Fund for Lake Michigan and Milwaukee Audubon Society.

E-Cycle Wisconsin 2024 Report Shows Unprecedented Electronics Recycling Access Across Wisconsin

In May, the DNR released its E-Cycle Wisconsin 2024 report, providing the latest assessment of the state's electronics recycling law.

During the most recent program year (July 2022 to December 2023), E-Cycle Wisconsin collectors received 28.8 million pounds of eligible electronics from Wisconsin households and schools, bringing the total collected since 2010 to 400 million pounds. All 72 Wisconsin counties had at least one electronics collection site or event during this period, including at least 60 free collection events in 39 counties. This record number of collection opportunities was due, in part, to increased funding from electronics manufacturers and the DNR's E-Cycle Wisconsin Electronics Collection Site Grant program.

2024 Public Water Annual Compliance Report

Every year, the DNR submits a Wisconsin Annual Drinking Water Report to the EPA that summarizes compliance with the drinking water requirements and highlights statewide efforts to help public water systems provide a safe and sustainable drinking water supply.

The 2023 Annual Drinking Water Report, published earlier this summer, showed that more than 99% of Wisconsin public water systems met all water quality standards for contaminants. The impressive scorecard is possible because of the joint efforts between public water system owners and operators, the DNR and many partners.

Learn more about Wisconsin's accomplishments by reviewing the 2023 Annual Drinking Water Report on the DNR's website. An interactive map with information on systems that receive funding for projects through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program and the Private Lead Service Line Replacement Program is also available.

Wisconsin's Water Quality Report To Congress

Pie charts showing the percentage of assessed waters on each water condition list. Of the assessed waters with a pollutant listing, 26% have a restoration plan in place, up 3% since the 2022 cycle. — Percentage of assessed waters on each water condition list. Of the assessed waters with a pollutant listing, 26% have a restoration plan in place (up 3% since the 2022 cycle).

Every two years, the DNR publishes a report on the quality of all surface waters across the state and submits it to the EPA, as required by section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act. The EPA shares this report with the United States Congress to inform rule-making, budget appropriations and program evaluation. Wisconsin's Water Quality Report to Congress 2024 covers water quality monitoring and restoration work done from 2021 – 2022. This report includes the state's water conditions lists, new pollutant listings, pollutant removals, and progress updates on the restoration of Wisconsin's impaired waters. From the 2021 – 2022 assessment cycle, key updates include:

82% of evaluated waters are healthy, by waterbody/assessment unit (AU) count.
85 listings on 83 waters were added to the Impaired Waters List and Restoration Waters List.
The top three newly listed pollutants were: phosphorus (43%), aquatic plants (19%) and PFOS (11%).
38 listings were removed; 88 prior listings and 3 new listings were covered by the newly approved Northeast Lakeshore TMDL.

Resources And Website Spotlight

Enhancements To Remediation And Redevelopment Sites Map Go Live

An enhanced version of the Remediation and Redevelopment Sites Map (RR Sites Map) is now available.

The RR Sites Map is a web-based mapping system that provides information about contaminated properties and other activities related to investigating and cleaning contaminated soil or groundwater in Wisconsin. The RR Sites Map is part of the DNR's Wisconsin Remediation and Redevelopment Database (WRRD), an interlinked system tracking information on different contaminated land activities.

The updated version of the RR Sites Map has a new look and includes the following improvements:

New layers for contaminated sediment locations, including both points and polygons (see “Additional Activity Information”).
A new layer for materials management locations (visit “Other BRRTS Activities”).
A condensed toolbar without tabs, making it easier to find tools and information.
The ability to mark the map with measurements or shapes and save the map in a file that can be easily reloaded later.
The ability to add data from a map service.

Customers can provide feedback or recommendations about the RR Sites map, which will help the DNR make future improvements to this tool. Please contact DNRRRBRRTSFeedback@wisconsin.gov with feedback or questions.

Annual Awards And Awareness Campaigns

Clean Air Month And Air, Air Everywhere Poetry Contest

2024 Air, Air Everywhere Poetry Contest winner Xeonobia Diaz from Samuel Clemens School in Milwaukee

Xeonobia Diaz, 2024 Air, Air Everywhere Poetry Contest winner.

The DNR celebrated Clean Air Month in May, an important time to remember our collective responsibility to protect the air we all breathe.

Air quality successes over the last 20 years include an 88% decrease in sulfur dioxide concentrations, a 26% decrease in fine particle pollution and a 21% decrease in statewide ozone concentrations. More information is available in the DNR's 2023 Wisconsin Air Quality Trends Report.

But there is always more we can do. The DNR also highlighted the Do A Little Save a Lot webpages for the public to learn more about reducing emissions and keeping the air clean.

Also this May, the DNR hosted its annual Air, Air Everywhere Poetry contest and received more entries than ever in its twelve-year history. Fifth grader Xeonobia Diaz of Samuel Clemens School in Milwaukee took first place in this year's competition with her poem: I am your Sister…your Caretaker.

I am your Sister…your Caretaker by Xeonobia Diaz

I was born to be fresh and clean.
I was born to move like a wave.
My sound is like a beating heart.
I am meant to smell beautiful like a forest.
You don't see me, but you will know when I'm missing.
I am sad to say to my human family,
“Your actions have taken me for granted.
You have put too much smoke, smog, and pollution in my air,
which has made me sick, and that is not fair!”
So thank you to states like Wisconsin who are setting standards to clean my air.
Thank-you to the lawmakers who are passing more green laws
so that everyone will care.
Plant more trees because they are the lungs of our Earth!
They create oxygen and clean the air so well,
we will never forget their worth!
Know that I am strong and desire to be free.
You will not get rid of me!
So let's come together and save our air.
Be a good neighbor, no matter where!
Clean air is a human right for all
so everyone step up and answer the call!

National Drinking Water Week Was May 5-11

Clean drinking water is important, and the DNR celebrates the dedicated professionals working to keep Wisconsin's water clean. First established in 1988 by former President Ronald Reagan in partnership with the American Water Works Association, Drinking Water Week is an annual celebration of water professionals and a recognition of water's vital role in our daily lives.

This year's observance is especially significant, as 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This landmark legislation was signed into law on Dec. 16, 1974, and new regulations were established for over 90 contaminants to strengthen and protect our drinking water and drinking water sources. Thank you to all our water professionals, and a happy 50 years to protecting Wisconsin's drinking water and drinking water resources