GLIN==> Comments Sought for Wisconsin's Impaired Waters List

Alliance for the Great Lakes

For Immediate Release				
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2009 					    
Contact: Lyman Welch, 312-939-0838 x230 								
Wisconsin: Time to Come Clean About Algae Problems

Rotting algae on a sun-drenched beach may be a distant memory this time of year, but Wisconsin residents have a rare opportunity to do something about it this January. 

With monitoring data showing high levels of algae-feeding phosphorus pollution near Wisconsin’s Great Lakes shorelines, the Alliance is urging that the state work harder to combat the problem and to publicly acknowledge beaches that are plagued by algae-infested waters. 

“Wisconsin must do more to address phosphorus pollution in Lake Michigan and to make public beaches safe for everyone to enjoy the water,” said Lyman Welch, Alliance Water Quality Program manager. 

In addition to nuisance algae, other sources of pollution at beaches include stormwater runoff, outdated sewage and septic systems, trash and wildlife. Welch noted that some 161 unsafe swimming days were logged at nine public beaches in 2008, four of them in Door County and the others in Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Ozaukee and Douglas counties (see http://www.greatlakes.org/impairedwaters/Wis).

The Alliance is encouraging the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to recognize contamination problems at those beaches – beaches that were on the receiving end of at least 14 and as many as 29 advisories for unsafe swimming conditions during the 2008 swimming season.

“Including these beach areas on Wisconsin’s 2010 impaired waters list is an important first step to making the beaches safer,” Welch said.

Residents have until Jan. 15 to comment on Wisconsin’s list of impaired waters. The federal Clean Water Act requires that all states update their lists of impaired waters every two years and submit them to the U.S. EPA, along with plans for improving water quality in waters that fall short of the standards.

Monitoring data shows high levels of phosphorus near Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan shoreline. Phosphorus pollution is associated with the growth of algae, which proliferates during warm weather then washes ashore and decays, sending up foul-smelling odors in the hot summer sun that deter swimmers and others from using the beach. The algae can also harbor potential human pathogens such as Salmonella.

In 2009, Wisconsin beach managers documented high levels of algae on beaches and in nearshore waters at several beaches in Brown and Kenosha counties. Moderate algae levels were reported at beaches in Ozaukee, Racine, and Sheboygan counties. Recording algae levels is still an optional task for Wisconsin beach managers, so algae data is not available for every public beach.

In Wisconsin, tributaries to Lake Michigan are the major source of this contamination, ferrying nutrients – particularly phosphorus and nitrogen -- from farm fields, untreated sewage discharges, and the use of phosphorus-based fertilizers and detergents at home. 

Comments can be submitted to the DNR at dnrimpairedwaters at wisconsin.gov before Jan. 15.

For more information on Wisconsin’s list of impaired waters, see the DNR’s website at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/condition/2010_IR/


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Formed in 1970, the Alliance for the Great Lakes is the oldest independent Great Lakes citizens’ organization in North America. Our mission is to: conserve and restore the world's largest freshwater resource using policy, education and local efforts, ensuring a healthy Great Lakes and clean water for generations of people and wildlife. More about the Alliance for the Great Lakes is online at www.greatlakes.org. 



Susan Campbell
Communications Manager
Alliance for the Great Lakes
414-540-0699
Visit http://www.greatlakes.org



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