Agriculture is one of the reasons Wisconsin survives economically, although it also is one of the largest threats to the state’s surface and groundwater supplies.  Soil erosion from poor cropping techniques, excess fertilizer or pesticide run-off, and equipment fuel spills can all result in run-off pollution to nearby streams and lakes, as well as seepage into valuable underground aquifers. 
 

In Northeast Wisconsin, several agencies are working to reduce agricultural run-off, through direct regulation, or government cost-share programs designed as incentives for farmers.  These programs require many staff people to interact with farmers and implement controls.  Unfortunately, the non-point programs have been chronically underfunded, and recent budget cuts have made the situation worse.  Though the state's programs have been improved with new regulations, these measures will fail if we lack the personnel to implement the programs.

Manure is a Major Polluter

In Brown County, and other areas of Northeast Wisconsin, we have more livestock than we have land available for properly spreading the resulting manure, which increases the potential for overloading the land.   Livestock manure run-off represents one of the most important causes of non-point pollution. Manure contains harmful substances, such as excess fertilizers (phosphorus and nitrogen), insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, disease pathogens (such as e.coli and cryptosporidium), drugs used for livestock, and organic matter. 
 

As the farm fields and animal feedlots erode with rain and snow, these contaminants wash off the land into nearby waterways.  For example, the leading cause of toxic nitrate pollution in the water supply is the excessive or unnecessary utilization of manure and fertilizers.   The nutrients fertilize our lakes and rivers to cause major algae blooms, as we've seen in recent years along the Fox River Valley, especially during the warmest summer months.   If algae levels are high enough, the oxygen can drop to unhealthy low levels in the water, suffocating fish and causing fish kills.

Local Experts

To learn more about non-point pollution controls in your area, contact your County Land Conservation Office and talk with their staff.  Use the directory below:

• Wisconsin Land Conservation Directory --- County by County

Local Actions:

Testimony citing Brown County's leadership in Requiring Buffer Strips http://www.midwestadvocates.org/advocacy/factories/comments/NR151_asm.pdf

Duck, Apple & Ashwaubenon CreeksWatershed Projects - Outagamie County http://www.co.outagamie.wi.us/landcons/DAA.html

• Agricultural Runoff Management  (Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources) 

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/nps/animal.htm
• Implementation Strategy for NR 151 - Agricultural Nonpoint Performance Standards and Prohibitions

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/nps/rules/NR151strategy.htm
• State Conservation Standards for Farms (Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection)

http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/arm/agriculture/land-water/conservation/
• Spills and Kills: Factory Farming in Wisconsin --- Includes recommendations (Clean Water Network)

http://www.cwn.org/docs/publications/spillkill/chapt13.htm

• The Rural Clean Water Program

http://h2osparc.wq.ncsu.edu/brochures/one.html

• Manure and Water Quality Concerns 

http://www.lpes.org/Lessons/Lesson01/01_sec4.pdf
• Open Lot Runoff Management Options

http://www.lpes.org/Lessons/Lesson22/22_3_Runoff_Control.pdf

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