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PFAS are chemicals used since the 1940s. They are found in everyday products such as nonstick cookware. Public officials are sounding the alarm about health risks associated with the chemicals, including their presence in drinking water. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WI, other states prepare for new PFAS drinking water rule

Efforts to limit human exposure to so-called forever chemicals continue to unfold in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, advocates are hopeful residents will be …

Enbridge Energy's longstanding Line 5 oil pipeline has resulted in heavy opposition, including legal challenges, from environmental and tribal organizations in states such as Wisconsin and Michigan. (Photo courtesy Earthjustice)

Tribal interests remain at heart of opposition to Great Lakes oil pipeline

Later this month, Indigenous leaders will speak before a United Nations panel about their ongoing concerns with a controversial oil pipeline in the …

The U.S. Department of Energy is revoking $37 million previously awarded to Ohio's six-turbine Icebreaker wind project, which has been in the works since 2009. (Adobe Stock)

Can offshore Great Lakes projects get a second wind?

Offshore wind development in the Great Lakes region has had a turbulent history. Once considered a promising location for such projects, Wisconsin …

About 345,000 hogs and pigs live on Wisconsin farms, according to the latest USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service - Hogs and Pigs report. (Adobe Stock)

WI small-farm advocates push back on CAFOs

Family-farm advocates in rural Wisconsin are pushing back on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFOs, as the livestock industry becomes more …

EPA Samples Show How Bacteria Can Ruin a Day at the Beach

A significant percentage of beaches that surround the Great Lakes tested positive last year for potentially unsafe levels of bacteria. Wisconsin is …

Canada-based Enbridge Inc. operates Line 5, an oil pipeline that stretches 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario. (Adobe Stock)

New Court Fight Emerges Over WI Oil Pipeline

A court hearing is scheduled for this week as environmental and tribal advocates continue to voice concerns about an oil and gas pipeline that runs ac…

Environmental experts say a single teaspoon of sidewalk salt is enough to contaminate five gallons of water. (Adobe Stock)

WI Eyes Deicer Training to Curb Salt Pollution

Spring is almost here, but Wisconsin can't rule out the occasional snowstorm over the next few weeks, potentially resulting in more ice-melting …

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS chemicals, have been used in a range of products, including firefighting foam. (Adobe Stock)

WI Sees Hope After 3M Decision on Forever Chemicals

Wisconsin and all other states have seen the effects of so-called "forever chemicals." Those pushing for their removal say 3M's announcement to phase …

Concerning levels of PFAS have been discovered in the environment, water and wildlife of the Great Lakes region. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Makes 'Forever Chemicals' a Priority With Latest Action

The federal government is taking new steps to protect people in Wisconsin and other states from "forever chemicals." PFOA and PFOS are two types of p…

According to city documents, Madison's new electric bus fleet will cost about $70 million. In its 2022 budget, the city set aside roughly $26 million in local funding for the project. (Jonah Chester)

WI Communities Prepare to Receive Federal Infrastructure Funding

Six months ago this week, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure law, and Wisconsin's towns and cities are planning how best to …

The planned reroute of Line 5 around the Bad River reservation will cost Enbridge, Inc. about $450 million, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (Adobe Stock)

WI Tribal Advocates: Pipeline Threatens Agricultural Traditions

Enbridge is seeking to reroute a portion of its Line 5 around the Bad River Band's territory in northern Wisconsin. The rerouting falls within the …

The Office of Environmental Justice was one of dozens of recommendations made by the Governor's Task Force on Climate Change, a group Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers established in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Evers Touts New WI Office of Environmental Justice

Wisconsin has a new Office of Environmental Justice, which is tasked with centering equity and fairness as the state proceeds with a new clean-energy …

Enbridge says its Line 5 pipeline currently transports more than a half-million barrels of oil daily. (Adobe Stock)

Line 5 Drilling Method Raises Environmental Concerns

Enbridge's plan to relocate a portion of its Line 5 pipeline in northern Wisconsin could involve a drilling method even the company admits will like…

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the PFAS family includes more than 4,700 distinct chemicals, which are used in everything from firefighting foam to non-stick cookware. (Adobe Stock)

WI Natural Resources Board Approves New Standards for 'Forever Chemicals'

Wisconsin's Natural Resources Board has approved new contamination standards for Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS), a family of …

Wisconsin has 11 federally recognized tribes, which are collectively represented by the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. (Adobe Stock)

WI "State of the Tribes" Address Covers Environmental, Voting Issues

From environmental issues to voting rights, Wisconsin's 2022 State of the Tribes address tackled a number of issues the state faces this year…

While most animals are safe at Lake Michigan's current salinity levels, small critters - like zooplankton, mussels and amphibians - can experience negative effects at lower concentrations. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Lake Michigan Getting Saltier

The Great Lakes hold about one-fifth of the Earth's fresh water, but a new report indicates they're getting saltier - and says that's reason for …

A class of toxic chemicals known as PFAS have been used in products such as firefighting foam. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Could Restrict WI Cities From Suing Over 'Forever Chemicals'

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin policymakers are looking to provide more aid to towns and cities faced with contamination cleanup of so-called "forever …

A coalition says Wisconsin and other Great Lakes states need more than $188 billion over 20 years to meet clean-water objectives. (Adobe Stock)

Biden Plans Include Water Infrastructure in Great Lakes States

MILWAUKEE - The Great Lakes and their surrounding regions have seen federal investments for restoration efforts, but those fighting on their behalf …

The Milwaukee River Basin covers nearly 900 square miles across seven Wisconsin counties. (Adobe Stock)

In WI, There's Plenty of Room for Riverkeepers

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- A volunteer-driven effort to patrol and clean up three primary rivers in Milwaukee hopes to inspire similar movements across the …

Supporters of Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program say it protects hundreds of river miles for hunting, fishing, wildlife watching and other types of recreation. (Adobe Stock)

Calls Amplify for WI to Renew Outdoors Stewardship Funding

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. -- Wisconsin residents have shown a renewed interest in outdoor activities during the pandemic, but conservation groups and …

A new Wisconsin report says increases in precipitation and temperatures are likely to drive more extreme weather events, such as floods and heatwaves. (Adobe Stock)

Flood Concerns at Center of WI Climate Report

MADISON, Wis. -- Reducing the threat of historic floods in Wisconsin is being touted as a key benefit of this month's report from the Governor's Task …

In Wisconsin, state health officials say more than a dozen people are being monitored for coronavirus. There has been at least one positive test in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Coronavirus Protection: For Some, Hand-Washing is a Challenge

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin health officials are monitoring more than a dozen more residents for coronavirus. They also continue to urge people to …

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been around since 2010. The president's proposed budget protects that program, but environmental groups say cuts elsewhere could undermine the effort. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental Advocates: Trump Budget Would Harm Great Lakes

MADISON, Wis. -- One step forward, three steps back. That's how an environmental group describes the Trump administration's budget proposal and how …

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and legislative leaders have made clean water a priority for the Badger State. (Steve Johnson/Flickr)

Clean-Water Advocates Encouraged by State-Level Activity

MADISON, Wis. -- More states might make clean water a priority in 2020, and Wisconsin is among them as lawmakers seek to protect residents from …

Toxic chemicals called PFAS are used in common products such as non-stick frying pans. (JPC24M/Flickr)

Report Calls for State-Level Action on PFAS Crisis

MADISON, Wis. - A new report from the National Wildlife Federation calls for elected leaders in Wisconsin and other states to confront what it calls …

The manufacture of PFAS chemicals has been phased out in the U.S., replaced with what are known as

“Forever Chemicals” a Growing Health Threat in NE Wisconsin

MARINETTE, Wis. — The discovery of chemicals linked to cancer, hypertension and other health problems in groundwater has scientists and people …

Keeping Lake Superior clean is crucial for local recreation, tourism and economic development. (🐚 /Flickr)

Debate Watch: Presidential Candidates Urged to Make Great Lakes a Priority

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic White House hopefuls will square off again tonight, and they're being asked to explain how they plan to protect Lake …

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s, including firefighting foam. (Pixabay)

Wisconsin Legislators Look to Address Toxic Chemicals

MADISON, Wis. – Firefighting foam may not be as life-saving as you think. The foam often contains chemicals known as polyfluoroalkyl substances …

LRB-1244 authorizes a market-based framework to facilitate more water-quality trades in Wisconsin. (Greyerbaby/Pixabay)

Environmental Groups Question GOP Water-Pollution Credit Bill

MADISON, Wis. – A bill introduced this week by Republican legislators that would create a clearinghouse between fixed-source polluters and …

Treasured places in Wisconsin, such as the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, benefit from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. (National Park Service)

Congress Poised to Protect Land and Water Conservation Fund

MADISON, Wis. - Congress is poised to pass landmark legislation that could ensure the future protection of some of Wisconsin's most precious outdoor …

Wisconsin-based Tyco Fire Products tested 168 wells and said they only found 56 that show evidence of chemical contamination. (jwvein/Pixabay)

Records Show Tyco Knew Source of Groundwater Contamination

MARINETTE, Wis. — State records show Tyco Fire Products knew that its toxic products were contaminating groundwater at least four years before …

Foxconn's 20-million square-foot campus was praised by President Donald Trump as proof of his ability to revive American manufacturing. (Wikimedia Commons)

Foxconn Environmental Concerns Remain Despite Failed Promise

GURNEE, Ill. – Despite Foxconn's failed promise to bring a bounty of blue collar factory jobs back to the Midwest, its development center that …

The Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology study examines whether there is contamination in drinking-water wells, and what might be causing it. (PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay)

Groups Say Water Quality Task Force Necessary, Overdue

MADISON, Wis. – A new water quality task force has been proposed for Wisconsin after a recent study showed widespread health concerns about …

Trout fishing had an annual economic impact of $1.6 billion in the Driftless area in 2015, according to the

Conservationists Call on WI Legislature to Protect Water, Trout Streams

MADISON, Wis. — The latest twist in the bitter dispute over state groundwater playing out in the courts and at the Capitol includes the …

Local residents measure the turbidity of Lowery Creek on the Cates Family Farm. (Margaret Krome/Michael Fields Agricultural Institute)

WI Citizens Learn What Makes Great Stream

SPRING GREEN, Wis. – Wisconsinites are getting their feet wet to find out more about their local streams. The Water Action Volunteers stream …

Several municipalities passed resolutions opposing any Wisconsin decisions to reduce environmental standards that apply to Foxconn. (Pixabay)

Flood-Weary Residents Concerned Over Impact of Foxconn Development

MILWAUKEE — Residents in Lake County, Illinois, are pushing to make sure the Foxconn development in Racine County won't result in additional …

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports the major challenge facing the state's drinking water supplies is aging infrastructure. (Pixabay)

Caution Still Advised on WI Drinking Water Despite Annual Reports

Milwaukee, WI - Annual reports show that 99 percent of the public drinking water systems in Wisconsin pass standards for contaminants regulated by …

Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources officials say they can't guarantee that deeper wells won't have nitrate issues, or that the wells won't become contaminated with nitrates. (Pixabay)

Central WI Counties Search for Solutions to Nitrates in Well Water

NECEDAH, Wis. – Residents in Juneau County and southern Wood County already know they're not supposed to drink their well water – but …

Many of the EPA regulations that Scott Pruitt scrapped or delayed as EPA administrator had not yet taken effect before his resignation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Government Watchdog Groups: Pruitt's EPA Exit "Long Overdue"

WASHINGTON – After allegedly overspending on everything from pens to lavish trips and accepting questionable deals from lobbyists, government …

Tyco Fire Products, a unit of Johnson Controls International, is investigating the source and extent of the groundwater contamination by testing soil, ditches and surface water. (Pixabay)

DNR: Search for Source of Groundwater Contamination Near Lake Michigan Continues

MARINETTE, Wis. — Wisconsin DNR officials say testing is still ongoing near Lake Michigan after Tyco Fire Products found new evidence of …

Gov. Scott Walker has repeatedly said Foxconn's water diversion plan wouldn't harm Lake Michigan. (JS Daniel/Twenty20)

Fight Continues Over Lake Michigan Water Diversion Plan

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The village of Mount Pleasant is preparing for a large influx of traffic, and even planning to hire more police officers this …

The Meudt Creek and Nighthollow subwatersheds are unique to southwestern Wisconsin. (Joshua Mayer/Flickr)

Taking a Closer Look at Farm Runoff in SW Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. - New research is under way to help farmers and the environment in southwestern Wisconsin. Because the region's hilly landscape poses …

A potential mining site was identified in 2014 near the Eau Claire River. (Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources/Flickr)

Marathon County Braces for Sulfide Mining

EASTON, Wis. – Wisconsin's moratorium on gold and silver mining will be lifted as of July, so a number of counties are now looking into …

The Kinnickinnic River is popular for kayaking, trout fishing and more. (Friends of the Kinni)

Wisconsin River Among 10 "Most Endangered" in U.S.

RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Kinnickinic River is at the heart of River Falls, Wisconsin, and offers visitors to the Twin Cities area opportunities …

The Great Lakes provide drinking water for 48 million people and are estimated to generate 1.5 million jobs. (NASA)

Coalition Heads to Washington in Support of Great Lakes Restoration

MADISON, Wis. – With shorelines on Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, Wisconsin has a vested interest in keeping the Great Lakes clean. On …

Spring flooding in Wisconsin can be devastating, as in Rock Springs in 2016, when the Baraboo River overflowed. Democrats say a bill under consideration would make flooding worse. (NOAA)

Wisconsin Democrats: Bill Would Make Spring Flooding Worse

MADISON, Wis. — As February comes to a close, 12 Wisconsin counties are now or have recently been under flood warnings, an unusually high …

The Great Lakes hold 90 percent of America's fresh water, and Wisconsin conservation groups oppose a plan to allow diversion of Lake Michigan water for a private manufacturer. (EPA)

Conservation Groups Oppose Foxconn Water Plan

MADISON, Wis. – As part of the deal being proposed for Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn to build a large plant in southeast Wisconsin…

Warmer Wisconsin summers are bringing more blue-green algae blooms, and shorter winters are affecting fish populations in Northern Wisconsin. (Clean Wisconsin)

Wisconsin Outdoorsman: Climate Change Affecting Recreation

MADISON, Wis. – Experts on climate, wildlife habitat, winter sports and other outdoor activities will participate this week in a panel …

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WI: Water