Every three years, the DNR reviews Wisconsin's surface water standards and asks for public input and topics of concern. The E.P.A. requires the review to keep waters drinkable, swimable and fishable.
Water Resources Manager Ashley Baranek says citizens told them the new areas of focus include eliminating bacteria in water such as E Coli and toxins like blue-green algae, and keeping water quality from being degraded. She says the DNR will be working to upgrade water quality in those areas and will seek further public input...
"...these will be looked at by EPA. If we make any rule changes, the public will have a chance to comment on them. Something we're working on, but we'll have input times around the public. Final rules will have to be approved by our natural resources board...."
The projects were chosen based on their environmental importance, feasibility and levels of public concern. Citizens used an online survey to rank their top water quality concerns.
More information is on the DNR website under 'triennial standards review'.
