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Weed Out!
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Weed Out! Racine-Invasive
Species Removal
by Melissa Warner
Invasive species-does that sound like a terrorist threat? Indeed, they are a
threat, and they do spread terror in the hearts of those working to preserve the
biodiversity of our native woodlands, wetlands and prairies.
What do we mean by "invasive"? We refer to plants and animals that have so few
enemies or predators that they grow abundantly and out compete natives. Some
were brought here for our gardens, such as purple loosestrife with its beautiful
flower spikes. Garlic mustard and dandelions were brought as edible spring
herbs. Buckthorn and honeysuckle were sold as garden shrubs. Dame's rocket is
often included in wild flower mixtures.
Why do we care? Biodiversity is the key to healthy ecosystems. The wide variety
of plants in a woodland, for example, feeds a large number of insects that feed
the toads, snakes, mammals and birds, including the warblers that pass through
in their spring and fall migrations. Variations in temperature and rainfall
affect plants differently. Having many varieties means that in years when some
plants don't do well, others will thrive. If there are fewer walnuts, for
instance, maybe there will be more acorns and hickory nuts. Loss of diversity
means a lessened ability to cope with seasonal variation.
The Southeast Gateway Group has worked with the City of Racine Parks staff and
the St. Catherine's High School Environmental Club to control invasives in
Colonial Park for more than seven years. Grants from the Root-Pike Watershed
Initiative Network have funded both tools and plants for restoration. While many
park areas now have much less honeysuckle and buckthorn, we are seeing increases
in populations of garlic mustard, dame's rocket and other common weeds such as
creeping charlie and burdock as well as less usual ones such as black locust and
Japanese knotweed. Other natural areas in Racine are facing the same problems.
Weed Out! Racine aims to manage invasives by increasing public education and
recruiting additional volunteers at all seven sites. Every Saturday morning in
April and May starting on April 14 groups will be pulling garlic mustard, dame's
rocket, honeysuckle and buckthorn. The Southeast Gateway Group is a sponsor of
Weed Out! Racine, and we have added Colonial Park work dates this spring. We'll
be there on April 14 and 28, as well as May 12 and 26. See below for the dates
at other sites. You are needed for this important environmental effort! Please
commit at to least one workday at one or more sites. Bring a friend and enjoy a
morning in the woods.
In Kenosha, invasives removal efforts continue at Pringle Nature Preserve;
contact Barry Thomas, (262) 859-2960, for dates and directions.
Chiwaukee Prairie has regular work
parties, too. Contact Donna Peterson (262) 637-3141.
Weed Out! Racine Work Dates:
April 14: Colonial Park, Racine Zoo
April 21: Racine Zoo, Zoo Path, DeKoven Woods, Johnson Park Dog Run
April 28, Colonial Park, Washington Park, Zoo Path
May 5: River Bend Nature Center, Zoo Path
May 12: Colonial Park
May 19: Washington Park
May 26: Colonial Park
Contact Melissa Warner (262) 639-0918

Right Top: Dame's Rocket
Bottom: Garlic Mustard
Far right: St. Catherine's students cut buckthorn at Colonial Park
Calendar:
April 2: Conservation Committee meeting at Berges' house, 1529 Crabapple Drive,
Racine, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Note change in date to avoid conflict with Maundy
Thursday. Contact John at (262) 633-8455 with any questions, items for the
agenda, etc.
April 12: ExCom meeting. The meeting will be at the Olympia Brown Church Annex,
419 6th St. in Racine at 7:00 p.m.
April 14: Weed Out! Racine. Learn to recognize and eliminate invasive, alien
plant species.
April 14: National Step It Up Day to step up our support for actions against
Global Warming, in the afternoon at a location yet to be determined. For
up-to-date information contact Rebecca Eisel as listed below.
April 16: Spring Hearings and Annual Conservation Congress Meetings starting at
7:00 p.m. at the Union Grove High School Auditorium, 3433 S. Colony Ave., Union
Grove for Racine County; Bristol Grade School Auditorium, 20121 83rd St.,
Bristol for Kenosha County; and Delavan/Darien High School Auditorium, 150
Cummins, Delavan for Woolworth County.
April 19: Hike followed by Kerry Thomas of KRM Transit Now. Our Thursday evening
monthly meeting will be at Pringle Nature Center. Meet in front of the nature
center about 5:00 p.m. for an educational hike in the woods, followed by a
buffet supper. At 7:00 p.m., we will learn more about the KRM commuter rail
project. Please call Juanita, (262) 835-7791 or e-mail JJP72696 AT aol DOT com
by April 15 if you plan to attend.
April 21: Earth Day and Work Day at Pringle Nature Center and numerous other
sites around the area, most running from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
April 23: Clean Wisconsin and the Green Team at Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church
present a program on Global Warming, especially as related to Wisconsin. Ryan
Schryver, "trained by Al Gore", and Rev. Dave Steffensen from the Wisconsin
Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign are the presenters. The program starts at
6:30 p.m. at the church located at 1700 S. Green Bay Road. The public is
invited.
April 28: Weed Out! Racine. Learn to recognize and eliminate invasive, alien
plant species.
May 1: Southeast Sierran Deadline. Send articles, etc., electronically by using
the information on the back page, or send by mail to: Gary Zumach, 2548
Pinehurst Ave., Racine, WI 53403.
May 3: Conservation Committee meeting at Olympia Brown Unitarian Church Annex at
419 6th Street, Racine starting at 7:00 p.m. Note the change in location. Call
Melissa Warner at (262) 639-0918 with any questions, items for the agenda, etc.
May 5: First Highway 38 Cleanup for the year starting at 9:00 a.m. Meet at Bob
and Betty Gericke's house, 3927 North Lane, Franksville (east of State Highway
38 and north of County Highway K). Learn how many drivers can't tell the
difference between a car window and a wastebasket.
May 10: ExCom meeting. The meeting will be at the Olympia Brown Church Annex,
419 6th St. in Racine at 7:00 p.m.
May 12: Chicago Botanic Gardens. See article below. Contact Dana Huck at (262)
639-0465 to sign up or for information.
May 12: Weed Out! Racine. Learn to recognize and eliminate invasive, alien plant
species.
May 17: Utah's Redrock Canyons program. Our speaker will be Mr. Clayton
Daughenbaugh, of the Sierra Club's National Wildlands Committee. He will
describe opportunities to protect Utah's redrock canyons and the current threats
to those lands. Learn about one of the Sierra Club's top public lands
priorities. We will meet about 5:30 p.m. at Eagle Inn near Kansasville. Our
program will start at 7:00 p.m. For full information including travel
directions, see the article on page four.
May 19: Hike at Bong Recreation Area. The membership committee is inviting all
members, but especially our new members, to join in a spring hike at Bong State
Recreation Area where we'll learn about the prairies, woodlands, wetlands and
spring wildflowers. A picnic meal will be served at Area C Shelter between 4:30
and 5:00 p.m. Call Barb at (262) 654-2208 or e-mail bmeyocks@wi.rr.com for
carpooling and meal count. See article on page four for further information.
May 26: Weed Out! Racine. Learn to recognize and eliminate invasive, alien plant
species.
June 15–17: The 2007 Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair, Custer,
Wisconsin. See article below for details. Contact Dana Huck at (262) 639-0465 to
sign up or for more information.
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From the
Chair... Warming Things Up
By Nancy Hennessy
Just a few years ago the environmental community in Southeast Wisconsin was
fighting hard against WE Energies plan to build a big new coal fired power plant
in Oak Creek. Although some raised the issue of global warming, the main
arguments voiced concern that the increased pollution from burning more coal was
unhealthy for the environment and the people who live in it. The Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel gave the WE Energies plan their stamp of approval. And, it was
embraced by Governor Doyle and celebrated as necessary for development. Under
construction now, it will be one of the biggest coal burning plants in the
Midwest.
Now, just a few years later, the acceptance of global warming as scientific fact
is warming things up. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is taking a different
stance. In response to Alliant Energy's recent announcement of a plan to build a
coal fired plant in Cassville, a Journal Sentinel editorial asked "Is coal the
only option?" and said that Wisconsin's utilities should be taking the mounting
reports of global warming more seriously. That editorial was followed the next
day with a major piece on global warming. The front-page picture was of coal
trains lined up to deliver their cargo to a smoky power plant. The caption read,
"The states greenhouse gas emissions are rising at a rate far faster than the
rest of the nation's. The main reason? Our insatiable appetite for coal." We
rely more on coal in the makeup of our electric power supply than 37 other
states and our CO2 emissions are up 34% since 1980. The article was an
educational piece on the effects of burning coal on the planet, our state's
dependence on coal and a call to consider other options.
In Madison things are warming up too. Currently state law requires that by 2015,
10% of the state's electricity be supplied by renewable energy sources. But
Representative Spencer Black has upped the ante by introducing a California-like
bill to cut green house gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (LRB 0193). And in
January Governor Doyle announced plans to appoint a Global Warming Task Force
and create an energy independence office to coordinate and dramatically expand
the state's use of renewable fuels by 2025.
Last month several SEGG members (two cars full) were among over 400 citizens who
went to Madison for Conservation Lobby Day. Needless to say, clean energy was
high on our list of priorities. One of the lessons of the day was that it's
important for us to stay informed and to keep the heat on our legislators as
they grapple with issues of importance.
James Hanson, one of the world's top climate scientists has called for an end to
the building of new coal fired power plants in the United States because of
their huge role in producing green house gases. He also said that by mid-century
all coal fired power plants that do not capture and bury carbon dioxide "must
eventually be bulldozed." On the other hand, the sound of foot dragging was
heard when Gayle Klappa, president and CEO of WE Energies, said "I have a
difficult time justifying to someone who is working for the minimum wage in
Milwaukee why he or she needs to pay more for electricity if China and India are
not making an effort to help solve the (global warming) problem."
We know that the utilities have a big voice in Madison and that they are
reluctant to abandon the profitability of coal power. We must continue to keep
our legislators informed of our priorities throughout the year-not just on Lobby
Day. You can follow the progress of legislation on line by clicking on vote
tracker at
www.conservationvoters.org. Let's keep the heat turned up.
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Earthjustice
by Lila Berge
Earthjustice is the former Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, split off because of
a number of legal and financial reasons. They publish a quarterly report of
legal actions to protect forests, wildlife and habitats, air and water on behalf
of various governmental bodies, environmental and citizens groups, including the
Sierra Club. If you are not on their mailing list, you can get more information
at eajus AT earthjustice DOT org.
Recent victories include the ruling on behalf of 20 environmental organizations
and the states of California, Oregon, Washington and New Mexico that declared
illegal the Bush administration's repeal of the 2001 "roadless" rule protecting
50 million acres of old growth timber.
In the arctic, a rich wildlife habitat around Lake Teshekpuk in the National
Petroleum Reserve was targeted for oil development. On September 25, 2006, a
judge ruled that the area must continue to be protected from lease sales. This
lawsuit was brought on behalf of the National Audubon Society, the Sierra Club,
the Alaskan Wilderness League and Natural Resources Defense Council.
In Utah, a hiking trail within the borders of Zion and Bryce Canyon National
Parks was protected from seizure and development for ATVs and other motorized
use. The judge ruled that a state or county cannot seize federal land under a
Civil War-era law regarding "trails".
Blanket, nationwide permits to dump dredging material into areas near streams
and wetlands were rejected and enforcement of the Clean Water Act was
strengthened in another case won by Earthjustice. Conservationists were joined
by sportsmen in opposition to drilling for oil and gas development near
Yellowstone National Park.
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Souped-Up Hike
The membership committee is inviting all members, but especially new members, to
join in a spring hike at Bong State Recreation Area on May 19, 2007. The
entrance to Bong is located on Highway 142 about 1 mile west of the intersection
of Highways 142 and 75 on the south side of Highway 142. We will meet at the
Visitor's Center around 2:00 p.m.
Bong's Park Staff recommends two trails known for spring flowers and migrating
birds. The Blue Trail (4.2 miles, 2 hours) takes you through prairie and
woodlands, past wetlands and around Wolf Lake, which is described as an
incredible place for spring wildflowers. Another great choice is the Vista
Nature Trail (1 mile, 1 hour). This trail is not heavily used and is an
excellent birding area, especially in May.
Homemade soup, crusty bread, and a selection of sides will be served at Area C
Shelter between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m.
The daily entrance fee for a vehicle with a Wisconsin license is $7.00 and for
senior residents (65 and older) the daily vehicle fee is $3.00. This fee is per
vehicle and not per person.
Call Barb at (262) 654-2208 or email bmeyocks AT wi.rr DOT com for carpooling
arrangements and to be included in the meal count. An accurate count is
necessary to insure that there is enough food for everyone.
If you would like more information about the trails at Bong and to view a site
map, visit:
www.bongnaturalistassociation.org.
Shake off the winter blues, come for a hike and stay for a bite. See you there.
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Annual Banquet at Eagle Lake, May 17
Join us for our annual banquet at a beautiful, peaceful, lakeside location. We
will meet about 5:30 p.m. at Eagle Inn on the Lake, 3101 Eagle Road,
Kansasville. Their advertising states that they are about 10 minutes west of
I-94. Take Highway 11 west. Eagle Road is just west of highway 75. There will be
a large sign for Eagle Inn on the Lake at the intersection. Turn north. A few
yards down the road, there will be another sign for the restaurant at your next
turn. Turn right on the drive. The restaurant will be just ahead of you on Eagle
Lake. Turn left into the parking lot. We will use the entrance on the right, the
one with double doors on the brick side of the building. The hall on the left
will be ours. Eagle Inn on the Lake has a great reputation for cleanliness,
great food and great service in a beautiful, picturesque setting. We should have
a great dinner!
About 7:00 p.m., our program will start. Our keynote speaker will be Mr. Clayton
Daughenbaugh, who is a member of the Sierra Club's National Wildlands Committee.
His presentation will describe opportunities to protect Utah's redrock canyons
and the current threats to those lands, explaining what it all means on the
ground and the politics involved. This will give us a chance to learn about one
of the Sierra Club's top public lands
priorities.
I need to give a final count to the restaurant in advance. So please sign up in
advance, or call (262) 835-7791 or e-mail JJP72696@aol.com Juanita before May 6.
Choose one of the following dinners: Lasagna—hand-made on the premises old world
style, served with garlic toast. Fried chicken, hand breaded and fried crispy,
served with coleslaw and fries. Assorted grilled vegetable medley, served with
rice (vegetarian). All entrees will include a bread basket, salad, coffee and
water. The cost of the meal will be $20.00, including the meal, tax and service
fees.
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Kerry Thomas of KRM Transit Now, at Pringle, April 19
Our regular Thursday evening monthly meeting will be held at Pringle Nature
Center. Pringle Nature Center is located in Bristol Woods County Park, Kenosha.
It is south of County Highway C and highway 50, on County Highway MB (160th
Ave.). Turn into the park, and drive to the parking lot all the way to the end
of the road. Pringle Nature Center is the building adjacent to this parking
area. We will meet in front of the nature center about 5:00 p.m. for a hike in
the woods behind the center. April is beautiful at Pringle. There should be
quite a few wildflowers and birds to learn about. At 6:00 p.m., we will go
inside the center for a soup and sandwich buffet. There will be a small
suggested contribution to cover the cost of the meal.
At about 7:00 p.m., we will learn more about the KRM commuter rail project.
Kerry Thomas, of Transit Now, will be our speaker. Come join us for a very
pleasant evening! Please call Juanita at (262) 835-7791 or e-mail JJP72696@aol.com
by April 15 to let us know how many people plan to attend the soup and sandwich
buffet.
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Visit the Chicago Botanical Gardens
On May 12, 2007, we will visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens located at 1000 Lake
Cook Road in Glencoe, Illinois. The Garden's 385-acres feature 23 display
gardens and three native habitats, including McDonald Woods, a 100-acre area
that had been designated a demonstration site for oak woodland restoration in
the Chicago area. The Woods provide habitat for over 400 species of native
plants, 20 species of mammals, 118 species of birds and thousands of different
insects. We will walk the two nature trails in the Woods to learn about these
restoration efforts first-hand. Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden's website at
www.chicagobotanic.org for more information about plant collections.
We will take the Metra from Kenosha at 8:47 a.m., and leave the train at the
Braeside Station in Highland Park and walk 1.3 miles to the Gardens entrance. We
will return on the Metra, leaving the Braeside Station at 5:19 p.m., arriving in
Kenosha at 6:16 p.m. The Metra weekend fare is $5.00. Admission to the Garden is
free, however, we will lunch in the Garden Cafe. Tram rides are also available
for an additional $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors. All schedule and fee
information is based on current information.
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The 2007 Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Fair
This year marks the 18th annual Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair
sponsored by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Billed as the world's
largest venue to learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable
living, the Fair will be held at the ReNew the Earth Institute in Custer,
Wisconsin. The Fair offers over 100 workshops, working demonstrations of
renewable energy and energy efficiency, and contacts to products and services to
help consumers conserve energy and protect the environment. Join like-minded
people for a weekend of learning, camaraderie and fun in an outdoor festival
atmosphere. If you've been to the Fair you know it's a great experience, and if
you haven't, this is your opportunity!
We have reserved 3 campsites for 2 nights at Collins Park near Rosholt,
beginning on Friday, June 15th. Camping fees will be based upon the number of
attendees, but are reasonable. Each campsite can house 2 tents and up to 5
people. We will share responsibility for meals and will carpool to the Fair
site. If you are interested in attending, contact Dana Huck to sign up or for
more information.
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Outing Report…
Door County Ski Weekend
Eight hardy Southeast Sierrans trekked to Door County for our annual ski outing
on the first weekend in March.
We could not have planned for better weather—there was new snow which was
perfect for those of us on skis or snowshoes. Every tree in the forest was
weighted with picturesque new snow and the roads were cleared before we needed
to drive on them.
We stayed in an A-frame behind the Wagon Trail Resort, enjoyed Friday dinner in
a Mexican restaurant and feasted on lasagna made by Mary Ann and Lauren Saturday
night. We were a small group this year compared to some. We thank Mary Ann
Ortmayer for her work in organizing this fun outing.

Top: Mary Ann Ortmayer, Jim Molbeck, Connie Molbeck and Nancy Hennessy and other
went to Door County.
Below: Postcard perfect snow.
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Recycle Bank—A New Idea
by John Berge
The citizens of Racine recycle less than ten percent of their trash, according
to an estimate from the Department of Public Works. Much more would be recycled
and kept out of the landfill if people were financially rewarded according to
the amount that they recycled. That is the premise of a new company started in
Philadelphia called RecycleBank LLC. Participation in two neighborhoods with
disparate incomes in Philadelphia jumped from 10% or less to 90%.
Patrick Fitzgerald and Ron Gonen came up with the simple idea that if you give
people credits for recycling, less trash will end up in landfills. These credits
are "banked" for them and then they can be converted to discounts and coupons
with local stores and nationwide companies. The more a family recycles, the more
credits they earn-up to 25 RecycleBank dollars per month or $400 per year. For a
fee of $2 per household per month charged to the municipality, RecycleBank
provides bar-coded recycle containers to each household, an education campaign,
and agreements with hundreds of stores and suppliers to participate in the
coupon and discount program.
When people place their recyclables (paper, glass, plastic, aluminum and steel
cans, etc.) at the curbside, they will be picked up by a truck modified to weigh
them and read the bar code. This information is transferred to a computer that
credits each household according to the amount they recycle. The householder
then goes into the computer with their code and prints out their earned coupons
or calls a toll-free number to have the coupons mailed to them.
Since it costs $31.57/ton to landfill Racine's trash, and we receive $5/ton from
our current recycler company, there is a net gain to the city of $36.57 for each
ton of trash that is recycled. This should be ample to cover the fee charged to
the city mentioned above. Wilmington, Delaware, a city with many similarities to
Racine, has gone from 9% of trash recycled to 40% in about six months. Because
their "tipping fees" are much higher on the east coast than here in the Midwest,
they are making major savings for the city.
RecycleBank is currently expanding their operations rapidly up and down the east
coast in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. A recent article in the Boston
Globe discussed negotiations with a Massachusetts city in which instead of a
flat fee, RecycleBank is paying for the modifications of the trucks and waiving
the per household fee in return for a percentage of the savings.
I spoke to one of the young founders of the company, CEO Ron Gonen and he said
that they are looking to expand into the Midwest and are currently in "very
positive negotiations" with the city of Chicago. If they sign onto the program,
that would make it a very easy step to go up the highway to Kenosha and Racine.
I and Carol May, who brought this company to the attention of the Conservation
Committee at our February meeting, took our information to Racine's Mayor Gary
Becker for a very good and lengthy discussion, which also included another
higher cost program which promises 90% (!) recycling. Barry Thomas took a folder
of material on RecycleBank into the Kenosha Mayor.
Becker was enthusiastic and could see the advantages, not only in decreased
costs to the City and increased lifetime of our landfill, but also in inner-city
development because of increased purchasing power to people who may not be
currently recycling. It was obvious to all how a low-income family might have to
make a choice between a jar of peanut butter or a box of blue bags to recycle
under the current program. He promised to follow up on this idea. Recycling in
the city does not match that of the suburbs now, but recycling half of the
city's trash or more is a real possibility.
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Book Review:
The Omnivore's Dilemma
by Jennifer Borrell
Normally I can't make it through a nonfiction book. I prefer the "escape" of
fiction since my short attention span doesn't lend itself well to facts and
figures. So I was surprised when I found myself engrossed in The Omnivore's
Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan. At 450 pages I
assumed I'd be asleep by the end of the first chapter, but it has kept me
reading well past my bedtime.
"What should we have for dinner?" is the question Pollan attempts to answer
throughout the book. It's one we all try to answer every day and for those of us
who are concerned about the health of the planet (not to mention our own
health), there is no easy answer. What we end up having for dinner may be
different from what we know we should be eating. But do we really know what we
should be eating?
Four different types of meals are traced to their source: fast food from
McDonalds, two organic meals; one of ingredients from Whole Foods, one of
ingredients from an organic farm and a meal prepared from ingredients that were
hunted and gathered. It’s fascinating to learn how a chicken nugget, which seems
so small and simple, can be so complicated. Pollan obviously did his research,
as well as legwork, in crafting this very readable work.
This book hasn't made it any easier to figure out what I should have for dinner,
but it has helped me in deciding what I shouldn't have. If you've ever struggled
with the environmental, moral and social issues behind what goes on your plate
and into your stomach, you will find a kindred spirit in Pollan. It's just over
400 pages without the index and acknowledgements...that's not so bad!
If you're interested in reading and discussing books on environmental issues,
the Southeast Gateway Group is considering starting a book discussion group.
Stay tuned to the newsletter for details.
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Global Warming Ambassador Program
by Rebecca Eisel
Global warming has been in the news a lot the last few months, but a recent
ACNielsen study showed that 13% of Americans have never even heard of global
warming. Many more had heard of it but didn't know much about it or were
skeptical that it is real. Like the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife
Federation (NWF) would like to change that.
The NWF recently launched its Global Warming Ambassador program in which it
trains volunteers to educate the general public through presentations and
community events. Ambassadors are tasked with the job of introducing global
warming concepts, explaining how global warming affects us, and discussing what
individuals can do about it.
As an NWF Global Warming Ambassador, I am looking for opportunities to do public
outreach. I have a PowerPoint® presentation available for giving lectures and I
have materials available for booths at community events. I am also willing to
meet with individuals and groups for discussions.
If you know of any outreach opportunities or have one yourself, please let me
know. I can be reached at (262) 498-5072 or treehugr2000@yahoo.com.
Rebecca Eisel has a BS degree in Soil Science and has previously worked for both
the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Wisconsin DNR. She has
completed a study course with NWF and has been certified by them to be a Global
Warming Ambassador. She is also a member of the Sierra Club.
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Citizens For Safe Water Around Badger
by Lila Berge
I have been receiving the Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger (CSWAB)
newsletter for several years and would like to commend this group for their
efforts on behalf of all Wisconsin citizens. Patiently, slowly,
determinedly-pleading, threatening, cajoling-the wheels of bureaucracy can be
moved. The group was organized in 1990 because private wells around the old
Badger Army Ammunition Plant were polluted with high levels of carcinogens.
The army had closed the plant after World War II and left behind contaminated
wells, dumps, buildings and soil on what once was prairie near the Baraboo
Hills. Both the Pentagon and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had to be
involved in the cleanup—how's that for bureaucracy! Twenty-three neighbors'
wells, some as far as two miles away, contained measurable levels of explosives,
solvents and other toxins, especially dangerous to children. Nearby Lake
Wisconsin contained toxic muck.
Today, more than 150,000 cubic yards of sediment containing mercury, methyl
mercury, lead and copper have been removed from a 17-acre bay on Lake Wisconsin.
Plans call for removal of 750 buildings, recycling of concrete that can be used
as a base for work on State Highway 78, and restoration of part of the Sauk
Prairie. Public recreation, a research center and a sanitary district will
occupy part of the land. Other acreage will be returned to the Ho Chunk Nation.
You can thank CSWAB for their dedication and hard work or get more information
at www.cswab.org.
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