Improving impaired waterways of Green Bay through a regional approach is now part of a new, large-scale water quality improvement program which was publicly launched on October 20, 2021 by NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District.
A tree was planted at NEW Water's De Pere Facility in honor of the launch of the NEW Watershed Program in Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek (ACDC) at NEW Water’s De Pere Facility. “Through this program, we’re able to achieve permit compliance through collaborative partnerships that achieve a common goal of improving water quality,” said NEW Water Executive Director Tom Sigmund. “To see long-term improvement in water quality we need to work together to prevent these pollutants from entering our waterways, starting in the watersheds.”
Check out the launch Announcement
The NEW Watershed Program in Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek is a long-term adaptive management strategy to address area water quality concerns while providing a cost-effective, alternative compliance option for NEW Water’s wastewater discharge permit with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).
Conditionally approved by the WDNR in December of 2020, the program’s adaptive management plan follows the success of a pilot project in the Silver Creek watershed. The NEW Watershed Program involves collaborating with landowners, farmers, the land conservation offices in Outagamie and Brown counties, Oneida Nation, private agronomists, universities, and non-governmental entities for a common goal: to improve area water quality. It also includes collaborative efforts with community leaders and residents in urban settings to implement initiatives to reduce the amount of phosphorous and sediment from entering area waterways or the sewer system.
More than 6,000 acres of field walks were conducted in fall 2020 to identify resource concerns and areas where best management practices (BMPs) could be implemented. The team then developed a prioritization plan and an implementation tracking and verification strategy.
Beginning fall of 2020, and continuing throughout this year, the Program team has worked with farmers/growers in the Program area to implement BMPs including rotational grazing, planting cover crops, practicing no-till, two-stage ditches, and the installation of several buffers/filter strips. The team will continue this collaborative effort in the coming years, including working with community leaders and area residents on strategic urban efforts.
full statement from State Senator Rob Cowles
Working together will make a difference in our water quality because, ultimately, it’s up to all of us to improve and preserve our precious water resources.
Watch the launch of the full-scale Adaptive Management Program, featuring United States Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and United States Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI). Learn more about the NEW Watershed Program >>
Collaboration among numerous stakeholders is essential so that together we can protect "One Water." Learn what you can do to #LoveYourWatershed >>
Additional Information:
- Check out the Program B-Roll video for Media use here >>