June 12 - Budgeting Wisconsin's Environmental Future

THURSDAY, JUNE 12 AT 6 p.m. online

Wisconsin's state budget determines so much that we care about, from parks funding to transportation projects to clean water initiatives. But how is the budget created? Who makes the decisions? What are some of the missed opportunities in recent budgets that could be included in this one? Join this webinar to learn the answers and to take action on the budget with other environmentalists.

This event will be online via zoom. Register to receive the zoom link by email.

Event agenda:

• Welcome
• State budget overview: Who creates the state budget and what is the process? What do we expect to happen next and how can advocates engage in the process?
• Clean drinking water programs update & action
• Transit operating funds update & action
• Wildlife programs & action
• Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund update & action
• Review actions you can take and key legislators who need to hear from you!

 

Bring: A digital picture of an outdoor place you love. We will use this to create postcards to send to legislators.

June Newsletter

 

JUNE 24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. CRSC SUMMER POTLUCK at Goose Island Shelter #3     Make or buy some delicious food to share, grab a beverage and your personal picnic kit (plate, utensils, cup/bottle), and bike, carpool or drive to Goose Island Shelter #3 on Tuesday, June 24. Bring your bug stuff, too! Starting at 5:30 p.m., we’ll talk, eat, share news about current Sierra Club campaigns, and enjoy another summer along the river together. If you are driving, consider offering a carpool ride - use this link: https://groupcarpool.com/t/iv3yuq to add your vehicle or to seek a ride, or call 608-315-2693. You do not need to be a Sierra Club member to attend, though the Sierra Club is doing some pretty important work and welcome new talent and energy! Join here: https://tinyurl.com/CRSC-joinus

JUNE 20 - ACTION GATHERING     Join CRSC members and friends on Friday, June  20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. learning about important environmental issues and taking action together to make a difference. We’ll watch a short Sierra Club video and then learn what we can do to work toward shared goals. Plus, there’s pizza! This month’s topic - the Endangered Species Act. Questions? Call 608-315-2693 or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com.

JUNE 28 - 10 to 11:30 p.m. - HOLLAND SAND PRAIRIE HIKE     Enjoy an easy one mile hike exploring a local sand prairie and state natural area, mostly flat rolling hills with mowed paths. Learn about sand ecosystems, how they are managed, and the actions that are employed to maintain them. Bring binoculars, bug spray, sunscreen and water. No dogs allowed. The Holland Sand Prairie State Natural Area, 7780 County Road MH, is an easy bike ride from Holmen and a short drive from La Crosse. The entrance is near the intersection of Garden Street and Cty MH (43.970013,-91.294566). If you can offer or need a ride, check out http://www.groupcarpool.com/t/w3i8x9 or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call or text 608-315-2693. Outing will only be cancelled if there is severe weather.

JUNE 21 - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES     On Saturday, June 21 between 2 and 7 p.m. at the LA CROSSE JUNETEENTH Celebration, volunteers are needed to help  staff the bike corral - easy and fun! Make your own shift any time between 2 p.m. at 7:30 p.m. Also on Saturday, June 21, La Crosse’s first Miyawaki Forest will be planted at Summit Environmental School. This forest is a Youth Climate Action Fund Project. If you like to plant and take immediate climate action, this opporunity is for you! Email, call, or text to get more information or to sign up: CRSierraClub@gmail.com or 608-315-2693.

JULY 12 - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY     CRSC will table at the July 12 Youth Outdoors Fest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pettibone Park. We are looking for a few volunteers to help staff the table. If you can help, please call 608-315-2693 or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com!

MEET THE BOARD - KATHY ALLEN     Kathy grew up in Winona, Minnesota and earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Knox College in Illinois. She earned a Master's Degree in Conservation Biology from UW-Madison. 

Kathy credits her childhood exploring the woods around her grandparents’ farm with her life-long love of nature and the natural world. “I was in awe of everything I saw and experienced in the natural world, and loved it.” Her environmentalism led to a desire to protect nature so it will be here for future generations to explore. Beyond this, she realized that protecting the environment is also critical to the health and survival of humanity.

The climate crisis is Kathy’s number one environmental priority. There are so many different facets to the issue it can be overwhelming, but she’s mostly focused on the transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. 

Reducing fossil fuel use also means cleaner air and water, and  protects lands and wildlife from the impacts of extraction and transportation. She’s made efforts to reduce her own fossil fuel use - driving an EV, getting rooftop solar, adding a heat pump and heat pump water heater to her home, upgrading sealing and insulation.

In the community, Kathy has also worked on the campaigns to get the city of La Crosse, the county, and the school district to set clean energy goals. She’s a member of the school district's sustainability committee that just completed their climate action plan. 

In 2016, Kathy led organizing efforts for the first of four annual La Crosse Climate Action Fairs that highlighted local businesses, organizations, and speakers helping people change their energy habits and make their lives and our community more sustainable. In 2018, she was elected to the CRSC Board and became CRSC Board president in 2020. 

In 2022, Kathy was award with the Sierra Club- Wisconsin Chapter’s Merit Award, “for her dedication to protecting the environment, combating climate change, and promoting clean energy.” Her work within the Sierra Club includes participation in the Wisconsin Chapter's Clean Energy team on retiring existing coal plants, stopping new fossil gas plants, and encouraging utilities to invest in clean energy. 

She loves the Jane Goodall quote, "You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Kathy truly shows up to make a difference in many ways and says she’s realized that sometimes you can make a difference just by showing up!

CONSERVATION LOBBY DAY     CRSC board member Ned Gatzke attended the Conservation Lobby Day hosted by Wisconsin Conservation Voters on May 6. Participants discussed priority issues:
•    Reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
•    Support increased funding for statewide remediation of PFAS, lead, and nitrate contamination
•    Support changes to energy planning to ensure a clean energy future
•    Support a constitutional amendment that would allow citizens to propose and approve laws and constitutional amendments through referendums
•    Support replacement funds to continue life-saving substance use treatment and services

REFUGE STRONG     CRSC tabled at the May 14 Refuge Strong event hosted by Friends of Pool 7/8 to support the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge programs, facilities, and staff. The drastic and, often, illegal cuts to important research and staffing threatens long-term studies and improvements. The group heard from speakers about these challenges and what can be done to address them.

APPLY NOW! HS STEWARDSHIP AWARD APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JULY 1!     CRSC will award $300 to a high school junior or senior who has demonstrated leadership, action, public engagement, and understanding of the importance of environmental stewardship. Applications are due July 1! Students residing in Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau and Vernon are eligible to apply and applicants do NOT need to be Sierra Club members! The application consists of an environmental résumé and portfolio and a short essay. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/CRSC-Students or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693 for more information about this grant. CRSC Environmental Education Grants and High School Stewardship Awards are funded in part by donations to the club from the Paul E. Stry Foundation, membership dues, calendar sales, and individual donations. 

GROW SOLAR LA CROSSE!     La Crosse county residents may take advantage of reduced solar panel costs during the Grow SOLAR La Crosse group buy and education program. Offered by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the cities of Onalaska and La Crosse, and La Crosse County, property owners in La Crosse county can pool their buying power to secure significant discounts that make installing solar more affordable. Grow Solar Power Hour information sessions are scheduled for June,July, and August. It’s possible that solar incentives will end soon, so if you’ve been thinking about solar, act now.

LA CROSSE ENERGY UPGRADES     City of La Crosse homeowners and landlords may be eligible for a free Focus on Energy home energy assessment and free or low-cost home energy improvements through a City of La Crosse partnership with Green Homeowners United. Eligible households may get help with sealing, insulating, appliance and HVAC upgrades, and more. To have an expert help you find out if you’re eligible for the grant, call or text Jack at Green Homeowners United:  (608) 616-0470 and mention “La Crosse energy assessment” or visit https://www.greenhomewi.com/lax

NATIONAL TRAILS AND PRAIRIE DAY, JUNE 7, 8 A.M., LOWER HIXON TRAILHEAD    Celebrate National Prairie Day and National Trails Day with the City of La Crosse, Friends of the Blufflands, The Prairie Enthusiasts, and the Outdoor Recreation Alliance for a guided hike through Hixon Forest. Pick up litter as you hike, and stop at Lookout Prairie to admire the view and learn about the importance of our native prairies. Choose from a 2.5-mile out and back, or 4.0-mile loop and help leave the trails better than we found them! Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/HikeLaCrosse 

JUNE 3 BOOK CHAT     On Tuesday, June 3 at 7 p.m., join the League of Women Voters in welcoming Sonja Trom Eayrs to talk about her book, "Dodge County, Incorporated: Big Ag and the Undoing of Rural America."  In a compelling firsthand account of one family’s efforts to stand against corporate takeover, Dodge County, Incorporated tells a story of corporate malfeasance. Trom Eayrs tracks the changes to farming over the years that ultimately gave rise to the disembodied corporate control of today’s food system. She argues that far from being an essential or inextricable part of American life, corporatism can and should be fought and curbed, not only for the sake of land, labor, and water but for democracy itself.
Watch online at this link: https://tinyurl.com/LWV-DCITalk

KICKAPOO VALLEY RESERVE 25TH ANNIVERSARY REDEDICATION CEREMONY & RECEPTION. JUNE 7, 1 to 4 p.m. at Kickapoo Valley Reserve Visitors Center. EVERYONE WELCOME!

MORE JUNE EVENTS

• 6/ 3 - Bike Rodeo for elementary children. 5 - 7 pm. Myrick Park, lower level lot. https://www.facebook.com/events/556415304195749
• 6/ 3, 7, 14, 24: Volunteer for the Wild - Invasive Mgmt & Trail Restoration at various locations. https://www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/june-2025-volunteer-wild 
• 6/ 4: Hinukwas Tree Trail walk. 7 pm. Meet at SW corner of UWL Student Union, 521 East Ave N. https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/enviro-wednesdays-3-2025-06-04/
• 6/ 4: Jackson Burgau’s Alaska Adventure. 1 pm Lunda Center. BRF. https://www.blackrivercountry.net/events/
• 6/ 7: Nature Saturday at The Nature Place, Myrick Park. 9:30 am https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/nature-saturday-2-2025-06-07/
• 6/ 7: Ag & Household Hazardous Waste Clean Sweep. 8 to noon. 23 Harrison Street, BRF.
• 6/ 7: 2025 Robinson Creek Preservation Association breakfast and paddle. 9 - 11 am. 3703 Uting Rd, BRF. For more info, email robinsoncreekpa@gmail.com
• 6/ 7: Mini-EV Show & Tell 10:30 - noon near Westby PAC, near West Ave. S. & Maple St. 
• 6/14: Prairie Plants BioBlitz at Holland Sand Prairie. 10 - noon. https://www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events
• 6/14: Hemlock Trail Plant Walk. 9 am. Wildcat Mtn State Park. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/105641
• 6/18: Coulee Audubon Potluck & Marsh Walk 6 pm The Nature Place, Myrick Park. https://www.couleeaudubon.org/html/events.html
• 6/21: Raptors. 7 pm. Wildcat Mtn State Park ampitheater. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/events/105786
• 6/28: VCED Drive Electric event. 8:00 am - 12:30 pm at 118 East South Street, Viroqua   

May newsletter

 “Wind and solar could already displace global gasoline demand if electric vehicles replaced gasoline vehicles” - Three facts that show how solar and wind strengthen energy security, https://ember-energy.org

MAY 16, 5:30 p.m. CRSC ACTION GATHERING. CRSC’s monthly Action Gatherings are a place for concerned and overwhelmed people to make sense of what the Trump regime is throwing at us and take meaningful action together. In a short time each month, you'll get the key updates you need to know and take collective action to resist the attacks on clean air and water, climate action, environmental justice, our democracy, and more. Join with others to view a clip from the national action hour, discuss, and take action together. Actions will change month to month, and might include calling your federal representatives or other decision makers, sharing your views on social media, writing a letter to the editor, and more. Pizza provided. BYO non-alcoholic drink. If you’ve missed past months’ programs, catch up here: https://www.sierraclub.org/monthly-action-hours  Email us or call 608-315-2693 with questions. No experience necessary! 

MAY 6 CONSERVATION LOBBY DAYS     Registration is open for Wisconsin Conservation Voters’ Lobby Day in the state Capitol. At the beginning of every legislative session, conservation voters from around the state gather in Madison to meet with their legislators. We have the opportunity to tell our legislators directly about the actions we want them to take on clean water, clean energy, and a healthy democracy. Lobbying really does make a difference! In 2025, we have new opportunities to get our conservation priorities passed in the State Legislature and the state budget thanks to new legislative maps. After the fall 2024 election, we have a more balanced legislature, which paves the way for bipartisan support on issues such as clean water, clean energy, and a healthy democracy. Register here: https://conservationvoters.org/events/cld-2025  The cost to attend is free. A free bus will pick up and drop off in Tomah. Check here to see if there is still space available: https://tinyurl.com/25WCVLobbyBusWest

MAY 14 REFUGE STRONG     Friends of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge - La Crosse District will host REFUGE STRONG  on Wednesday, May 14, an evening of networking, learning, and planning to support our precious rivers, habitats, programs, research, staff, and more. The event begins at 6:30 p.m.  at the Concordia Ballroom, 1129 La Crosse Street. Learn more at https://www.for78.org/ 

 MAY 19 - NITRATES IN GROUNDWATER     Nitrate is a challenging issue because nitrogen is both a necessary component of agricultural production and an environmental pollutant. This talk will use nitrate data from Wisconsin to illustrate the relationship between human activities and our groundwater. Specifically, how nitrate ends up in our groundwater, why some areas more prone to contamination, and what practices may help improve water quality. Join the Wisconsin Chapter Water Team for an online lunch hour discussion. 
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/WISC-0519Nitrates

APRIL 23 - LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION      Three local experts joined CRSC members and others on April 23 at noon for an online program about “Local Governments and Climate Action.” We welcomed Joe Ledvina, Director of Facilities for the School District of La Crosse, who explained why and how the district wrote and approved a district-wide climate action plan. Then we heard from Bob Micheel, Director of Monroe County’s Land Conservation Department and member of the county’s Climate Change Task Force. Finally, Lewis Kuhlman, Environmental and Sustainability Planner for the City of La Crosse described the City’s work leading up to and constructing a comprehensive community-wide climate action plan. 
The program was packed full of great information and ideas, examples, and ddetails others can use to encourage climate action planning in their own communities and school districts and to begin the process of making a plan to reduce carbon emissions and to be prepared for climate change consequences. We heard a bit about the Direct Pay Tour, coming to La Crosse on May 8 hosted by Forward Together Wisconsin, to help pay for government and non-profit projects. A recording of the program is available at the CRSC’s new YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/9mSe4OphhVY?feature=shared 

TABLING IN APRIL AND MAY     Thanks to volunteers who helped CRSC spread the word about its programs and priorities at UW-L Earthapalooza on Friday, April 25 and at the La Crosse Earth Fair on Sunday, April 27. We encouraged people to fold fish as part of the Fish for the Future initiative and write post-cards encouraging U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden to protect funding for clean air, water, and energy projects during budget negotiations.
We will table at the May 14 Refuge Strong event. If you are interested in helping, please email or call us at 608-315-2693.

MAY 3 - MAY DAY STRONG     If you will attend the May 3 May Day Strong protest at Losey Blvd. and State Road in La Crosse and want to stand with CRSC friends, look for Colleen with a Sierra Club sign near the north end of the JavaVino parking lot. After 2 p.m., anyone interested, can head into JavaVino for a beverage (of either the "Java" or "Vino" variety!) and conversation afterward.

MAY 17 - BIOBLITZ     Join the fun at this year’s BioBlitz from 10 a.m. to noon on May 17. At these FREE events, experts from our community will lead field expeditions to teach about specific topics in nature. Each event starts with a brief education about their topic, and then we will go out into the field to identify what we’ve learned about. Some events will be at The Nature Place and some off-site. The nature topics and locations are still to be determined. Contact Steph Hanna, Community Program Manager, steph.hanna@natureplacelacrosse.org

HIGHWAY CLEANUP REPORT     Six CRSC members picked up 14 bags of trash plus a child’s scooter (contributed to the gear swap sale at Green Island Ice Arena), an edging shovel (contributed to Friends of the Marsh), and a Wisconsin driver’s license (returned to its owner)! Cleanup supervisor, Pat Wilson, picked up the collected trash afterward and took it to the dumpster in Myrick Park. Our next cleanup will be in early July.

Coulee Region Sierra Club Board Meetings are held over Zoom, usually on the last Tuesday evening of the month. Any member may attend. If you are interested, please email or call us for the link. Our May meeting will be on WEDNESDAY, May 28 at 6:30 p.m.

MEET THE BOARD - CATHY VAN MAREN     Cathy was born in Iowa but moved with her family to La Crosse when she was about seven. She returned to Iowa for college and then, after a year in Minneapolis, she headed to North Carolina for grad school. Falling in with a community of back-to-the-landers, she learned about renewable energy, gardening, “alternative” houses, backpacking, canning, tipis, kite-making, fiddle-playing and other useful skills.

She returned to La Crosse about 40 years ago and worked for the Upward Bound project at UWL, It was a great opportunity to meet and learn from students and families from many cultures. For a time, she and her family sold vegetables, eggs, and chickens from their market garden in Vernon county. 

Cathy’s first involvement with CRSC came in 2016 when she took over the newsletter from the previous editor. That year she also ran for the board. She is currently the board secretary and program chair.

After getting involved with the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign, she joined with other CRSC members to encourage the city to pass a carbon-zero resolution. When that resolution was passed in 2019, Cathy was able to be part of the Climate Action Plan team and then the CAP Steering Committee. She resigned from the CAP SC in 2024 but still advocates for climate action. 

An avid transportation cyclists and public transit user, Cathy became a rabid active transportation advocate after several trips to Europe, especially the Netherlands, where bikes and public transit were connected and easily replaced private car travel. So, she is also a member of the Chapter’s Transportation Access and Equity Team and volunteers with the La Crosse Area Transit Advocates  and Wisconsin Transit Riders Alliance to push for better public transit around the region and state. 

Cathy was fortunate to be honored with two chapter awards - the 2019 Merit Award and the JJ and Pat Werner Award in 2024. She is currently working to complete Outings Leader training in order to lead future Transit to Trails trips. 

She points to one of her favorite quotes as inspiration: Abandon any hope of fruition. “I keep trying to remember - if I’m living in my plans for the future and then disappointed when they (inevitably) don’t work out as I want, I never appreciate where I am right now. I think positive action is an end in itself. It can inspire others and ripple out in unexpected ways. So, I try to just keep doing the best I can and not worry so much about outcomes.”

Cathy encourages everyone to assess what’s important to them and how they can work to help protect, support, and improve things. CRSC offers many opportunities.

GREEN HOMEOWNERS UNITED IN LA CROSSE     City of La Crosse homeowners and landlords (duplex only) may be eligible for a free Focus on Energy home energy assessment and free or low-cost home energy improvements through a City of La Crosse partnership with Green Homeowners United. Eligible households may get help with sealing, insulating, appliance and HVAC upgrades, and more. To have an expert help you find out if you’re eligible for the grant, call or text Jack at Green Homeowners United:  (608) 616-0470 and mention “La Crosse energy assessment” or visit https://www.greenhomewi.com/lax

MAY 3 - COON CREEK CONFLUENCE     Coon Creek Confluence is a celebration of the Coon Creek Watershed: its community, its rich conservation traditions, and all the ways water connects us. This event takes place on the banks of Timber Coulee Creek, in the headwaters of the Coon Creek Watershed. The Coon Creek Watershed is famously the site of the 1930s Coon Creek Watershed Demonstration Project—the first watershed conservation project in the nation. The event includes activities, music, food, dancing, art, demonstrations, gardening help, and dozens of Water-shed Conservation Partners. It will be at the Westby Rod & Gun Club, E7969 Co. Hwy P. Learn more at https://cooncreekwatershed.org

 

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AWARD      The Coulee Region Sierra Club offers an annual $300 Stewardship Award to area juniors and seniors that live in the Coulee Region. This award honors high school student for their work engaging in environmental awareness and activity. Your help building awareness of this annual award is greatly appreciated.
Please print and post the flyer in your community (schools, libraries, public billboards). Distribute the information by forwarding this page to your social contacts, parent groups, community organizations. Tell your friends, family members, colleagues, co-workers about this opportunity. Posters: for sharing online: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UAlFKca13s9zPvwIb8LDUKGLqO33gR9o/view?usp=sharing and to print and post: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17yr4rAfXGu-6gVH90MDd9OguvDrQcwaM/view?usp=sharing 

The City of La Crosse is seeking Neighborhood Ambassadors to help lead neighbors through four one-hour meetings focused on climate solutions and emergency preparedness. Ambassadors receive training, resources, and ongoing support from BrightAction Communities. This program is part of the Carbon Free La Crosse Challenge and is offered in partnership with the City of La Crosse. For details, please contact Carly Silverman at carlys@bacommunities.org.

MORE MAY EVENTS     

• 5- 3: Nature Saturday at The Nature Place, Myrick Park, La Crosse 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/nature-saturday-2-2025-05-03/
• 5/ 6: Garlic Mustard Pull at  Sugar Creek Bluff SNA - Ferryville. 9 am to 1 pm https://forms.office.com/r/F63Ri33pBV
• 5/ 6: Migratory Bird Walk at Goose Island County Park Shady Maple Interpretive Trail. 6 to 7:30 pm https://www.fws.gov/event/spring-bird-walk-honor-world-migratory-bird-day
• 5/ 7: Enviro Wednesday Frog Walk at the Nature Place from 7 to 8:30 pm  https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/enviro-wednesdays-3-2025-05-07/
• 5/ 9: Invasive Plant and Trash Removal at Trempealeau Lakes. 9 am to 1 pm https://forms.office.com/r/F63Ri33pBV
• 5/10: Migratory Bird Hike at Sugar Creek Bluff SNA - Ferryville. 7 to 9 am https://tinyurl.com/25scbmigbird
• 5/10: World Migratory Bird Day Birding Festival at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. https://explorelacrosse.com/event/trempealeau-national-wildlife-refuge-to-celebrate-annual-birding-festival-2/
• 5/10: Repair Cafe at La Crosse Public Library from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. https://www.lacrosselibrary.org/event/repair-cafe-42322
• 5/15: Cultivating Culinary Mushrooms at the La Crosse Public Library from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. https://www.lacrosselibrary.org/event/cultivating-culinary-mushrooms-42243
• 5/15: Monarchs & Milkweeds at La Crosse Southside Neighborhood Center, 1300 6th St S from 5:30 to 6:30 pm https://www.cityoflacrosse.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/9084/18?
• 5/16-18: 83rd Annual Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Convention at the Stoney Creek Inn, Onalaska. https://www.wsobirds.org/what-we-do/annual-convention
• 5/16: Garlic Mustard Pull at Plum Creek Conservation Area. 9 am to 1 pm https://forms.office.com/r/F63Ri33pBV
• 5/17: Jackson County Tire Roundup at the Jackson County Highway Shop, N5661 Hwy 54 from 8 am to noon. https://www.blackrivercountry.net/event/tire-round-up/
• 5/17: Bird banding demonstration at Goose Island County Park Shady Maple Interpretive Trail from 7 to 11 am. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/upper-mississippi-river/events
• 5/21: Native Shrubs and Trees for the Birds and the Bees at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. 6 to 8 pm https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/r/day/2025/5/21?pli=1
• 5/21: Coulee Audubon meeting at The Nature Place. 7 pm https://www.facebook.com/CouleeRegionAudubon/
• 5/22: Film & Discussion - Reel Injun at the Rivoli in La Crosse. 4:30 pm https://www.rivoli.net/custom-posts/indigenous-film-series-reel-injun/
• 5/28: Garlic Mustard Pull at Boscobel Bluffs. 9 am to 1 pm https://forms.office.com/r/F63Ri33pBV6/

 

May 6 Conservation Lobby Day

 

 

Wisconsin Conservation Voters is hosting a Conservation Lobby Day in Madison on May 6. A FREE western Wisconsin bus will pick up participants from and drop them back at Tomah. Learn more about the priority issues, register, and sign up for the bus at the Lobby Day website, https://conservationvoters.org/events/cld-2025.

Priority issues

Direct democracy
Unlike 25 other states, Wisconsin has no popular ballot initiative process. Wisconsinites aren’t able to propose new, widely supported laws or constitutional amendments. This allows the Legislature to ignore popular proposals backed by the majority of Wisconsinites. We support creating a popular ballot referendum process that enables citizens to directly enact statutory and constitutional changes.

Safe drinking water for all
Too many Wisconsin communities are suffering from PFAS, lead, and nitrate contamination, leading to serious health risks. Investing in proactive solutions would better protect public health, create good-paying jobs, and save Wisconsinites up to $2.04 billion annually in health care costs linked to contaminated drinking water. We support at least $1 billion in increased bonding authority and grant funding for capital investments that remediate PFAS, lead, and nitrate contamination statewide.

Reauthorizing the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
Increased development has made it harder to find natural areas where people can enjoy Wisconsin’s beauty and wildlife. Compared to our neighboring states, we invest less in protecting our lands and rank last in the country for spending on state parks. Gov. Evers' budget would reauthorize the Stewardship Program for 10 years at $100 million per year. It also increases funding for local governments’ parks and recreation programs, expands trail and habitat restoration, and establishes a Tribal-state partnership to manage lands in the ceded territories.

Planning for clean energy
Wisconsin still relies too heavily on polluting energy sources, despite the health and environmental risks. Currently, only 9 percent of our energy comes from renewable sources like wind and solar, while utilities are rushing to build new natural gas plants. Thirty-three other states use a process called Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) to develop strategic statewide plans that map out future energy needs. Wisconsin should adopt this process to ensure transparency, accountability, and a cleaner energy future.

Healthy and safe homes and communities
We also know that toxic substances such as opioids and other drugs can poison our bodies and undermine strong communities. We support programs and policies that protect every Wisconsinite against these impacts, including $1 million in Community-Based Withdrawal Management Centers to support people in our communities who are seeking treatment for substance use disorder.

April newsletter

 

 

Local Governments and Climate Action. April 23 at Noon (Online) featuring the City of La Crosse, Monroe County, and the La Crosse School District  Register: tinyurl.com/25CRSCLocalClimate

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, studies show that every $1 invested in climate resiliency can save up to $13 when a disaster occurs. As global warming and carbon emissions continue to rise, local governments are on the front lines of climate change consequences. 

We will hear representatives from three Coulee Region governmental bodies about their efforts to deal with climate change and prepare for the future. Mackenzie Mindel is a City of La Crosse Council Representative and Chair of its Climate Action Plan Steering Committee. Joe Ledvina is Director of Facilities for the La Crosse School District and a member of the district’s Climate Action Plan team. Bob Micheel, Monroe County Land Conservation Department Director, was co-leader of the county’s Climate Readiness and Rural Economic Assessment, and is now a member of its Climate Change Task Force.

With national climate action in question, now more than ever, local action is needed. How can community members encourage and support our communities, schools, and counties to take action now? Please register for the link at 

https://tinyurl.com/25CRSCLocalClimate or call 608-315-2693 for dial-in information.

APRIL 18 - ACTION GATHERING     Our small group of members and friends enjoyed another evening of taking climate action and socializing in March. Watch the local newspapers for our letters to the editor in support of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)! We hope you can join us for our next action gathering, focused on protecting public lands, on Friday, April 18, from 5:30-7:30 pm at the UU Fellowship, 401 West Avenue in La Crosse (enter at the back door). We'll have snacks, but bring your own beverage.

APRIL 26 - HIGHWAY CLEANUP     Our first highway cleanup of 2025 will be on Saturday, April 26 at 9 a.m. Meet at the pumping station near the intersection of River Valley Drive and Gillette. Gloves, bags, and vests provided. Please email CRSierraClub@gmail.com or call 608-315-2693 with questions.

APRIL 27 - LA CROSSE EARTH FAIR     CRSC will table at the La Crosse Earth Fair on Sunday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are looking for a few people to help table for one or two hours. You don’t need special knowledge or skills! We will set up the table and give you the information and materials needed to talk to our friends and neighbors about the club’s activities, goals, and advocacy! Please call us at 608-315-2693 or email CRSierraClub@gmail.com to help with this important outreach 

APRIL 14 - CONSERVATION CONGRESS     The Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invite the public to attend spring hearings on Monday, April 14 at 6 p.m. to learn about resource management through the annual Fish and Wildlife Spring Hearing 

process. DNR staff and WCC delegates will be on hand at these spring hearings to discuss local issues of importance, answer questions from the public and open a dialogue between the public, the DNR and the WCC about areas 

of interest and concern. The public is invited to provide feedback on a variety of fish, wildlife and other natural resources-related topics as part of the spring hearing process. If you cannot attend in person, you may provide input online from 7 p.m. April 14 through 6 p.m. April 16. 

Coulee Region hearings:

• Crawford: PdC High School

• Grant: Youth & Ag Bldg, Lancaster

• Jackson: BRF Middle School

• La Crosse: Onalaska High School

• Monroe: Tomah High School

• Richland: County Courthouse, Richland Center

• Trempealeau: Arcadia High School

• Vernon: Viroqua High School

Learn more at: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/about/wcc/springhearing

APRIL 9 - WATER AND ENVIRONMENT     Join the Wisconsin Chapter Water Team from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. online to learn about the work of Reflo, a Milwaukee-based organization focused on green infrastructure and water management. Zoom in, bring your own lunch, and any questions you may have! Reflo will be talking specifically about their Green & Healthy 

Schools program, which converts concrete schoolyards into green spaces. Register here; https://tinyurl.com/WISC-040925 OR call Jadine at (608) 256-0565.

 

EARTH DAY AROUND THE COULEE REGION    Celebrate Earth Day around the Coulee Region, including events in Black River Falls, Tomah, Viroqua, and at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Find a list at https://allevents.in/black%20river%20falls/earth-day# and at http://kvr.

state.wi.us/Events/Calendar 

 

APRIL 22 EARTH FAIR     Summit Environmental School on French Island in La Crosse will 

host an Earth Day Celebration highlighting a variety of environmental and climate action 

educational organizations in the area including Solar on La Crosse Schools (SOLS). SOLS is local grassroots group that grew out of Coulee Region Sierra Club efforts to urge the La Crosse School District to take climate action. SOLS’ very first project, in 2020, was fundraising for and installation of a solar+battery school kiosk at Summit. The group’s latest project is a newly-installed solar powered outdoor classroom there. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the solar classroom will be held at 5 p.m. during Summit’s Earth Day celebration. Learn more at 

https://www.solaronlacrosseschools.org/

 

VIROQUA EARTH FAIR     Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Viroqua Food Co-op, 609 N, Main Street. Vernon County Energy District Electric Car Show (9 to 11) Ethos Green Power Cooperative information, Wonderstate Coffee Samples, Earth Day Scavenger Hunt Earth Day Bingo and more https://www.viroquafood.coop/events/earth-day-2024

 

MAY 6 CONSERVATION LOBBY DAY     At the beginning of every legislative session, Wisconsin Conservation Voters brings voters together from around the state to meet with their legislators and tell them about their clean water, clean energy, and healthy democracy priorities.In 2025, there are new opportunities to get our conservation priorities passed in the State Legislature and the state budget thanks to new legislative maps. Lobby Day participants will receive training and information to make their meetings with their own representatives as impactful as possible.Learn more and RSVP at https://conservationvoters.org/events/cld-2025. If you would like to try carpooling to this event, please visit https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/w897fi

 

ECOLUTION 2025 - APRIL 22, 5 p.m. - Rivoli Theater Join the La Crosse Film Academy, La Crosse Adventure Film Festival, Sustainability Institute, and the Rivoli Theatre and Pizzeria for a special Earth Day film screening with special appearances by community partners who are championing environmental education and the health of our local ecosystems, https://tinyurl.com/EcolutionLaX25     

LA CROSSE SCHOOL DISTRICT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN     In February, the School District of La Crosse released its Climate Action Plan, the result of a nearly year-long effort by a committee that included several Sierra Club members! Our group chair, Kathy Allen, spoke at the school board meeting where the plan was presented:

"I was part of a coalition that began encouraging the district to step up its climate and clean energy efforts back in November of 2021. After a couple years of off-and-on discussion, I was thrilled when Superintendent Engel met with representatives from our coalition in the summer of 2023 to share that the district was ready to work on a climate action plan. I accepted an invitation to serve on the planning committee, and we got started in early 2024.

“Our committee includes district administrators, teachers and other staff, and community organization representatives. Many members are also parents of current, former, or future students in the district. Our task - to complete a climate action plan that suits the School District of La Crosse - was challenging at times, because very few districts have completed plans so far, and most that have are in large cities, like Chicago and Denver.  But from the beginning, the process was very collaborative, with all committee members contributing their unique knowledge and experience.

“We discussed every significant decision and made sure we had the best available information before coming to a group consensus. We ultimately opted to use the Denver School District's climate action plan as a model for our own, but chose and then adapted only the goals from that plan that would be achievable and beneficial for our district.

“The resulting plan that we're presenting here tonight is something that I am proud to have been a part of and fully support, and I hope it will have your support as well. The actions included will benefit not only our environment, which provides all the resources humanity needs to survive and thrive, but also the health of the students and wider community, along with saving the district money in the long-term, which can be put back into classrooms and student services. It builds upon improvements the district has already made over the years to save energy and money. I'm sure we will realize over time that the plan is not perfect and will need adjustments, but that's okay, it's intended to be a working document. The plan provides an excellent starting point, and will show students that we care about the future their education is preparing them for." 

You can read about the process and the plan at  https://www.lacrosseschools.org/district-unveils-climate-action-plan-for-a-sustainable-future/.

REDUCE YOUR ENERGY BILLS!     City of La Crosse homeowners and landlords (duplex only) may be eligible for a free Focus on Energy home energy assessment and free or low-cost home energy improvements through a City of La Crosse partnership with Green Home-owners United. To have an expert help you find out if you’re eligible for the grant, call or text Jack at Green Homeowners United:  (608) 616-0470 and mention “La Crosse energy assessment” or visit https://www.greenhomewi.com/lax

 

APRIL 25 - WATER QUALITY MONITORING TRAINING     Crawford Stewardship Project's Water Monitoring Program is looking for volunteers to monitor streams & springs of concern in Crawford County once a month from May - October. An online training is offered for those who are interested in helping. It will include Introduction to the Water Action Volunteers (WDNR & University of WI Extension) and CSP's Water Quality Monitoring Programs, a review of Level 1 parameters (dissolved oxygen, temperature, biotic index, pH and habitat assessment), and specifics about the sites that will be monitored. Attendees will have the option to choose a site from among our sites of concern to monitor, based on availability and proximity. RSVP by April 21 at https://tinyurl.com/CSPWaterQuality0425

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD - HIGH SCHOOL STEWARDSHIP AWARD!     The Coulee Region Sierra Club offers an annual $300 Stewardship Award to area juniors and seniors that live in the Coulee Region. This award honors high school student for their work engaging in environmental awareness and activity. Your help building awareness of this annual award is greatly appreciated. Please print and post the flyer in your community (schools, libraries, public billboards). Distribute the information by forwarding this page to your social contacts, parent groups, community organizations. Tell your friends, family members, colleagues, co-workers about this opportunity. 

March newsletter

 

MARCH 10 LUNCH AND LEARN - Sustainable Agriculture with Jason Cavadini, UW Extension, 12:30 p.m. ONLINE Register: tinyurl.com/WISC-310Ag     What’s the alternative to factory farms? The Wisconsin Chapter Water Team wants to know! Jason Cavadini, the UW-Extension Grazing Outreach Specialist, will take about grazing and sustainable agriculture and answer our questions on Monday, March 10 at 12:30 p.m. Zoom in, bring your own lunch, and any questions you may have! Visit tinyurl.com/WISC-310A or call 608-315-2693.

MARCH 12 KNOWLES-NELSON LOBBY DAY IN MADISON     Knowles-Nelson Lobby Day is an advocacy, networking, and educational event for all those who value Wisconsin’s land, water, wildlife, and way of life, hosted by Team Knowles-Nelson. Join us in Madison on March 12, 2025 to advocate for the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. We’ll share success stories with legislators and demonstrate why its continued funding is essential for preserving Wisconsin’s outdoor legacy. Lobby Day will kick off at the Wisconsin Masonic Center with a morning of advocacy programming to prepare you for meetings with your legislators. We’ll provide materials and key talking points about the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Then, you’ll head to the Capitol for pre-scheduled meetings with legislators and their staff. As meetings wrap up, we’ll reconvene with an informal networking session to debrief and connect with fellow advocates. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this important day for our state’s future. Together, we will make a difference in shaping conservation policy. Lealrn more at tinyurl.com/WISC-312-LobbyDay

MARCH 4 THE BIG SHARE      On March 3 and 4, the Sierra Club Foundation, fiscal sponsor for the Wisconsin Chapter, will join nearly 70 other non-profits to spread the word and raise critical funds for the amazing work being done. For this event, the Sierra Club will highlight work to shut down the dangerous Line 5 pipeline. Tune in to the featured segment airing  at 3 p.m. on March 4 during the Big Share Live broadcast and learn why shutting down Line 5 is so important. Watch via the Big Share website at https://www.thebigshare.org. To support the campaign, go to https://www.thebigshare.org/organizations/sierra-club-foundation-wisconsin-chapter. Your participation will enable the Chapter to continue its mission of protecting Wisconsin’s water, land, and wildlife. Your tax-deductible donation that will drive Chapter efforts forward across Wisconsin.

MARCH 21 CLIMATE ACTION HOUR     Sierra Club's Monthly Action Hours are a place for concerned and overwhelmed people to make sense of what is happening and take meaningful action together. Join us for our next Coulee Region Climate Action gathering on March 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Location TBD! RSVP here (appreciated but not required) for more details: tinyurl.com/CRSC-CAH25

FEBRUARY CLIMATE ACTION HOUR     by Chris Miller, CRSC Board member What does a 92-year-old and a twenty something year old have in common?  Well, as this gathering showed the answer is a fierce defense and love of our environment. Coulee Region Sierra Club is offering a new way to get involved during these dire times of political and social disruption…these times of aggression and disrespect. 

At our gathering, we partnered with the National Sierra Club which is offering Monthly Action Hours, online gatherings for concerned (and busy) people to make sense of what is being thrown at us. The hour provides the structure and opportunity to take meaningful actions together. Our club invited its local members to listen to the national organization’s recording of this hour. As we gathered, we listened to information about the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act). Although the IRA has not been in the news of late, the IRA is a huge win for the climate and for you and me. The IRA puts us on a path to cutting climate pollution 40 percent by 2030 while creating nine million jobs!! It has granted billions of dollars to state and local  communities for clean energy infrastructure and manufacturing, fighting climate pollution, and helping families save money on their energy bills. 

In our own area, Dairyland Power was the first rural electric cooperative to be awarded monies from the IRA under the Empowering Rural America Program and was awarded $579 million. This money is specifically designated for developing solar and wind energy. With this program they will be able to decrease carbon emissions by 70% by 2031! And in the meantime, this development will allow them to keep consumer rates down. It will also allow new jobs to be created in our community as manufacturers and data centers will be looking for affordable rates and sustainable power. Imagine all of this being cut…it will create suffering and havoc. 

It was with this kind of information and the encouragement of each other that we then took action and called our representatives in the house and the senate. We joined our phone calls to the 4,000 phone calls that were taken during the original National Hour. We were set on an instructive path to post on social media or send out emails on our own. For all of these we were provided helpful scripts. The highlight was Sam at age 92 making calls to his representative and senator…certainly an inspiration for us all.

We were a small yet powerful group. We all came for different reasons. The common thread was creation of a space of sharing, supporting, educating, and inspiring each other. One of the first pieces of advice I received after the election was to “find your herd.”There is safety and influential power in numbers. On this night, the energy felt alive and electric. We joined our voices together in support of each other…in recognition of each other’s contributions…in strengthening the common shared vision of each other. On this night, I felt that I had found “my herd.”We invite you to stay tuned to the development of ongoing Action Hours. 

Find scripts you can use to call your representatives and senators at these links where you can also view the hour on your own or accessing the slides. Watch the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUea-cITSKs. View the slides at https://sc.org/FebActionSlides. Take the actions here: https://sc.org/FebWorksheet Alone we can feel lonely and powerless…together we stand connected and strong. Come join us next time …the planet needs you…we need each other.

Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. It is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency. Hope should shove you out the door, because it will
take everything you have to steer the future away from endless war, from the annihilation of the earth's treasures and the grinding down of the poor and marginal. To hope is to give yourself to the future - and that commitment to the future is what makes the present
inhabitable. - This excerpt from Rebecca Solnit’s book, Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power, was part of the Action Hour program.

MEET THE BOARD - FLO SANDOK      Flo Sandok started life in New York but moved to the Midwest for school. An artist, art historian, and painter, Flo ended up in Rochester, Minnesota where she became a community leader and organizer for environmental causes. In addition to a local environmental group, Flo helped to found a film fest, a whole Earth auction for the arts, and an annual neighborhood picnic (that's still going strong). She was also instrumental in passing state legislation to require schools to notify the community about school pesticide use, securing a grant for a pesticide-free soccer field, and educating the community about non-toxic parkland maintenance.

A decades-long Sierra Club member, Flo now lives with her partner on a farm in the Viroqua area, and her passion for protecting our environment is still strong. She's a member of the Wisconsin Farmers Union, the Crawford Stewardship Project, and Viroqua Plastic Free. In addition, she's active in work to protect wolves and the Boundary Waters and to stop CAFOs and line 5 pipeline development. 

Over the years, she's worked to avoid and prevent burnout in groups working on big, important, often difficult issues. She recommends groups make time to get to know each other and  clarify group goals, resources, and limits to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Food, conversation, humor, music, and regular reminders that, “We have the power,” will help keep groups together, she says. She recommends learning about the Movement Action Plan model for non-violent social movements developed by U.S. social change activist Bill Moyers to help groups keep going even when things seem hopeless. 

In her personal life, a nearly perfect 50 year record of annual trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness helps keep her focused and grounded in what's important.
Flo's lived experience proves the Goethe quote, “At the moment of commitment, the entire universe conspires to assist you,” and that understanding helps her continue to organize, cooperate, educate, lead, and believe that our actions matter and make a positive difference.

52 WEEKS TO PLASTIC FREE     The grassroots group Viroqua Plastic Free posted a week by week list of suggestions to reduce and eliminate plastics in our lives. https://www.viroquaplasticfree.org/post/52-weeks-to-plastic-free Check out the suggestions for individuals, then share them and encourage your school or workplace to adopt them. 

MORE MARCH EVENTS

• Mar. 1, 11, 19, 28: Volunteer for the Wild with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy. https://www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/march-2025-volunteer-wild
• Mar. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31: Ephemeral Art Seriees at Kickapoo Valley Reserve. 6 to 8 pm http://kickapoovalley.wi.gov/Events/Annual-Events/Creative-Communities
• Mar. 5: Pollinators in Your Back Yard at 2:15 pm McIntosh Library, Viroqua https://mcintoshmemoriallibrary.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=166408
• Mar. 5: Critical Insights for Wetland and Waterway Professionals. Online from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm https://www.uwlax.edu/calendar/?e=31657
• Mar. 5: Enviro Wednesday at The Nature Place, Myrick Park, La Crosse from 7 to 8:30 pm. https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/enviro-wednesdays-3-2025-03-05/
• Mar. 6: Good Medicine - The Joy of Backyard Birds. 3:30 pm Wright Library, Trempealeau. https://swmlibrary.org/event/good-medicine-the-joy-of-backyard-bird/
• Mar. 6: Winter Tree ID Hike. 2 to 3 pm at Shady Maple Interpretive Trail, Goose Island County Park. https://www.fws.gov/event/winter-tree-id-walk
• Mar. 7-9: International Festival of Owls in Houston, MN https://www.festivalofowls.com/
• Mar. 14: La Crosse Science Cafe - The Fungal Kingdom  6 p.m. JavaVino
• Mar. 19: The Evolution of Merlin at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 7 to 8:30 pm at the Nature Place, La Crosse https://natureplacelacrosse.org/calendar/free-bird-programs-2025-03-19/
• Mar. 24: Tackling Invasives, 6 to 7:30 pm, Hotel Fortney, Viroqua. https://www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/make-plan-tackle-invasives-year
• Mar. 26: WI Parks and Schools: 2024 Report Card for Wisconsin's Infrastructure. Online from Noon to 1:30 pm https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/event/wi-parks-and-schools-2024-report-card-wisconsins-infrastructure
• Mar. 27: Upgrade & Save: Energy Assistance and Repair Expo from 4 to 6:30 pm at La Crosse Public Library. https://www.lacrosselibrary.org/event/habitat-homeowner-panel-41208
• Mar. 29: Annual MVC Friends gathering plus Damsels & Dragons of Wisconsin. 8:30 to 11:30 am. 1827 Sims Place, La Crosse https://www.mississippivalleyconservancy.org/events/annual-friends-gathering-plus-damsels-dragons-wisconsin-presentation 

VOTE APRIL 1     Voting in spring elections is notoriously light, but club members should not sit this one out. For more information, see https://conservationvoters.org and to check your voter registration status, visit myvote.wi.gov.

Climate Action Hour

 

Friday February 21st at 5:30 p.m.

401 West Avenue South, La Crosse

Are you feeling alone in this political climate? Do you want to take some action but don't know how? Come gather in La Crosse on Friday February 21st at 5:30 pm to watch a replay of the Sierra Club's first ever Climate Action Hour. Together, we will take specific small-step actions that will make a difference! In addition, it's an opportunity to meet and chat with like-minded people to help get through these challenging times!

Small snacks will be provided but please bring your own non-alcoholic beverage. Hope to see you there!

RSVPs are appreciated but NOT required:  https://forms.gle/ndto4YZgytvz9TS9A

COULEE REGION CLIMATE ACTION GATHERING
DATE: Friday February 21, 2025
TIME: 5:30pm
PLACE: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 401 West Avenue, La Crosse

Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yrmL55hNPFYr4xyMA