April Newsletter

Since we are publishing April’s online only newsletter a little early, we have included a couple of late March events of interest to Sierra Club members.

TUESDAY, MARCH 28 at 7 p.m.  Member Meeting & Board Elections for Coulee Region Sierra Club. Program: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE STARTS TODAY! with UWL Students for Sustainability. Ho-Chunk Three Rivers House (8th & Main, La Crosse)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29 CONSERVATION LOBBY DAY On Conservation Lobby Day (Wednesday, March 29), conservation voters gather from every corner of the state to share our natural resources values and expectations with our state legislators  Wisconsin is facing unprecedented threats to its drinking water and public lands. When we stand together, natural resources win!

There may still be room on the buses. Register here (tinyurl.com/17wicld)  Whether or not there’s space on a bus, you can meet at Monona Terrace, Exhibition Hall A, 1 John Nolen Drive in Madison at 10 a.m. to participate in this important activity.

SEEKING COULEE REGION GROUP MEMBER TO JOIN STATE’S GENERAL SIERRA CLUB COUNCIL. Right now we don’t have a rep on this important committee. Contact Pat (pbwilson[at]centurytel.net).

CONSERVATION CONGRESS APRIL 10 Every spring, the DNR  hosts a Conservation Congress 'Spring Hearing' where people provide feedback to  CC delegates about important statewide issues. Attendees may also introduce resolutions  with some resolutions ending up on the following year’s Conservation Congress survey. Every county will host a hearing. Find yours here:  tinyurl.com/17wiconscong

This year, there are a number of very important issues on the questionnaire including questions about our water policy, the DNR permitting process, state parking funding, frac-sand mining, repeal of the Bad River Destruction Act, and more.

You can show up and fill out the questionnaire and leave. If you stay, you can stand and speak to any of the questions. You will also vote for a CC delegate. You must bring your ID to show you are a resident of that county if you want to vote for delegates for your county.

Please RSVP with the Sierra Club (tinyurl.com/wisccc410) if you plan to attend!

BIKE FED LOBBY DAY APRIL 13 You’re invited to join bicyclists from around the state for
Lobby Day on April 13th in downtown Madison. The day will begin at the Madison Concourse Hotel with a presentation on the 2017 Legislative Priorities and a networking lunch. Spend the afternoon visiting with your legislators and finish with a reception (from 4 to 6 pm) for a debrief and camaraderie.

This year the Wisconsin Bike Fed urges lawmakers to provide more funding for local roads - especially fixing potholes and paving shoulders - and to support the Vulnerable Users bill which would stiffen the penalties for moving violations that kill or injure cyclists, pedestrians
or other vulnerable road users. Given that motorized vehicle emissions account for about
one-third of US greenhouse gas emissions, making bicycling safer, more convenient, and more appealing is imperative. Register here (you don’t need to be a Bike Fed member): wisconsinbikefed.org/events/lobby-day/

MARCH 22 - WORLD WATER DAY The Coulee Region Group held a very successful World Water Day media event in La Crosse Wednesday March 22, highlighting worsening water quality and water availability problems in Wisconsin. This was one of four World Water Day events that the John Muir Chapter sponsored around the state calling on citizens to take action for clean water and on our state leaders to act to protect water. About 40 people attended the event at Myrick Park Center, which was covered by two television stations, a radio station, and the La Crosse Tribune.

I want to thank Alysa Remsburg and Susan Corbisier for taking on the large task of organizing this event. I also want to thank the speakers at the event, Colin Belby, UWL Geography and Earth Science; Kris Rolfhus, UWL Chemistry and Biochemistry; Ana Skemp, Deep Roots Community Farm; Jill Billings, 95th Assembly District Representative; and Lucy Slinger, FSPA and Viterbo University. 

World Water Day was established by the United Nations in 1992 to call attention to water supply problems around the world. - Pat Wilson, board president, Coulee Region group 

WATER QUALITY WHITE PAPER On March 22, for World Water Day, the Sierra Club’s John Muir Chapter released a new report, Water Quality and Health Impacts in Wisconsin (tinyurl.com/lmu9sxy) showing that we don't have to look far to find polluted water and places where access to safe, clean drinking water is threatened. This report covers water quality issues due to contamination by phosphorus, bacteria, nitrate, radium, and pharmaceuticals. This is the first of four water white papers to be released in the next two months. Others will cover water availability and high capacity wells; lead pipes and lead in the water; and CAFOs and agricultural runoff.

HIGHWAY CLEAN UP The spring highway cleanup on the Coulee Region Group’s adopted highway – River Valley Drive in the La Crosse River marsh – will be on Saturday, April 29,
starting at 10 a.m. This will be part of the Earth Fair marsh clean up day and will include free lunch at Myrick Park afterwards. Meet at the city water well building at the intersection of County Highway B (Gillette Street) and River Valley Drive. Wear old clothes and bring work gloves. Safety vests and bags are provided. 

Our summer clean up will be on Tuesday, July 18 at 6 p.m. followed by a trip to Rudy’s Drive In.

For more info, contact Pat or Bobbie at 608 788-8831 or pbwilson[at]centurytel.net.