Coming up this week

[From Coulee Region group chair, Pat Wilson]

There are three important events this weekend in La Crosse that are all well worth attending.

La Crosse River Marsh Cleanup:

The La Crosse River Marsh cleanup day as part of Earth Fair is Saturday, April 29, starting at 9 a.m. The Coulee Region Sierra Club participates in this cleanup effort by doing the spring cleaning of our adopted highway, River Valley Drive in the marsh. I moved the starting time to 9 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. so people who also want to attend the Climate March at 11 a.m. can do that. Feel free to still show up at 10 a.m if desired. Meet at 9 a.m. at the city water well building near the intersection of County Highway B and River Valley Drive on the north side of La Crosse. Wear old clothes and bring work gloves. Orange vests and garbage bags are provided. We’ll work for an hour to 90 minutes. After the cleanup, we’ll head for Myrick Park for the free lunch for cleanup volunteers - or to the Climate March for those who desire. For more information contact Pat or Bobbie Wilson, 608 788 8831 or pbwilson@centurytel.net. 

La Crosse Climate March:

PLEASE JOIN US with your family and friends on Saturday, April 29th at 11:00 am at Cameron Park at 418 King Street (between 4th St. S & 5th Ave. S) in Downtown La Crosse. We will hear from people representing many diverse communities and then march together to beautiful Riverside Park and back with chants. At the park, we can join hands in a circle to sing part of a few songs* and publicly or privately share some words of thanks for our planet and then circle back for final pix and a lunch spree at approx. 12:30 pm to support local restaurants. All ages welcome! To comply with city requirements, "we will only walk on sidewalks and footways, in which persons move not more than two abreast and which does not substantially hinder normal use of the sidewalk or footway and conforms with traffic control devices and other traffic regulations."  For more information, please go to

La Crosse Climate March

La Crosse Earth Fair:

Please join us Sunday, April 30th, Myrick Park and Myrick Park Center, 789 Myrick Park Drive, La Crosse, 11 am to 5 pm.  This annual event is a great way to celebrate the earth.  For more information, please go to the Earth Fair web site at  

La Crosse Earth Fair

Also, don't forget the April 27 film and fundraiser for Midwest Environmental Advocates!

May 6 Water Quality Conference in La Crosse

The League of Women Voters Upper Mississippi River Region (LWV UMRR) will host a conference in La Crosse on May 5 and 6.

"Navigation Tools for Uncertain Waters" is the theme of LWV UMRR's Annual Meeting http://www.lwvumrr.org/

There are many threats to water quality in our region. Our water and our river are in peril.  The public is invited to join the LWV La Crosse with other Leagues from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois working together to meet the challenge through an inter-league partnership, the LWV Upper Mississippi River Region.

The LWV UMRR Annual Meeting and Conference will explore

1) partnerships by local leadership and action in the Upper Mississippi River basin agricultural watersheds so that farms and fish thrive together,

2) ways to make environmental progress at the state and local levels as the U.S. EPA Is stepping back,

3) opportunities to give voice to citizens when government won't or can't address serious environmental issues, and

4) safeguards for our ground water and public health.

The event will be held at the Lunda Center on the Western Technical College campus (319 7th St. N.)

See agenda for list of topics and speakers – the afternoon session will focus on threats to strong environmental protection in our current administrations (state and federal), and will be moderated by WXOW Stormtracker 19 Chief Meteorologist, Dan Breeden.

+ Heidi Keuler, Fish Habitat Biologist for US Fish and Wildlife Service, Fishers and Farmers Partnership Coordinator, Upper Mississippi River Basin.

+ Howard Learner, Director: Environmental Law and Policy Center

+ Kim Wright, Executive Director of Midwest Environmental Advocates:

+ Mark Borchardt, Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, Microbiologist for United States Department of Agriculture

The public is also invited to join planned social events:

+ La Crosse Queen Cruise: May 6th, 5:30 - 8:00pm (optional - $50)

+ Tour of Julia Belle Swain: May 7th, 10am  (Free to conference participants)

Conference registration costs $45.

UWL building earns gold

On February 28, Dr. Larry Ringgenberg provided a tour of UWL's new student union for Sierra Club members and friends. The tour focussed specifically on the many sustainable features and processes incorporated in the design. At the time, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) status of the new building had yet to be determined.

According to a recent La Crosse Tribune story, the building has earned LEED gold!

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/uw-l-s-new-student-union-gets-the-gold/article_d721834d-ec94-599a-a831-e414667d4fdf.html