October Newsletter

Join the Coulee Region Sierra Club Ecochallenge Team!  October 2-23, 2019
The annual People’s Ecochallenge gets people thinking, learning, and acting about climate and sustainability issues. Anyone may participate and everyone can benefit. You can do activities alone or with a group. It’s a great way to take our concerns to another level and engage family members, neighbors, colleagues, and classmates in taking next steps.

This year’s challenge includes learning activities and actions in categories including Waste, Food, Health, Transportation, Energy, Community, Nature, Water, and Simplicity. You may also create your own challenge.

Here’s how it works:
1. Join our team - tinyurl.com/CRSCEco1019 and choose your challenges.
2. As you complete your challenges, log in, mark them as completed, and choose new ones.
3. You and our team earn points for every completed challenge and for referring others to the team.
4. Top teams and participants may win prizes, including money and giveaways.

The main goal of our participation is to engage and include as many community members as possible to actively work at protecting our world for current and future inhabitants. Join us!

October 1 Highway Cleanup!  Please join us for an hour or two as we pick up litter along
River Valley Dri ve in the heart of the La Crosse River Marsh. We’ll meet at 5:30 p.nm. at the pumping station just northwest of the Gillette Street/River Valley Drive intersection. The work is easy - our club provides gloves, vests, bug spray, and bags - and it’s rewarding to clean paper, plastic, metal, bottles, cans, and other debris. Bring your family and friends. A large group will make the work go quickly. NEW: Submit a photo of your most unusual
find and you might win a prize! More details will be given at the cleanup. See you there!

October 3 Citizen Action Energy  On October 3, at 7 p.m. at 401 West Avenue South in La Crosse, Citizen Action of Wisconsin will kick off the first initiative of its new Southwest Wisconsin action co-op. Ben Wilson, the co-op’s organizer, will announce an agreement
with Associated Bank that will help people install energy efficiency upgrades that will pay for themselves in lower energy bills. RSVP to this event at tinyurl.com/CASWWI1003. If you are not able to attend, CA will hold similar events throughout the Coulee Region. Email Ben
at ben.wilson@citizenactionwi.org to learn more and find out about other events in the area.

Global Climate Strike  [View pictures of the day's events at the online version of the newsletter at https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/62848859/october-2019-coulee-region-sierra-club-newsletter]   On Friday, September 20, Coulee Region residents joined millions around the world to press the case for immediate, substantial climate action. La Crosse hosted several events during the day starting with an hour long visibility event at a busy commuter intersection. About 30 percent of US carbon emissions come from transportation, including private, often single occupant vehicles. Dealing with planning and low/no-carbon transportation options must be a priority.

At noon, UWL students held an eleven minute vigil at the campus clocktower. Carly Rundle-Borchert covered the event for the campus newspaper, the Racquet. “Throughout the course of these eleven minutes, UWL Josie Talbert read climate change fears submitted by UWL students. After each fear was read, students and community members yelled, ‘Hear
our fear!’” Read her article and see more photos at tinyurl.com/RacquetClimateStrike

At Central High School, Fridays for Future, La Crosse chapter, called a four hour strike along Losey Boulevard. A large number of students were joined by community supporters. One family traveled from Tomah to take part in the strike activities. Anna Durall, co-leader of F4F in La Crosse noted that this was the largest group they’ve seen so far. She also invited community members to join their climate strike every Friday from 10:10 to 10:45 a.m.

At least 200 people gathered at 5:30 at Burns Park for a rally and march to the office of Rep. Ron Kind. Students urged Rep. Kind to stand up for strong climate legislation. Nearly 300 signatures were collected online and in person. The march stretched several blocks along Main Street and around the corner onto Fifth Avenue. Outside of Rep. Kind’s office, students read excerpts from “The Uninhabitable Earth” by David Wallace-Wells. The group
marched back to Burns Park where the rally ended with an exhortation to make this event the first step in a new level of climate activism.

Students delivered their petition to Rep. Ron Kind’s local staff on Monday, September 23. Those who were not able to sign the petition, may still contact Rep. Kind and other elected officials to co-sponsor and actively support strong climate legislation such as the Green New Deal. Read the students’ letter at tinyurl.com/f4flax-kindpetition. 

Sustainable Nick Nichols!  On August 27, about 16 Coulee Region group members visited the home of La Crosse County Sustainablity Coordinator, Nick Nichols. Nick talked about the energy saving features he and his wife have installed on and in their home, including solar panels, solar water heating, a southfacing greenhouse, insulated window blankets, and a clothesline. Nick’s garden helps decrease the family’s food-miles footprint. They also heat with wood from the area. And Nick drives a hybrid plug-in car with an electric-only
range that covers his commute to and from work. They plan to sell their Medary-area home and build a smaller, tighter, even more efficient home nearby. If your group, class, or organization would like a tour, email NNichols@lacrossecounty.org.

Environmental Education Grants  The Coulee Region Sierra Club offers grants of up to $200 for environmental education projects for elementary and middle school age children or community organizations in Crawford, Grant, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Richland, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties. Projects must:
* Provide hands-on experience for students to learn about and explore our environment.
* Do something to promote a world that allows all life forms to live and prosper.
* Show students that they can make a difference in their envirionment, urban or rural.
* Be completed within the 2019-2020 school year.

Projects may:
* Consist of environmental displays or creative works.
* Benefit land, water, air, plants, animals, and/or birds.
* Be a new project with lasting value or the potential for ongoing activity.

Applications are DUE BY January 5. See tinyurl.com/CRSCPrintApp for a print and mail application or apply online at tinyurl.com/CRSC-GrantApp. Email Maureen, maureen@johnsflaherty.com, with questions. Successful applicants will be notified on or about mid-January. A written report will be due upon completion of the project.


HEADING FOR EXTINCTION (and what to do about it)  At our September 24 meeting, we watched an edited version of a video of an Extinction Rebellion program that had been held in Oxford, England in April. George Monbiot facilitated the program which discussed the science of global heating and the dire warnings for human existence. Presenters also talked about how Extinction Rebellion and other international groups are making a difference by
taking direct non-violent action.

Their three demands:
1. Tell the truth. Governments must tell the truth about the urgency of the climate and related ecological disasters and work with the media and others to educate and inform
citizens so the scope of the disaster is understood.
2. Act now. Governments must begin to take real, meaningful, immediate actions to reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions and halt biodiversity loss.
3. Beyond politics. The current political decision-making system is broken and corrupt. XR proposes a Citizens’ Assembly whose sole focus would be on listening to the science and, working with experts, decide on priorities and projects to meet the goal of living within planetary means.

View the video at youtu.be/QaFBnUyDXpk
 
Special thanks to guest, Debbie Dudek of Viroqua for introducing the video and leading the discussion after. Many good suggestions came up during the discussion. Clearly, the more we are able to talk about the issue AND what we can do about it, the more chance we have to move the required 3.5 percent of our population to act.

Connect with us onl ine! We’re on Twitter: @CRSierraClub, on Facebook.com/CRSierraClub, on our blog at cr-sierra.blogspot.com, and at our website:
www.sierraclub.org/wisconsin/coulee. We also continue to hope our members will email us at crsierraclub@gmail.com with info about events and actions happening in their parts of the Coulee Region


Sierra Club 2020 Calendars  Again this year, your purchase of Sierra Club calendars
will benefit our club and environmental programs and protection activities. The calendars cost $14.95 for the wall calendar and $15.95 for the engagement book. Get your calendar at our December gathering or order from Maureen Kinney: 608 784-9324/784-5678 or email maureen @ johnsflaherty.com. SIERRA CLUB NOTE AND HOLIDAY CARDS are available at store.sierraclub.org/calendars--cards-c28.aspx

Volunteer Appreciation October 5  The John Muir Chapter will celebrate and honor its many volunteers during an Appreciation and Awards Party on Saturday, October 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the offices of partner organization, WISDOM, 1251 Vel R. Phillips Avenue in
Milwaukee. A Coulee Region group member is among this year’s award winners. Cathy Van Maren was chosen for the Merit Award for her work on the Transportation team, Ready for 100 team, and various community groups. For more information about the event and to RSVP, see tinyurl.com/JMCAwards19.  

CRSC Board Nominations  Our club will hold elections for its board in December. If you’re interested in being on the board, please email crsierraclub@gmail.com with a paragraph
about yourself, your connection to the Sierra Club, and your goals for the Coulee Region Sierra Club if you are elected. We will include candidate statements and a ballot in our December newsletter. We particularly invite members from outside La Crosse county to consider serving on the board. Board members meet about ten times per year and use email as necessary between meetings. Accommodations will be made for those who are not
able to physically attend meetings. The board sets the agenda for the year, communicates with members and with the John Muir Chapter leadership about Sierra Club initiatives and priorities, raises and spends club money, works with allies on club priorities such as Ready for 100, water quality issues, transportation, and environmental protection.

If you need more information, please feel free to email us or call Pat Wilson, chair, at 608-788-8831. 

Oct. 26 Volunteer for the Wild  The Mississippi Valley Conservancy will host a day of
removing invasive species on Saturday, October 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Trempealeau Lakes Nature Preserve near Trempealeau. Safety equipment and tools will be provided as well as a lunch during the noon hour break. Dress in layers and wear long pants with sleeves and close-toed shoes. Bring plenty of water to drink along with whatever sun and insect protection you will need. RSVP by calling 608-784-3606 ext. 5.

Sept. 28 Enbridge Line 3 protest in Duluth

Join us at Gichi-gami Gathering to Stop Line 3! We have buses going from across Wisconsin to the event in Duluth!

About the Gichi-gami Gathering to Stop Line 3:
Join us September 28 for a rally, march, and gathering of our Midwest community to send a clear message to the Minnesota Governor and state agencies:  Midwesterners stand together to protect what we love and say STOP Line 3 and other pipelines that threaten our water, climate, and communities.

John Muir Chapter Sierra Club will have buses from across Wisconsin to the event in Duluth! On September 28, there will be a rally, march, and gathering to join in community and send a clear message to the Minnesota Governor and state agencies: Midwesterners stand together to protect what we love and say STOP Line 3 and other pipelines that threaten our water, climate, and communities. 

Where: Gichi-Ode’ Akiing Park, Duluth

When: Saturday September 28, 2019 

Reserve your spot on the bus!

There will be 3 buses from Wisconsin to the Gich-gami Gathering to Stop Line 3. Bus tickets are $10 each. If you cannot afford the $10 ticket, sponsored tickets are available for $1. Please contact our office with any questions or concerns.

​Stops include: Ashland, Beloit, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, and Stevens Point.  With enough interest, other stops could include: Janesville, Marshfield, Wausau or Whitewater. (If you’d like to see one of the stops, sign up and get 5 of your friends to join!)  Carpools will be arranged from other cities as well. Sign up for a carpool here.

AND, from MN350:

In just over a week, we’ll gather on the shores of Gichi-gami -- also known as Lake Superior -- to say no to the Line 3 tar sands pipeline and YES to a cleaner and more just future. I can hardly wait.

This event is a big deal. In June, a court put the pipeline on hold because the spill risks to Lake Superior were never even studied. We’re going to Gichi-gami together to say enough is enough: kill this project, put a foot down, protect what we have and what we love.

We know that the risks of a tar sands spill, or the certainty of climate warming brought on by burning this oil, or the continued erasure of indigenous treaty rights already give more than enough reasons why this pipeline must never be built.

SATURDAY, SEPT 28: REGISTRATION & MORE INFO

Schedule for the day:
Starting at noon at Gichi-Ode’ Akiing park in Duluth: arrival, drumming, art
1:30pm: Rally
2:30pm: March
4-6pm: Gathering, food, workshops, fun!

 

Tuesday, Heading for Extinction

On Tuesday, September 24, the Coulee Region Sierra Club will show a video of an Extinction Rebellion program hosted by George Monbiot in Oxford, England, in April.

The video, Heading for Extinction (and what to do about it) talks about clinate crisis predictions and actions that will help avert the worst of the unrecoverable consequences of runaway planetary heating. Following the video, the group will talk about what we can do in the La Crosse area and Coulee region to push policies, priorities, and projects that will reduce carbon emissions and move toward renewable energy.

Also at this meeting, Ben Wilson, new organized for Citizen Action of Wisconsin, will talk about CA's work to encourage and support energy efficiency updates and improvements in the southwest Wisconsin area. And there will be a report about Ready for 100 progress in La Crosse.

Everyone is welcome to attend the free and open to the public event. Refreshments will be provided. 

CLIMATE STRIKE - SEPTEMBER 20!

La Crosse youth and adults are planning Climate Strike events to coincide with the Global Climate Strike on September 20. This is big. Not only will millions around the world be marching and rallying to bring attention to the climate crisis, people of La Crosse will rally, too.

But getting the world out, competing with business as usual, has been hard. So this is our plea: tell everyone about the Friday, September 20 Global Climate Strike and encourage them to get involved locally. If you don't live in the La Crosse area, there is still time to plan a vigil in your town center, hold a clilmate march or visibility events, invite friends to hold a letter writing session (and sign the online letter) or do something else to make the climate crisis visible and real in your community.

First, read and SIGN THE LETTER to Rep. Ron Kind that urges him to support real and immediate climate action legislation. This is not a "political" thing. This is a fundamental right of citizens thing! Sign the letter and encourage your groups and contacts to sign the letter.

Then read about and share the events highlighted at the event page. Events include a morning commuter visibility at La Crosse St. & Losey, two afternoon student strikes, and an evening march and rally.

Download and share the flyer - on social media, at your school or office, via email.

Last, attend and bring others to the events. Talk about the climate crisis every day. Relate what we are not doing right now to what we are doing to our future. Sunday's La Crosse Tribune had a great editorial about the consequences of our inaction.

This is the most important thing. Drop your current most important thing for one day and help the 9/20 Climate Strike break through the celebrity news and the Packers news and all the other distractions. The future of our planet and our children is on the line. Don't ignore them.

Stop Husky refinery

From Winona LaDuke:

On April 26th, 2018, an explosion rocked the Husky Refinery in Superior, Wisconsin that resulted in a dangerous fire. In the aftermath, it was discovered that had the accident unfolded in a slightly different matter, it could have killed many of the residents of Superior, WI and Duluth, MN. fire. The refinery has effectively been shut down since the event due to the extent of the damage from the explosion and fire.

Now Husky is applying for an air pollution control construction permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This permit would allow Husky to begin the construction required to not only bring the plant back online, but also to expand.

The Chemical Safety Board has yet to issue a final report on the cause of the explosion. The Duluth City Council has urged the WI DNR to review the use of hydrofluoric acid at the plant. Nevertheless, the WI DNR has only allowed 30 days for the public to review and comment on this permit application.

We are asking you to take action TODAY.

Right now.

The Department of Natural Resources and your elected officials need to hear from YOU that the public is concerned about this plant re-starting operations.

TALKING POINTS:

• Any permits should be put on hold until the Chemical Safety Boards issues their final report;
• A 30-day comment period does not provide enough time to review and understand the implications of restarting this plant;
• Hydrofluoric acid is not cutting edge technology and new, safer alternatives are available;
• The “rebuild” permit is also being used to increase the plant’s capacity, which should require a more robust review process;
• The air permit should be denied on the basis of the extreme increase in greenhouse gases;
• Communities in the Husky refinery airshed should be given an education and a chance to comment on the increase of air-borne toxins this plant restart would produce;
• Husky’s safety record should be reviewed before they are allowed to restart the plant;
• If the plant is re-started, the state of Wisconsin should increase worker safety requirements for the plant and all refineries, including both emergency response and clean-up activities for a worst-case scenario explosion.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

   RONALD BINZLEY  

   Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

   Bureau of Air Management

   (608) 264-9243

Find your representative or senator here: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/

Stop the Husky Refinery from taking more dangerous action in the Twin Ports by voicing your concerns. CALL NOW before it's too late.

Miigwech,

Winona LaDuke,

Executive Director

Honor the Earth

Solar grants from MREA for non profits and schools

From Midwest Renewable Energy Association:

"As part of our Wisconsin Solar Corps initiative, we are looking to advance 10 high-impact/high-visibility solar installations on schools and non-profit organizations assisting underserved populations." More info at link.

September Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 24: CLIMATE CHANGE - Heading for Extinction (and what to do about it) - An Extinction Rebellion video and discussion. Ho-Chunk Three Rivers House, 724 Main Street, La Crosse

Our planet is in a state of crisis. Species are going extinct at an incredible rate. The Arctic is melting faster and the permafrost is thawing sooner than scientists predicted. Weather patterns are changing, bringing more violent storms, more floods, wildfires, tornadoes, and droughts, which all threaten our ability to grow food. Many cities, like LA and New York, along wth countries like Scotland, Ireland, Britain, and Switzerland, have declared a climate emergency. It is critical that we act now.

Many groups, old and new, are pushing for immediate drastic action. One of the newest is Extinction Rebellion (XR) in the UK. They use nonviolent direct action to demand that the UK take action. In April 2019, XR hosted a forum in Oxford, facilitated by environmental and business journalist George Monbiot. We will watch an edited version of that program, which includes information and perspectives from adults and students, and then discuss what our Sierra Club and we as individuals, citizens, and environmentalists can do. You need not be a Sierra Club member to attend this event. Please attend, bring a friend, and share the event link: tinyurl.com/CRSCXR-924,


Global Climate Strike, 9/20-9/27  Fridays for Future, La Crosse Chapter  invites every person who cares about our planet to join them and supporting organizations (including Coulee Region Sierra Club) in taking climate action on and around Friday, September 20. La Crosse area actions on September 20 will include visibility events, strikes and vigils, and an all-city demonstration, petition of government, and pledge for personal action at 5:30 p.m. in downtown La Crosse. More events are being added to the schedule. See updates at tinyurl.com/920strike-lax.

“This decade is our last chance to stop the destruction of our people and our planet,” said Vic Barrett, a plaintiff in the Juliana v. United States case, a lawsuit brought by children, teens, and young adults against the United States government for failing to protect their futures from the climate effects of fossil fuel emissions.

“Our future was sold so that a small number of people could make unimaginable amounts of money.”
- Greta Thunberg

Gov. Evers' Clean Energy Action  On August 16, Governor Evers signed Executive Order #38 to address the issue of clean energy in Wiscon-sin. The Order directs the Department of Administra-tion to create an Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy and, in partnership with other state agencies and state utilities, achieve a goal of ensuring all energy consumed within the state is 100% carbon-free by 2050. The new office will promote the development and use of clean, renewable energy; innovate sustainability solutions; and diversify the state’s energy resources.

La Crosse County Action  At its August 22 meeting, the Sustainable La Crosse Commission recommended a resolution pledging county-wide carbon zero and 100% renewable energy to the La Crosse County Board. The resolution will be revised and reviewed by the county and its committees and will, we hope, come for a vote before the end of the year. If you live in La Crosse county, please watch for updates and actions you can take at crsierra.blogspot.com. 

 Rep. Jill Billings' Plastic Bills  Rep. Jill Billings (95th District) is concerned about plastics and fossil fuels used to manufacture them. She notes that China’s 2008 ban on plastic bags saved that country millions of barrels of oil. In an August interview for our newsletter, Rep. Billings talked about two plastics bills she co-authored and is co-sponsoring in the State Assembly.

AB 177 repeals the statute that prohibits local governments from regulating certain single use containers. Plastic bag and bottled water bans are effective but not allowed by individual communities under current Wisconsin law.

AB 226 prohibits food from being served in  foam polystyrene packaging. The ban would exclude packages sealed outside the state and meat/poultry/seafood trays. And it would go into effect slowly allowing time for businesses to find substitutes.

Plastic manufacturers are planning to increase production so we must find ways to encourage plastic alternatives. Rep. Billings thinks things are slowly getting better as more people learn about and understand the issues, including pollution, harm to sea life, and fossil fuel use. 

She suggests that Sierra Club members can be effective supporters and advocates by being aware of legislators’ issues and voting records and candidates’ promises. Support those who push our environmental agenda forward. Communicate with them by emailing or visiting, and be prepared with a broad range of reasons to support our causes. “Legislators come at issues with different priorities and values. It’s smart to have a multi-prong approach when talking with legislators. Some are concerned about how laws will affect our children. Some are more concerned with economic impacts.”

Also, make sure to hold “feet to the fire.” Ask, “Will you support this bill?” If they haven’t yet decided, it’s a chance to provide information that supports your issues.

Rep. Billings says the best way to contact legislators is by email. Often, staff will respond, but that’s good because they are the ones who do the research and help legislators understand details. Personal visits to legislators’ Madison offices are also effective. Take a one-page summary about each bill and why you support it. Highlight reasons, resources ,and sources and include contact information.

Read more about AB 177 and AB 226 at the State Legislature’s web page.

Black River Canoe Camping  Twenty-two of us, including nine kids, found the Black River to be the perfect place to beat the heat over the July 13-14 weekend. The weather and water levels were perfect. We hiked up Lost Falls on Roaring Creek, swam, played, rolled canoes, slept overnight on a sandbar, shared a camp fire, roasted marshmallows, sang, and played some more. The group also paddled about 23 miles! Special thanks to Pat and Bobbie Wilson, co-leaders! The last Coulee Region area trip of the year will be a September 15 day on the Kickapoo. See tinyurl.com/jmcwatertrips. 

Environmental Education Grants  Only one  program  received an environmental education grant in January 2019. Here is a report from Teresa Lakowske, a teacher at Innovations STEM Academy in Sparta about what was accomplished. Applications for 2020 grants will be available in November.

Water Stories and Experiments Project: Students from Sparta’s Innovations STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Academy, grades six through eight, do monthly water testing throughout the school year. Students wanted to share some of their water-related topics with elementary students to introduce and engage them in some STEM learning and thinking. STEM students taught elementary students lessons in water density, the water cycle, watershed, and buoyancy. The elementary students got to experience hands-on learning and were able to ask the older students questions as they went. All the students enjoyed the experience!

Selling Our Soul  (Follow link to read)  A CRSC member brought a magazine article to our June potluck and asked if we could share it in the newsletter. We received permission to reprint from the magazine, Traditional Bowhunter, and from the author, Sterling Holbrook, who wrote, “We aren’t rolling over up here on the issue nor do we all support drilling. Thank you for keeping up the pressure on them to protect the area.” Read the article online at tradbow.com/campfire-philosopher-selling-our-soul.

Fall Highway Cleanup - Tuesday, October 1  Tuesday, October 1 is the date of our River Valley Drive highway cleanup. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Gillette Street pumping station. Gloves, bags, and vests provided. Many hands make light work! Join us!

Sept. 4 - CAFO Siting Hearing   The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will hold a public hearing September 4 on ATCP-51 CAFO/livestock siting rule updates. The rules have not been revised since 2006. The hearing will be at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, 3060 South Kinney Coulee Road, Onalaska, from 1 to 4 and 5 to 8 p.m. You may also comment online, by email, and by mail.
Read more about the hearing at tinyurl.com/CAFOSiting

September 4 Climate Forums  On September 4, the La Crosse Area League of Women Voters will host a live broadcast of the first program of a four-part 2019-2020 Climate Crisis Series developed by the LWV of Dane County. The La Crosse Area League is hosting a viewing in the basement auditorium of the La Crosse County Administration Building, 212 6th St. N. The free program starts at 6:30 p.m Doors open at 6:00 p.m. For details visit https://tinyurl.com/daneLWVClimate1.

Also on September 4, ten Democratic presidential candidates will participate in a CNN climate forum. A second climate forum, hosted by MSNBC, is set for September 19 and 20. Democratic National Committee leaders recently voted against holding an official  Democratic candidate climate debate. 

September 11 EV Workshop   Electric Vehicles: trends, planning considerations, and funding resources is the title of a workshop for sustainability managers, fleet managers, EV enthusiasts, and those wishing to learn more about local, state, and regional EV initiatives. On Wednesday, September 11 at the Radisson Hotel in La Crosse from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., industry experts from Argonne National Laboratory, Wisconsin Clean Cities, and RENEW Wisconsin will discuss EV trends, resources, policy issues, and more. Continental breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon EV ride and drive event are included in the $39 registration fee. Find info and registration details at tinyurl.com/EVChargingDay. 

Sept. 26 - Well Water Quality Update   Mark Borchardt, Ph.D., Research Microbiologist, USDA - Agricultural Research Service, will present results and analysis from testing done as part of the Southwest Wisconsin Geology and Groundwater Study (SWIGG) on Thursday, September 26 at 6:00 p.m. at the Platteville Public Library. The most recent test identified fecal sources from 35 private homeowners’ wells. These wells were randomly selected from those previously found during the study to be contaminated with coliform bacteria or high nitrate. The study is being conducted in Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette counties. The presentation is sponsored by Grant County Rural Stewardship and is free and open to the public. More information and details about the meeting: https://facebook.com/events/671883016619870.