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Cooperative solution preserves trout stream while allowing well to operate

VIROQUA – A Class 1 trout stream and a quarry in Vernon County should both get the groundwater they need this fall as the result of a creative solution engineered by state groundwater specialists, a willing company and persistent neighbors.

“It’s a win-win solution all around,” says Cindy Koperski, the Department of Natural Resources water resources biologist who worked on the project. “The quarry got the water they needed for their gravel-washing operation and the stream got the water it needed to maintain the fishery and aquatic resources there year-round.”

State drinking water and groundwater officials are pleased with the outcome, saying it shows people can work together to protect streams and other natural resources and benefit business at the same time.

Cook Creek is a small tributary of the Kickapoo River that serves as a spawning ground for brook trout and as a nursery for their young. Neighbors noticed in recent summers that a portion of the stream had been drying up.

When they noticed again in the summer of 2005 that the stream dried up, they called local officials. The neighbors said the stream went dry after The Kraemer Company, LLC, of Plain, Wis., operated a nearby well it uses a few times a year as part of its gravel washing operations at their quarry near Viroqua.

The well had been operating within the conditions laid out in its approval, and Koperski and others didn’t think the limited pumping could be affecting the stream. However, the company coordinated with Koperski and gave her advance notice when it was going to operate the well in fall 2005 so she could be on site to document any problems and possible connections.

Koperski and DNR groundwater specialist Bill Furbish documented that once the pumping started, the stream’s water level came down very quickly, too quickly for fish to sense the declining water levels and take refuge further downstream, Koperski says.

The loss of water, or what hydrogeologists call the “dewatering,” of the stream segment, was puzzling because the company had built the well to meet construction codes and was operating it within approval parameters.

DNR water supply engineer George Mickelson pored over documents detailing how the well had been built and looked at the geology in the area. He hypothesized that the well, despite being constructed and operating according to all requirements, had essentially been functioning as a drain. It allowed groundwater from an upper aquifer that normally fed the stream to drain down into the lower aquifer, where water was being pumped from for the gravel washing operation.

DNR staff brought in the specialists from the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey to run additional tests and do additional modeling. Their work confirmed Mickelson’s suspicions.

The well had originally been drilled to a depth of 350 feet into sandstone and limestone. A steel pipe or “well casing” was cemented into bedrock down to 61 feet, beyond the codes requirement of 60 feet. After a few years of operation, the quarry was unable to get the amount of water they needed, so they sought DNR approval and deepened the well.

When the well was deepened to 600 feet, it penetrated through a layer of impervious rock found at about 350 feet. Because the well casing extended down only 61 feet, however, water from the sandstone and limestone formation was flowing down the uncased part of the well and into the bottom of the well.

The result was that even when the well pump wasn’t operating – and it was idle most of the year - water from the upper aquifer was continuously pouring down into the lower aquifer at a rate of 90 gallons a minute, partially depleting the upper aquifer. When the well was pumped, the upper aquifer was depleted further, which affected Cook Creek.

DNR recommended to The Kraemer Company that they case the well farther down. The company agreed.

“Our main concern is making sure we don’t have any adverse effects on anything we do,” says Dick Marino, the company’s director of land management.

The Kraemer Company paid to have the well casing extended and grouted down to 350 feet in April 2006, and water from the upper aquifer has stopped flowing down to the lower aquifer. The company began pumping in late June and that pumping didn’t affect water levels in the stream, Koperski says.

“It’s one of those situations where you put a lot of time in and it comes out positive -- and that’s really satisfying,” she says. “The landowners are happy they have a stream running by their home again, the stream has its fish spawning and nursery back, and the company got the water they needed.”

Mark Putra, who leads the DNR private well program, said the Vernon County situation illustrates that groundwater and surface waters are connected and that by working together to protect both, Wisconsin’s environment and economy benefit.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Koperski - (608) 785-9984 or Mark Putra - (608) 267-7649

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Public urged to watch for invasive mussels when removing piers and boats

MADISON – If you thought zebra mussels were bad, wait ’til you get a load of their cousins.

Waterfront property owners, who have been inspecting their piers and boats when they take them out each fall to be on guard for zebra mussels infesting their lakes, now have what may be an even greater threat to look for, says Ron Martin, who coordinates Department of Natural Resources efforts to manage aquatic invasive species.

Quagga mussels, zebra mussels’ bigger and potentially more damaging exotic invasive cousins, are taking over Lake Michigan and raising concerns they could soon be invading inland lakes unless boaters and waterfront pier owners step up to help contain their spread, he says.

“There have been no sightings of Quagga mussels in our inland lakes to date and we need the help of anglers, boaters, waterfowl hunters and waterfront property owners to help keep it that way,” Martin says.

Quagga mussels are native to Caspian Sea drainage in Eurasia. They most likely arrived as stowaways in the ballast water of ocean going ships. They were first discovered in Lake Erie in 1989.

“We need all boaters, particularly those who boat on Lake Michigan, to make sure they are taking the necessary steps to clean their boat before they leave the launch,” he says. Aquatic invasive species spread when they cling to a boat or trailer or are transported in bilge water or a bait pail from an infested water.

Martin is asking waterfront property owners to check for zebra and quagga mussels when they remove their boats and piers from the water in coming weeks. Both types of mussels are D-shaped, range in size from a quarter inch to 2 inches long, and may have distinctive alternating black and white stripes.

If property owners find either, they are encouraged to notify their local DNR office. Local lake property owners are a huge help to DNR in tracking which water bodies are infested with zebra mussels, Martin says, and he and other invasive species experts hope they can help alert them to any quagga mussels in inland waters.

“Four years ago, 95 percent of the mussels on Lake Michigan were zebra mussels; now the reverse is true, and that’s trouble because the quaggas are worse than the zebra mussels,” Martin says.

Quagga mussels can live in silty or sandy lake bottoms, in waters ranging from warm and shallow to deep and cold, and are able to tolerate brackish water. Zebra mussels cannot survive this range of conditions, so quagga mussels have the potential to colonize more waters and greater portions of waters, Martin says. More information on zebra mussels and quagga mussels can be found on the Invasive Species pages of DNR Web site.

Because quaggas are capable of inhabiting a larger portion of a water body, they’re likely to cause more significant impacts to native aquatic organisms, Martin says. Both mussels are filter feeders that remove plankton and other microscopic organisms that fish and other aquatic life need. Their sharp shells on beaches can be hazardous to swimmers and sunbathers, and big clusters of them can clog boat engines and utility intake pipes.

Martin is worried that the quagga mussels will follow the same dispersal pattern that zebra mussels did after they were first discovered in Lake Michigan in 1989. Anglers and boaters likely spread zebra mussels that hitch-hiked on boats moved from Lake Michigan to larger inland lakes such as Geneva Lake and Delavan Lake in Walworth County, and then to smaller lakes in the counties along Lake Michigan in southeastern Wisconsin.

Zebra mussels are now found in 75 inland waters, including five in which their presence was documented for the first time this summer. Those five waters are: Lake Noquebay in Marinette County, White Rapids Flowage on the Menominee River in Marinette County, Lake Wazeecha in Wood County, and Mauthe and Auburn lakes in Fond du Lac County.

The state’s small corps of watercraft inspectors are trying to educate boaters on the steps they should take to clean their boats. More than 600 volunteers trained as volunteer watercraft inspectors.

But the primary responsibility for ensuring that zebra mussels, quagga mussels, and other invasive species do not spread to new waters lies with boaters, anglers and other lake and river users, Martin says. A 5-year-old state law makes it illegal for people to launch a boat or boating equipment with an aquatic plant attached; a first citation carries a maximum penalty of $186; subsequent violations can increase to $249.

Quagga mussels may have been carried to the Great Lakes in ballast water of large ships. Efforts are under way to secure federal legislation to protect inland waters from the introduction of invasives through ballast water and other sources such introduction pose significant threats to the integrity of Wisconsin’s waters, Martin says.

“Right now, the key to preventing new introductions to our inland waters is the proper cleaning of boats and equipment by boaters and anglers as they leave access sites on Lake Michigan,” Martin says.

To prevent the spread of invasive species, before and after leaving the launch boaters should:

• Inspect their trailer, boat and boating equipment and remove any aquatic plants or animals that may be attached.
• Drain all water from live well, bilge, motor, etc.
• Dispose of unused bait in the trash, not in the water.
• Wash boat and equipment with high-pressure or hot water OR
• Dry boat and equipment thoroughly for five days before transporting it to new waters.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Martin (608) 266-9270

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Special deer hunt for youths to be held Oct. 7-8

MADISON – Young people ages 12 to 15 will have two days this year when only they can hunt deer with guns, under the mentoring of an adult hunter. State wildlife officials hope the youth hunt, which in previous years had been just one day, will help foster Wisconsin’s hunting heritage by allowing youths to learn to hunt in a more relaxed atmosphere than when fields and forests are filled with other deer hunters.

Participating youth must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at least 18 years of age or older, be a graduate of a Wisconsin-recognized Hunter Education Program, and possess a Wisconsin Gun Deer Hunting License and appropriate tags.

“This is a great time to take a kid hunting,” said Keith Warnke, deer and bear ecologist with the Department of Natural Resources. “Once the regular season starts, competition for hunting spots increases as do hunter numbers, which can have an impact on deer behaviors and movement patterns. Youth are key to the future of hunting and fishing traditions; time spent now can build a lifelong commitment to conservation and outdoor shooting sports.”

The statewide gun deer season runs Nov. 18 through 26 in non-CWD units. The archery deer season runs Sept. 16 through Nov. 16 and Nov. 27 through Jan 7, 2007. Archers hunting in units open to the youth gun hunt must comply with blaze orange clothing requirements on Oct. 7 and 8.

The hunt is open to both resident and non-resident youth in any deer management unit statewide except state park units and nonquota units. Adults accompanying the youth may not gun deer hunt Oct 7-8 and cannot accompany more than two youths. All hunting regulations apply, including blaze orange clothing requirements and Earn-a-Buck restrictions in EAB units.

Complete details of the youth hunt are available on the DNR Web site and at DNR Service Centers and from most license vendors.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Warnke - (608) 264-6023

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Tree stands popular among Wisconsin’s hunters, but must be used safely

MADISON – Tree stands are popular among Wisconsin hunters -- especially among those who archery hunt -- because they help improve the hunters’ visibility and decrease the chance their scent will spook prey. But the stands also can result in injuries or even fatalaties if they’re used incorrectly or carelessly, hunting safety experts say.

“Research shows that one out of three hunters who hunt off the ground will fall from a tree stand sometime during his or her hunting lifetime,” says Tim Lawhern, hunter education administrator for the Department of Natural Resources.

Falls can be caused by a variety of factors, including a weakness in the stand’s structure, incorrect installation of a tree stand, failure to use a safety harness, and hunters dozing off while on the stand, Lawhern said.

Lawhern recommends that hunters who plan on using tree stands follow these precautions to avoid accidents:

• Check permanent tree stands every year before hunting from them, and replace any worn or weak lumber before it breaks. When checking these stands always wear a fall restraint device like a safety harness.
• Read, understand, and follow the factory recommended practices and procedures when installing commercial stands.
• Inspect portable stands for loose nuts and bolts each time the stand is used.
Use either a safety belt or harness anytime you leave the ground to hunt from a tree stand.
• Know what you should do if you slip while using a safety device.
• Use a haul line to raise and lower your equipment – and keep firearms unloaded and arrows in a covered quiver.
• Select a tree – one large enough to support your weight -- before the season. Some mishaps occur as hunters are hurrying to set up their stands on opening morning.
• Make sure someone else knows the location of your tree stand and knows when you will be hunting there.
• Stay awake; and
• make sure you use a short tether between you and the tree when attaching your fall restraint device. The object is to keep you in the stand should you slip or fall; not catch you after you have fallen several feet.

While the term tree stand is used, these principles apply to anytime someone is hunting off the ground, including from elevated platforms, hay wagons, and elevated tripod hunting stands.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Lawhern (608) 266-1317

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Goose Island deer hunt permits available

LA CROSSE – Physically challenged people who want to participate in a December hunt to control deer numbers at Goose Island Park can secure applications from the North American Squirrel Association. The hunt, designed for the physically challenged, will take place on Dec. 9 and 10.

Biologists and managers at the Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and officials from La Crosse County and Town of Shelby have collaborated to provide the hunt as a way to deal with deer overpopulation on the island.

The managed hunt is being administered by the North American Squirrel Association (NASA), a local non-profit organization that provides opportunities for the physically challenged to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities.

The association will be collecting applications for the hunt from anyone who possesses a Class A, long term B or Class C disabled permit issued by the Department of Natural Resources. Applications can be found on the association’s Web site at <http://www.nasasquirrel.org/event_updates.php> (exit DNR) and are due by Oct. 31, 2006. Thirty participants will be randomly drawn to participate in the hunt. Selected participants will be contacted by NASA in early November.

Information about applying for a disabled hunter application from the Department of Natural Resources is available on the DNR Web site.

More information about the application process and NASA is available at the organization’s Web site <www.nasasquirrel.org> (exit DNR), representatives can be contacted at (608) 781-3100 or by e-mail at <nasasquirrel@yahoo.com>. Specific details of the managed hunt at Goose Island are available from Ron Lichtie, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources biologist, at (608) 785-9992 or by e-mail at <Ronald.Lichtie@wisconsin.gov>.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Lichtie, wildlife biologist, La Crosse (608) 785-9005

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Fall naturalist programs highlight Horicon Marsh’s international importance

HORICON – As the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States, the importance of Horicon Marsh to migratory birds is so well known that it has been designated as both a “Wetland of International Importance” and a “Globally Important Bird Area.”

At the peak of the fall migration, up to 200,000 Canada geese have been observed on the marsh. But that is fewer than half the number of people who visit the marsh annually to observe the birds and other wildlife.

“We estimate half a million people come to Horicon Marsh each year to see our native wildlife in a natural setting,” says Bill Volkert, wildlife educator and naturalist for the state Department of Natural Resources at Horicon Marsh.

With its proximity to major metropolitan areas in southeastern Wisconsin - Horicon Marsh is only an hour drive from Milwaukee and Madison – the 32,000-acre marsh is an easily accessible destination for people to see some of the world’s largest concentrations of migrating waterfowl.

Horicon Marsh is both a state wildlife area and national wildlife refuge, and while it is widely known for its importance as a migratory stop over area, it’s not as well known how important the area is in general for wildlife.

“More than 290 species of birds have been sighted at Horicon Marsh over the years,” Volkert says, “plus many other species of wildlife inhabit the area.”

To help people better understand the marsh, the Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area sponsors a series of naturalist programs on weekends each fall, when the marsh experiences the highest number of visitors.

“These programs are an effort to get visitors more familiar with Horicon Marsh, its wildlife, history and management,” Volker says. “Many visitors aren't aware of where and when to see these animals or often how to properly identify them or distinguish among the many similar species. Even when many forms of wildlife are recognized, there are numerous questions regarding their abundance, habits, behavior, ecology or management needs.”

Programs are conducted twice a day Saturday and Sunday from mid-September through the end of October and generally run for about one hour. All programs are free and open to the public. The Horicon Marsh Fall Naturalist Programs schedule is available on the DNR Web site.

Some of the naturalist programs are conducted as outdoor talks, in particular an overview of the human history, while others are hikes that take visitors to the marsh for a closer look and understanding of the wildlife of the area.

Additionally, the wildlife area will accept groups on a reservation basis, so teachers, educators and group leaders are encouraged to contact the Horicon DNR Service Center at (920) 387-7860 for more information or to make arrangements for education programs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Volkert – (920) 387-7877