Watershed Moments: Here and Invested
2024-06-18
You can often find Linda enjoying the outdoors.
Living on the west side of Green Bay, Linda grew up around water. “It’s just a fundamental part of who I am,” she explained. But the water of her youth had such poor quality, she couldn’t wait to leave.
She recalls waterskiing on the Fox River in the 1970s. “It was green. Once it was entirely covered in slime. I don’t know what exactly that was, but we never did that again,” Linda said. “And you weren’t allowed to fish either. You couldn’t eat them.”
Family trips took her to Potawotomi, Sturgeon Bay, and the Wolf River, and she saw what clean water could look like. As an adult, she got her wish and moved away. She lived in Los Angeles, but made sure she was near the water. Eventually she made her way back to Green Bay, because this is where her family is.
Linda and her husband Alex settled down, building a business and having kids. “The longer we stayed,” she explained, “the more we cared about making sure we gave back to our state.” Linda didn’t want to leave anymore; she wanted to change it for the better.
“It started with Kavarna,” she said, talking about the restaurant she and Alex established. “The most sustainable thing you can do is to use what already exists.” And if you look around, you’ll notice that the decorative cubbies are a repurposed chicken coop. She and Alex also implemented composting with local farmers and insisted on using renewable energy – even when it cost a little more.
These days, sustainability looks like a mission to make the world’s first carbon-emissions-free hummus with their new business, uBu Foods. It was a no-brainer for Linda to register the business with 1% For the Planet.
As part of that registration, they had to select an environmental non-profit to partner with. “We wanted someone from Wisconsin,” said Linda. She found Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance and “we immediately got involved. I love these people! It’s been really fun.”
Of course, it can also be a lot of work to put in the time and money to make sustainable choices. Why make that a priority? “Look at Wisconsin on a map,” Linda said. “It’s just blue. There’s so much water here. We care about where we live and the future of the next generation. Why wouldn’t you make it a priority!”
Linda’s kids are old enough to be thinking about their hopes for adulthood. And they’re not planning to leave the state. “It’s easy to live here. It’s affordable to live here,” she explained. “When I was a kid, I wanted to leave. Now I’m here and I’m invested.”
And if you ask her, she’ll tell you to get involved with Fox-Wolf for yourself. “Membership is affordable, and you can volunteer too,” she said. “It feels like a community of people who care about the state of Wisconsin and the environment. Do it, because it’s so easy!”
Watershed Moments is a publication of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, sharing the stories of how your donations have impacted lives in our community. Read our latest project updates, make a secure online donation, or become a member at www.fwwa.org
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unable to care for their pet may think that releasing the animal is the right thing to do, however, releasing a pet is harmful for the animal and the environment.
strategy. Simply put, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But if only it were just that simple. The variables and situations that can impact a waterbody may seem so limitless that it can be daunting to know where to start. As a lake resident, you might consider questions such as:
transporting and spreading AIS without proper decontamination. While everyone is required to “inspect, remove, and drain” per Wisconsin State Statutes NR40, these steps might not always be 100% effective especially for high-risk users such as service providers who are often working on multiple lakes in a single day and interacting with lake water and sediment in ways that recreational users are not. These kinds of service providers need to follow the same prevention steps that we all do, but they are not required to take the extended steps, such as spraying equipment with a bleach solution, making it all the more important for consumers to advocate for their lake.
been laid in the sediment of the lake. Following analysis of the samples collected, we are please to report that no evidence of spiny waterflea were found which includes not finding any eggs!
boat launches! Get involved today!
which topics they are interested in monitoring. The information gathered by volunteers is even used by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and university biologists and researchers, UW-Extension, and other interested individuals in projects that work to improve your lake! Help keep track of changes in your lake while being near your favorite Winnebago lake! This opportunity is easy to do from both the shoreline as well as your boat!
provide responsible alternatives and a judgement-free environment for pet owners who can no longer care for their exotic animals.
collaborative effort ensures that these animals are given proper care and attention.
With 29 events planned for the year there are ample opportunities for pet owners to seek assistance in rehoming their animals.
Attention Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, Garden Club Members and others advising home gardeners; this webinar is for you! Representatives from UWEX and DNR will join Melinda Myers to talk about current threats, available resources and ways we can all work together to manage invasive plants. To register for the free webinar, click the button below!
Goldfish were first spotted in Hamilton Harbour in the 1960s, but largely died off in the 1970s because of industrial contamination. In the early 2000s, their population appeared to recover. Goldfish can tolerate a wide range of water temperatures, reach sexual maturation quickly, and can eat nearly anything, including algae, aquatic plants, eggs and invertebrates, Ms. Boston said.
the Fox is a family-friendly event that celebrates World Rivers Day and the Fox River. Activities offered during the event include guided crayfish and critter hunting, guided nature hikes along the Fox River, fishing instructions for children with the KHS Fishing Team, Fox Lock demonstrations – Lock #3 with shuttle available, paper making, photo scavenger hunt, viewing of “The Power of the River” documentary, and river cleanup with Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance
to see that registration filled during the week prior to the event. Amcor employees made up a majority of the group, along with a Boy Scout troup and other conservation-minded volunteers.
cigarette butts, 130 plastic bags, and 53 straws. After weighing up all of the trash, the total was 134 pounds of trash and debris! Other interesting finds include: a tire with rim, orange cone, metal trash can lid, fireworks, baseball, tarp, and a container with two hard-boiled eggs from Costco. Check out the infographic!
kelly@fwwa.org
920-915-1502
Extension Lakes. Volunteers met at different local rendezvous sites across the state to learn how to identify AIS such as Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, and New Zealand mudsnails, and then searched for them in the field at pre-
selected locations. Initially focused on rivers and streams, Snapshot Day has expanded to include lakes and wetlands. Findings from Snapshot Day are uploaded to the statewide water quality database, SWIMS, where they can be used to track the spread of invasive species and develop management plans.
Snapshot Day’s community-based science approach maximizes the number of sites being checked across the state, and the free event allows volunteers to learn about their local waters and how to keep them healthy. As one volunteer stated, “I enjoyed the hands on learning approach. It was helpful to have well informed guides and samples of the invasive species to get a close look at. Once we had a good understanding of what to look for, it was fun to go out and collect samples of what we were finding.”
invasive species in the Bay of Green Bay. 
risks to Wisconsin waterways and wildlife. Volunteers have a choice to register at one of over twenty event locations hosted by local conservation groups.
will give out a brand new red, white, and blue boat trailer sticker with a boat graphic showing people all the places where plants, tiny animals and potentially contaminated water can hide.
