Enjoy River Alliance of Wisconsin’s Summer 2025 WaterWays newsletter. To get a copy of WaterWays, become a River Alliance member or pick up a print copy at local events with our partners across Wisconsin. Download a PDF copy of the full newsletter.

Summer 2025 | Volume 31, Issue 2

Beyond the headlines, we see signs of hope for water policy

by Allison Werner, Executive Director

In June, we celebrated 60 years of Wisconsin’s Wild Rivers law. At a celebration event at the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center in Florence, WI, participants and leaders of all political stripes came to celebrate the leadership of the late Rep. Dave Martin and the impact wild rivers and wild spaces have on us personally and economically. We were reminded that Wisconsin was once a place where we could achieve bipartisan agreement on conservation.

The passing of the state budget with bipartisan support this summer showed signs that Wisconsin may be able to return to shared leadership and compromise. However, this only happens when leaders feel the pressure to compromise and the makeup of the legislature is more balanced. Though there was much to be disappointed about in the budget, the process signaled a shift that could change how we work on clean water policy in the future. 

On the national level, however, the actions of the federal government are making our work harder and have impacted new grants we applied for to advance our work. However, with the generous support of people like you and the foundations that are dedicated to developing solutions to Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region’s water challenges, we are still able to serve our mission without facing huge gaps in funding from government sources.

We will continue to work on issues such as climate impacts to infrastructure like dams, important species like manoomin, metallic mining threats, banning PFAS and neonicotinoids, developing new policies and tools to support farmers’ conservation practices, and more. 

We know our big-picture thinking is valuable. WiSys, the independent nonprofit supporting the University of Wisconsin’s research and innovation work, asked us to advise on a complex grant application to the National Science Foundation on advancing sustainable agriculture.

Wisconsin still has a lot of water-related challenges, and River Alliance is prepared to continue to tackle them along with many partners across the state. Our approach is to support and follow the lead of local water advocates, while also working collaboratively across regions and the state to develop better ways to manage water holistically, comprehensively and in ways that go beyond the boundaries of towns and counties.

While the times are daunting, we have to persevere and keep working toward the future we know Wisconsin needs and deserves. The future generations are counting on us.

Environmental policy wins and future challenges

Bill Davis, Senior Legal Analyst

Clean water advocates won a major victory in the state supreme court. On a 5-to-2 vote, the court broadly upheld the way the DNR has implemented the Spills law for the last 45 years. 

Specifically, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce argued that the DNR could not force action under the Spills law unless it first created rules for a substance. Given the urgent nature of the Spills Law, this would have gutted its function. The court flatly rejected that argument. This is important for people around the state with PFAS contamination who are receiving bottled water and other assistance from the DNR under the Spills law.

Other progress on PFAS pollution has some mixed results. The good news is that we see signs of the DNR updating drinking water standards to match Biden-era, stricter federal standards. The bad news is that, as of the time of writing this newsletter, the state legislature still has not released $125 million in PFAS cleanup and drinking water supply funds. The DNR is still moving too slowly on developing groundwater standards for those who rely on groundwater for their source of drinking water. 

Other news

Evers v Marklein II decision: The state supreme court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules to veto executive actions by blocking them from proceeding. This is good news for our environment and the future of the DNR’s rules on pollution. 

Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program still on shaky ground: Though the conservation program is wildly popular among Wisconsin voters, state legislators did not renew it in the budget, and the program will expire in a year without further action by the legislature.

For action alerts and policy perspectives from River Alliance, be sure you’re getting our Word on the Stream newsletter in your email inbox twice a month.

2024 Annual Report

In place of a traditional annual report, River Alliance hosted a virtual River Rat Chat in December to share the vital work we’ve been doing to bring people together to protect and restore Wisconsin’s waters. You can view it on our YouTube channel. Highlights from that webinar and an overview of our annual independent financial audit are below.

Watershed and farmer-led group support – Through personalized support and a monthly virtual meetup of leaders from staffed watershed groups, we’ve helped build the strength and capacity of dozens of local water organizations, who are at the forefront of protecting and restoring our waters.

Wisconsin Agriculture Agenda – After convening experts on sustainable agriculture, we’ve decided to first focus on the issue of farm lending and finance reform. We were also invited by WiSys, the nonprofit supporting the University of Wisconsin’s research and innovation work, to participate in the Wisconsin Forward Agriculture program’s effort to secure a 10-year National Science Foundation grant on advancing sustainable agriculture.

Central Wisconsin Basin Planning Project – Because protecting our water resources needs to happen on a watershed-wide level, we’ve led a planning project in the Central Wisconsin Basin in which the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission was funded by the Department of Natural Resources to begin to develop a broader plan to manage water on a basin-wide scale. 

Dam removal and climate resilience – We’re working on practical strategies to help communities prepare for, respond to, recover from, and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate, which has led us to re-engage in hydropower reform and dam removal more deeply to help communities be better equipped to address natural disasters.

Leadership in regional mining watchdogging – We continued to co-organize a monthly Wolf River Action Committee mining coalition call to share information on mining opposition in Northern Wisconsin. Work with Tribal partners on launching a manoomin stewards program continues in 2025.

Healthy Water and Mining do not Mix

By Johnson Bridgwater, Water Advocates Organizer

River Alliance has a lengthy history of mining opposition in Wisconsin, and we work closely with multiple individuals, groups, Tribes, and organizations at the local, state, and regional levels to hold back any expansion of metallic sulfide mining in our state or region. We are entering a concerning period due to the actions of the current President. But we also share ongoing efforts to push back on mining, along with a new way we are expanding our efforts to keep our waters healthy and alive.

Our most pressing state mining concern at the moment relates to the actions of Canadian company GreenLight Metals, which is pursuing an aggressive campaign that claims it will turn north central Wisconsin into a “mining district.” They have secured several mineral leases in Wisconsin, and GLM is currently conducting exploration drilling in Taylor County on a known gold-copper deposit called “Bend.” River Alliance, along with many partners have been closely monitoring this drilling, while also participating in the public input process for a proposed second exploration drilling program near the first that GLM is now pursuing through the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management via a Prospecting Permit.

There is one federal mining issue that we are closely following due to its potential negative impact in Wisconsin and our Lake Superior region. The President is attempting to create an artificial domestic copper market via Executive Orders and archaic trade processes, and he now claims the U.S. will start tariffing imported copper at a rate of 50%. Although these actions are being legally challenged and are in no way certain, we feel the nature of the times, and the locations they want to mine, demands enhanced bird-dogging.

Copper is not currently economically viable to mine at small scale, however if the President’s actions are successful, it could open our region to small-scale copper mining such as that found in the Taylor County Bend Deposit or the Marathon County Reef Deposit, as well as significantly strengthening the threat of new mines adjacent to Boundary Waters in Minnesota and Porcupine Mountains State Park in the U.P.

In response to growing mining threats, River Alliance of Wisconsin is deepening our commitment to the protection and well-being of manoomin, commonly known as “wild rice.” Manoomin is a living, Sacred relative of the Ojibwe, as well as being an indicator of high-quality waters where it is found thriving. It is also highly susceptible to kill-off from mining impacts via sulfate release that accompanies both taconite and metallic sulfide mining. 

This fall, our Manoomin Stewards program will center manoomin cultural knowledge via planned readings, outings, and trainings with rice keepers, along with policy, advocacy, and restoration efforts aimed at assuring manoomin – and therefore a vast web-of-life tied to manoomin – will continue to thrive in Wisconsin.

Would you like to know more about these areas? Head to the River Alliance Mining Page found on our website to sign up for MINING UPDATE email newsletter and alerts, or reach out to staff member Johnson Bridgwater at: jbridgwater@wisconsinrivers.org to discuss wild rice.

After a dam failure and floods, Manawa can choose a free-flowing Little Yellow River

By Ellen Voss, Climate Resilience Director

Thankfully, no lives were lost when heavy rains caused the catastrophic failure of a century-old hydro dam on the Little Wolf River in central Wisconsin last July. But the event exposed the dangers of how vulnerable aging infrastructure is to intense storm events. The flood sparked an important community dialogue about the river’s future.

This particular structure is one of 14 small hydropower facilities in Wisconsin that has exempt status, meaning their licenses never expire, and there isn’t a designated review or public input opportunity like there is for other hydro dams. A similar exempt structure in Minnesota failed less than two weeks before the Manawa dam failure in 2024.

At a public meeting in early June, an engineering consultant for the City of Manawa reported that removing the dam would cost exponentially less than replacing it. With a price tag of $700,000 for removal compared to $8.4 million to rebuild it amidst a time when federal or state dollars are rarely guaranteed, river restoration is a wise choice. 

The cost savings alone are compelling, but now it’s up to the Manawa community to imagine how a restored, free-flowing Little Wolf could enrich the city through recreation, fish passage, ecological health, and flood resilience.

The conversation is just beginning, and thanks to local advocates passionate about what a restored river could mean for their community, the option to remove the dam is on the table. Helping communities navigate these difficult discussions is something River Alliance has been doing for over three decades. Luckily, there are countless examples of communities that grappled with the same concerns and ultimately decided on dam removal.

Manawa residents on the future of a a free-flowing Wolf River:

“When I kayaked down the river a while after the dam went out, I realized how much cleaner the water was than I ever noticed it before. I knew dams weren’t a good thing for rivers, but hadn’t seen it in person until then. That got me thinking of all the other benefits that were probably happening as well. Fish spawning, water quality, and overall health of the entire river system. Seeing a sturgeon returning from spawning grounds that species hasn’t been able to reach since before 1891 was proof that this is the better option for Manawa.”

–Nick Heisi, Manawa resident 

“As a business owner in Manawa, I believe it’s both fiscally responsible and economically strategic to keep the Little Wolf River flowing freely through the old mill pond site. Rebuilding a dam and restoring a stagnant, weed-choked impoundment would burden taxpayers with millions in costs—benefiting only a handful of private landowners while ignoring the broader community’s interests.

Free-flowing rivers are engines of local commerce. They attract anglers, paddlers, and eco-tourists who support restaurants, shops, and lodging—driving sustainable economic growth. In contrast, small impoundments often become sediment-filled, algae-laden eyesores that repel visitors and degrade water quality.

Ecologically, restoring natural river flow improves fish migration, enhances biodiversity, and revitalizes water quality. It’s a win for wildlife, a win for recreation, and a win for the long-term health of our community. Let’s invest in the future—not in outdated infrastructure that no longer serves the public good.”

–Ben Hlaban, Manawa business owner

Make a convenient and affordable impact for Wisconsin’s waters year-round

By Evan Arnold, Development Director

For as little as the cost of one cup of coffee per month, you can create a stable, lasting foundation of support for River Alliance’s work. 

Think of it like a Netflix subscription, but instead of binge-watching another series, you’ll get to experience the grandeur of Wisconsin’s waters and join a community of paddlers, anglers, scientists, hikers, birders, and water advocates who are united in protecting and restoring Wisconsin’s waters for generations to come.

Your gift will be made automatically on the same day each month using a checking account or credit card, and you can change or stop your commitment at any time. Become a sustaining donor today. 

Where we’ve paddled, hiked, and celebrated Wisconsin’s water this year

Wild & Scenic Film Festival

We hosted our 16th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Barrymore Theatre in Madison on March 20. We were joined by Sokaogon Chippewa Community Environmental Director Tina Van Zile who was featured in one of our film selections, “Return to Spur Lake.” Films were also made available on demand to River Alliance supporters statewide, thanks to the sponsorship of Wisconsin Public Radio.

Fools’ Flotilla

Over 700 paddlers and hundreds of spectators joined us for the annual Fools’ Flotilla on June 15 on the Yahara River in Madison. Special guests included NBC 15 anchor and reporter Mark McPherson and a performance by members of the UW Badger Band.

Wild Rivers Law 60th anniversary celebration and hikes

On June 28, we gathered at the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center in Florence, WI.

After inspiring speakers, groups visited Meyers Falls and Breakwater Falls to see the wild Pine River in action. 

Lower Wisconsin River paddle with staff and board members

Led by the Lower Wisconsin Riverway Board Executive Director Mark Cupp on July 9, River Alliance of Wisconsin board and staff members got to paddle the Wisconsin River from Victoria Riverside Park to Port Andrews in Voyageur-style canoes. Mark shared a history lesson on the river from effigy mounds to the contentious origins of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway Board which plays a leading, bipartisan role in protecting the river from overdevelopment today. 

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