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Wisconsin lawmakers to introduce water quality legislation Wednesday

Wisconsin lawmakers say a package of bills focused on improving water quality will be introduced Wednesday.  Republican State Representative Scott Krug of Nekoosa, Wisconsin tells Brownfield there will be close to a dozen separate pieces of legislation, including more support for an already-successful farm conservation program. “I think one of the bigger things we’re talking about in that package that will be the most instrumental is the Producer-Led Watershed Program, and really put a huge expansion into that program I think is going to be the cornerstone of this, giving folks a chance to locally collaborate in their own watersheds back home I think is the best bang for our buck.”

Democrat Katrina Shankland of Stevens Point, Wisconsin says she’s pushing for a state cleanup fund to support best farming practices as well as septic and well remediation.  Shankland says she plans to introduce that legislation soon. “I think if we want clean water for everyone in Wisconsin, we have to be willing to pay for prevention and enforcement as well as best practices, and I think the clean water fund is something we should be able to get behind, but it might take some time.” Shankland says Minnesota has had a similar fund, and Ohio just created theirs with the H2Ohio program.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos created the task force shortly after Democratic Governor Tony Evers declared 2019 as the Year of Clean Water.  The task force has held public hearings throughout the state gathering testimony from stakeholders.