Thanks for tuning into the WisWaterGuy site! It is the blog of George Kraft, Professor of Water Resources with UW-Stevens Point and UW-Extension. This will be a venue for sharing ideas and news about Wisconsin’s waters, how we manage them, the challenges they have, and how we can improve them.
How Wet Was 2019?
Like really, really wet! Wet enough to bring flooding, bank full streams, and high water even to some lakes badly lowered by high capacity well pumping. It’s been wet enough … Continue reading How Wet Was 2019?
Why No Progress on Wisconsin Central Sands Nitrate?
In agricultural parts of the Wisconsin Central Sands, 20-40% of drinking water wells commonly exceed the nitrate standard of 10 parts per million (as nitrate-nitrogen). In the recent news are … Continue reading Why No Progress on Wisconsin Central Sands Nitrate?
Wisconsin Senate Bill 76 on High Capacity Wells Introduced
The second groundwater pumping bill of the 2017-2018 legislative session, Senate Bill 76, has been introduced. Unlike the first bill (SB 22 / AB50), which sought to manage groundwater pumping … Continue reading Wisconsin Senate Bill 76 on High Capacity Wells Introduced
How We Know High Capacity Well Pumping is Drying Central Wisconsin Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands
A half-century of scientific work has predicted or observed that high capacity well pumping in the Wisconsin Central Sands lowers water levels in the aquifer, lakes, and wetlands as well … Continue reading How We Know High Capacity Well Pumping is Drying Central Wisconsin Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands
San Joaquin River at Friant Dam; June 23, 2016
The San Joaquin at 400 miles is California’s second longest river. Born of Sierra Nevada Mountain snowmelt some 9800 feet above sea level, it flows southwesterly to the floor of … Continue reading San Joaquin River at Friant Dam; June 23, 2016
Back to California – June 2016
In August 2015, during the height of its historic drought, I took a self-guided tour of California’s San Francisco – Delta – Sacramento – lower San Joaquin Valley region, with … Continue reading Back to California – June 2016
DNR Quits High Capacity Well Reviews for Lake, Stream, Wetland Impacts
Adopting the legal opinion of Attorney General Brad Schimel, DNR announced in a Friday webpage post that environmental reviews for high capacity wells were mostly being suspended. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wells/documents/HighCapacity/FAQ.pdf Environmental reviews … Continue reading DNR Quits High Capacity Well Reviews for Lake, Stream, Wetland Impacts
Blessed are the Water Stewards ….
I’ve been fortunate in my career and personal life to have worked with many stewards of our lakes and streams and wetlands. Not that Matthew (5:3-12) needs any kind of … Continue reading Blessed are the Water Stewards ….
Attorney General Opinion Would Roll Back Protections from High Capacity Wells
A legal opinion issued by Attorney General Brad Schimel (May 10 2016) would roll back protections for Wisconsin lakes, streams, and wetlands from the impacts of high capacity wells. Short-term, … Continue reading Attorney General Opinion Would Roll Back Protections from High Capacity Wells
