By Topf Wells
The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Commission voted on Thursday, May 25th, to stop discharging water to Badger Mill Creek. MMSD did so despite the unanimous opposition of local governments, residents and conservation organizations, including SWTU. You can access MMSD’s website for their side of the story. In short, the Commissioners believed their staff’s analysis that stopping the water would not significantly harm the creek and that the District’s offer of $1 million for projects on the creek would improve the creek.
The advocates for the creek believe the massive loss of water will hurt the creek, that MMSD ignored or mis-represented DNR concerns over the harm to the fishery, and that the $1 million offer does not represent any serious planning as to whether or how such damage could be mitigated.
The Capital Area Regional Planning Commission will now conduct a full, public, transparent and expert review of MMSD’s recommendation. The DNR then receives that CARPC report and decides to approve or not MMSD’s recommendation. We believe the CARPC process will be rigorous and advocates for the creek intend to participate fully in it.
We’ll provide more details for the chance for public input into the future of Badger Mill Creek in the belief that this time the public’s views will receive a fair and full hearing.
Medium Olive Nymph
Last Updated: July 25, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
On a cloudy cool day in April, you arrive onstream to find blue-winged olives in the air and on the water. Fish rise steadily below each riffle. Jackpot! You tie on a size #16 BWO dry fly and stealthily approach the first pool. You cast to a riser, and a nice trout ascends from the depths, approaches your fly, but turns away at the last moment and descends into the pool. Another cast, same result. You’ve just suffered a fly angler’s classic indignity. The trout refused your perfect presentation. A proverbial slap in the face. Not to worry. You’ve read all about the situation and know exactly what to do: switch to a smaller version of the same fly. You remove the size #16 and tie on a #18. A few more casts, and another nice trout rises from the depths. Another look, another slap in the face. You’re thinking, “These BWOs must be smaller than I thought”. You clip off the size #18 and tie on a #20. More refusals. In desperation, you try a size #22. Not even a look. You switch to a different BWO dry and repeat the progression. You catch a few trout but, despite all the fly swapping, feel that you missed out on a bonanza. The hatch wanes, and you walk away thinking, “What did I do wrong?”. Read More
Posted: July 25, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
I Didn’t Know a Drought Could Do This
By Topf Wells
I was preparing to fish my favorite stretch of my favorite Columbia County trout stream but demurred when I reached the creek. What happened, I wondered. Where I was used to stepping onto a nice patch of gravel with a prospect of pleasant wading and fish eager to eat dry flies, I found a mess: big stretches of sediment topped by dense clumps of aquatic vegetation. The small amount of current that showed was shoved under overhanging clumps of reed canary grass topped by wild parsnip. I went elsewhere but wondered if I wasn’t becoming a bit of a wuss. Read More
Last Updated: July 25, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
New Members – Summer 2023
We’re pleased to announce the addition of the following new members to our ranks! Read More
Newscasts – June 2023
Last Updated: October 2, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Two Great Reasons to Meet in June – President-elect and Fly Swap!
Our Tuesday, June 13, Chapter Meeting
By Topf Wells
We need to elect a new President. The Board thought we needed to do this in person to enable our new President to meet as many members as possible as President-elect (he’s a frequent meeting attender so has, of course, met many of us through the years).
Our nominee is Steve Musser, a long time SWTU member who has served the Chapter on the Finance Committee and with fundraising. Read More
Trout Days Celebration 2023—Zander Park in Cross Plains
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Andy Morton
The annual Cross Plains Lions Club “Trout Days” celebration along Black Earth Creek in Zander Park was a real team event. The Black Earth Creek Watershed Association (BECWA), Capitol Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC), Groundswell Conservancy, and your very own SWTU made May 6 a memorable day for the scores of attendees. Read More
Posted: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Badger Mill Creek: It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over
By Topf Wells
The Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Commission voted on Thursday, May 25th, to stop discharging water to Badger Mill Creek. MMSD did so despite the unanimous opposition of local governments, residents and conservation organizations, including SWTU. You can access MMSD’s website for their side of the story. In short, the Commissioners believed their staff’s analysis that stopping the water would not significantly harm the creek and that the District’s offer of $1 million for projects on the creek would improve the creek.
The advocates for the creek believe the massive loss of water will hurt the creek, that MMSD ignored or mis-represented DNR concerns over the harm to the fishery, and that the $1 million offer does not represent any serious planning as to whether or how such damage could be mitigated.
The Capital Area Regional Planning Commission will now conduct a full, public, transparent and expert review of MMSD’s recommendation. The DNR then receives that CARPC report and decides to approve or not MMSD’s recommendation. We believe the CARPC process will be rigorous and advocates for the creek intend to participate fully in it.
We’ll provide more details for the chance for public input into the future of Badger Mill Creek in the belief that this time the public’s views will receive a fair and full hearing.
Good Days for Great People
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
Justin Haglund, Lloyd Meng, and Jared Myers had tree planting all set on the DNR property on Trout Creek below the dry dam. Holes were dug, 60 oak trees distributed, fences, staples and mats in place. Justin and team were there on Saturday in a UTV ready to help. The Nohr Chapter had organized the day and put out the call to their members and SWTU to plant those trees. However, it was UW Graduation Day, Mother’s Day Weekend, and the nicest fishing Saturday of an uneven season. Who’d show up?
Some great folks from Nohr and SWTU did but saving the day were 6 or 7 students from UW Hoofers, the UW Madison outdoor outing club. They arrived, by the way, the day after their finals ended. They doubled our workforce and quadrupled our productivity. They seemed to enjoy the day. As I walked by a conservation biology major, she was saying to her friend, “I love days like these.” The future is in good hands. Read More
The Hot End of a Cool Season of Workdays
Last Updated: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
The weather, chainsaws, and brats were hot on Saturday morning at SWTU’s last workday of the spring season on the Rudd easement on Hefty Creek. Thankfully (and way to go, Marci Hess) the watermelon was cold.
Before the 20 or so volunteers got to the shade, brats, watermelon, and homemade rhubarb cake (another “way to go” to Dyan Lesnik), we had to install brush bundles in the creek to complement the DNR’s restoration. The DNR had not been able to operate their heavy equipment in this part of the easement. Read More
Many Thanks to Our Spring Fair Donors!! You Helped Raise $15,000+
Posted: June 8, 2023 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Acme Organics
Ann Miller, entomologist
Bad Dog Frida
Bavarian Sausage House
Black Earth Angling Co.
Bob’s Bitchin BBQ
Burman Coffee Traders
Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream
Chris Freeman
Chuck Bayuk
Crema Café
Curt Riedl Read More
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