By Topf Wells
Badger Mill Creek (BMC) is an improving Class 2 trout stream that runs through Verona and joins the Sugar River just upstream of River Road. SWTU has provided volunteer hours, funds and advocacy for over 30 years to improve BMC. It offers lots of public fishing, has a healthy population of wild brown trout, and, according to the latest DNR study, has an excellent chance of becoming a Class 1 stream if habitat is improved.
BMC’s health and the progress it’s made are now under attack. We need to protect the creek as best we can.
A key reason BMC has improved is the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) the water it contributes to the creek in the form of highly treated and aerated effluent. DNR fisheries and water quality staff have documented the improvements that’s made to increased and stable water flows and trout habitat. In some key aspects the water acts like a huge spring.
MMSD wants to stop the water as an easy and cheap way to comply with DNR phosphorus regulations. It has other affordable and practical alternatives such as treating the effluent to remove more phosphorus or pursuing Adaptive Management (AM) across the BMC and Upper Sugar watersheds. AM involves MMSD working with local governments, conservation organizations, farmers and developers to reduce urban and rural runoff. That’s the approach MMSD has taken in the Yahara Watershed.
CARPC, Dane County’s Regional Planning Commission, now reviews MMSD’s choice and recommends disapproval or approval to the DNR, which makes the final decision. CARPC will hold its only public hearing on the case on July 11 at 6 PM at the Town of Verona Town Hall at 7669 County Highway PD.
The SWTU Board respectfully asks that you contact CARPC and ask that they DISAPPROVE MMSD’s request to stop the discharge of water to Badger Mill Creek.
You must email CARPC BY JULY 10 at: tanyas@capitalarearpc.org.
Added content: The letter SWTU submitted to CARPC on July 8, 2024.
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Posted: September 2, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Eagle Eye for Eagles
Wisconsin’s eagles can use your help.
Newscasts – Summer 2024
Last Updated: October 2, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
This issue is filled with great information, including:
Meicher Madness Auction returns for September 10 Membership Meeting
Last Updated: September 3, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
The Meicher Madness Auction was one of SWTU’s most fun and profitable events for many years. Stopped by COVID it returns at our September 10 meeting at Schwoegler’s on Grand Canyon Drive.
The madness and fun will be renewed on 9/10. Everyone will have some chances at some cool and highly usable gear and the proceeds will support all the Chapter activities.
Here are some needs and changes for this year’s auction: Read More
Last Updated: July 10, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Save Badger Mill Creek
By Topf Wells
BMC’s health and the progress it’s made are now under attack. We need to protect the creek as best we can.
A key reason BMC has improved is the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) the water it contributes to the creek in the form of highly treated and aerated effluent. DNR fisheries and water quality staff have documented the improvements that’s made to increased and stable water flows and trout habitat. In some key aspects the water acts like a huge spring.
MMSD wants to stop the water as an easy and cheap way to comply with DNR phosphorus regulations. It has other affordable and practical alternatives such as treating the effluent to remove more phosphorus or pursuing Adaptive Management (AM) across the BMC and Upper Sugar watersheds. AM involves MMSD working with local governments, conservation organizations, farmers and developers to reduce urban and rural runoff. That’s the approach MMSD has taken in the Yahara Watershed.
CARPC, Dane County’s Regional Planning Commission, now reviews MMSD’s choice and recommends disapproval or approval to the DNR, which makes the final decision. CARPC will hold its only public hearing on the case on July 11 at 6 PM at the Town of Verona Town Hall at 7669 County Highway PD.
The SWTU Board respectfully asks that you contact CARPC and ask that they DISAPPROVE MMSD’s request to stop the discharge of water to Badger Mill Creek.
You must email CARPC BY JULY 10 at: tanyas@capitalarearpc.org.
Added content: The letter SWTU submitted to CARPC on July 8, 2024.
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Orange Partridge
Last Updated: July 6, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
by Rusty Dunn
The technology of fly tying took a giant leap forward in 2,640 BC when, according to legend, a Chinese Empress named Leizu discovered that the natural glue of silkworm cocoons could be softened in hot water and a long thin filament of pure silk unwound from each cocoon. Read More
We’re Not Sugar; We Didn’t Melt
Posted: July 6, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
By Topf Wells
The forecast was a 27% chance of showers, with those being light and scattered for the last work day of the spring. Just a little off, 100% with occasionally heavy rain. But 12 SWTU volunteers had gathered at Sawmill Creek with rain gear and determination (Sally had another name for it when I returned home).
So we plunged into the mostly light rain and invasive honeysuckle thickets and emerged an hour and a half later mostly triumphant. The best water on the Pokorny easement is now visible and fishable, lots of material is ready to be brush bundled this fall, and some nice native plants now have room to grow. As a bonus, the two Jims (Hess and O’Brien) also eliminated more invasives, Dame’s Rocket and the persistently dreadful Wild Parsnip. Read More
Posted: July 6, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Help Dell Creek and the Aldo Leopold Chapter …
… and See 20 professionally operated chainsaws in action.
On September 19 at 8 AM the Aldo Leopold Chapter will host a work day at the 40 acres on Dell Creek that the Leopold Chapter, SWTU, the Badger Fly Fishers, the State Council Access Fund, and Groundswell Conservancy helped purchase. The property is lovely with a long stretch of the stream, a brook trout tributary, and some extremely healthy oak uplands. It’s also almost impossible to fish because of the streamside tag alders.
That’s about to change big time. The Leopold Chapter has won the services of the 20 person Stihl Chainsaw Crew for a half day of work. 20 professionally trained sawyers with the latest and best of Stihl chainsawsc– that will be a most impressive and instructive sight. To utilize such an amazing workforce, the Leopold Chapter needs folks to haul the brush. They asking nearby chapters for help. Read More
Last Updated: July 6, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Vets on the Fly
By Dyan Lesnik
Vets on the Fly activities are free for all Vets and their family members. All equipment is provided so just show up for their events for socialization and fishing fun. Learn more at their Facebook page.
Posted: July 6, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Learn What Your Board’s Been Up To – Summer 2024
Minutes from SWTU Board of Director meetings can be viewed in this Google Drive. If you have questions on what you read in them, reach out to one of the Board members listed on the last page of each newsletter. (Note that you may need to click the “Last Modified” header at the top to sort the list with the latest minutes at the top.)
Posted: July 6, 2024 by Drew Kasel Leave a Comment
Thank you, David Rowe
And our thanks. One of David’s great contributions to the health and fishability of our trout streams was the team of excellent biologists he assembled. They are a joy to work with and they did not just appear in their jobs out of thin air. He worked with TU DAR to assemble the team that improves access and control invasive vegetation on trout stream easements throughout southwest Wisconsin. He planned the new Black Earth Creek project east of Cross Plains which will improve the habitat, fishability, and access to the stream.
Thank you, David, and good luck!
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