When the waters came

08/20/20 • 39 min

Two years ago, the small village of Mazomanie, in Dane County's northwestern corner, saw the small creek that runs through the center of their town grow into a raging river as record rains fell in an unprecedented storm.

After it was all over, the region saw more rain in a 24 hour period than has ever fallen in Wisconsin before, costing small communities like Mazomanie homes, businesses, and millions of dollars in damage.

The science community has long pointed to climate change as a major reason for an increased heavy rain events leading to more flooding. But local communities like Dane County--and now state officials--are taking action to limit the impacts of climate change, as well as tackle the root cause: carbon emissions.

In this episode of State of Change, we talk with the Mazomanie Village Administrator about his experience with the 2018 flooding that rocked his community. We also talk with Dane County Executive Joe Parisi about Dane County's leadership in local action on climate change, and we chat with Chelsea Chandler, our new Climate Solutions Director, about efforts at the state level through the Governor's Task Force on Climate Change.

Background reading:

--A post on our blog on Dane County's Climate Action Plan that was released earlier this year. --Our science team created this local climate action map. --They also looked at whether we're seeing more heavy rain events in Wisconsin. --A post on our blog in the aftermath of Dane County's record rainfall and devastating flooding --Great collection of photos from the Wisconsin State Journal documenting the aftermath of flooding in Dane County

A special thanks to Peter Huebner of Mazomanie, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, and Chelsea Chandler of Clean Wisconsin.

Background reading:

A special thanks to Peter Huebner of Mazomanie, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, and Chelsea Chandler of Clean Wisconsin.

Previous Episode

Protecting our H.O.M.E.S.

In March 2020, a group of Wisconsin residents traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate lawmakers in Congress to support funding and protections for our Great Lakes.

These Wisconsin residents come from many different backgrounds and communities along Lakes Michigan and Superior, but one thing connected them all: water, and the aim to protect it from the threats brought by invasive species, pollution and climate change.

In this episode of the podcast, we head to nation’s capital to meet up with three of these advocates and learn that human connection may be our best hope of protecting our Great Lakes.

Background reading:

You can read more about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and how it helps Wisconsin’s Great Lakes communities at the DNR’s website.

In January, the DNR and EPA announced they are spending over $29 million over the next 8 years to address polluted sediment in the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern. The goal is accelerate the cleanup of the estuary and to delist it as an Area of Concern.

Take Action: Tell members of Congress to support funding for clean water and public health in COVID-19 response legislation.

A special thanks to Brenda Coley and Joe Fitzgerald at Milwaukee Water Commons.

Learn more about the Healing Our Waters—Great Lakes Coalition.

Next Episode

A very modest rule, delayed

The ongoing crisis of PFAS pollution in Wisconsin drinking water centers around one primary source: firefighting foams. While some are trying to take aim at tackling this major threat to public health, others are standing in the way.

In this episode of the podcast, we talk with our policy expert, Carly Michiels, about industry efforts to upend emergency rules for 'forever chemical' pollution, and what it could mean for drinking water in public health around the state.

Background:

In Episode 2, we talk more in-depth with Carly about PFAS pollution in Marinette, which has been the epicenter of 'forever chemical' pollution in Wisconsin.

According to the DNR, roughly 2 out of every 3 fire departments have PFAS-laden firefighting foams, while 62% of fire departments don't have any policy about how to handle or dispose of the products.

Take Action:

Tell the Natural Resources Board to put public health over profit and pass these emergency rules at their October Board meeting.