Crawford Stewardship Project

CSP Calendar

Tuesday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m
Video Night
Sponsored by Crawford Stewardship Project and the Gays Mills Library

Looking for something to do that’s interesting, informative and free? Then come to Crawford Stewardship Project and Gays Mills Library’s video night! Join us in the Board Room of the new Gays Mills Commerce Center, 16381 State Hwy 131, Gays Mills and enjoy viewing “Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story”. This film is sure to spark our discussion, which will follow the viewing. Popcorn and drinks will be provided.

This Emmy Award-winning production is from the team that created “Minnesota: A History of the Land”. “Troubled Waters” traces the development of America's bountiful heartland and its effect on the legendary river. Through beautiful photography and inspiring narrative, the film offers solutions to the river's pollution problems through fresh ideas and concrete solutions.

News

February 15, 2012
Citizen Group brings Concerns on the Wauzeka Hog Operation to the DNR

A Notice of Non-compliance (NON) order was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to the Roth Feeder Pig operation in Wauzeka Township in Crawford County on February 3, 2012. According to the NON, the Roth operation has failed to submit a completed Annual Report due January 31, 2012. The NON reflects some of the concerns brought to the DNR by Christa Westerberg, lawyer with McGillivray, Westerberg, & Bender, LLC, on behalf of Crawford Stewardship Project (CSP) in a letter sent January 17, 2012. This is the second time Mr. Roth has been issued an NON, the first was in March 2011, after CSP brought a series of concerns to the DNR. Since the February 3, 2012 NON was issued, Mr. Roth has sent documents to the DNR that likely address some of the requirements listed in the NON. Other issues addressed by the DNR in the Feb 2012 NON include:

Requirement to submit a complete and up to date Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) by March 31, 2012 using “updates normally required” as past updates have used “various tools and non-standard forms”.
DNR granted another extension on the old earthen lagoon abandonment plan to 6/30/2012 with actual abandonment completion due date of 6/30/2013.

Crawford Stewardship Project has reviewed the Roth NMP over the past year. Results have shown significant concerns, which include missing required documentations and inconsistencies. While an NMP update is required annually, one was not submitted in 2010. The 2011 NMP uses different numbering of the fields used for spreading than the 2009 plan, making tracking individual field soil health difficult, plus field maps were not submitted for 2011, nor were all required checklists for NRCS 590 and NR 243 standards submitted each year. Despite these tracking difficulties CSP was able to review five of the larger fields, noting that organic levels have dropped significantly in these fields, phosphorus levels have increased in two of five fields, and potassium levels have dropped.
Read more ....

Report on Meeting in Eau Claire on Dec 1, 2011

The Wisconsin Farmers Union and Wisconsin Towns Association sponsored an all day meeting on sand mining on December 1st near Eau Claire. A repeat is scheduled for January 12, 2012.

Eau Claire County has passed a moratorium to give the county and the townships six months to decide their zoning and/or permitting processes. The ordinance is available online at http://www.co.eau-claire.wi.us/nonmetallic_mining_moratorium.htm.

Sand Mining - Threat to Rural Communities

Sand mines are sweeping across Wisconsin at an alarming rate. Townships without zoning are being quietly invaded, as there is often no public process in place to require a thorough study of the science and of the health effects. The frac sand from these open pit mines is going to the hydraulic fracturing mining industry of gas and oil. Serious environmental issues have arisen in communities of the oil and gas mines, including ground water pollution.

A sand processing plant is proposed for Bangor. A mine is in process near Tomah and in Trempealeau County. At least two landowners in Crawford County have been approached and a La Crosse County landowner was offered double the current price per acre.
Read more . . .

click for larger image

This beautiful, artistic and graphic display of our precious karst geology is created by local photographic artist Rick LaMartina. It measures 22" x 28" and you can have yours for $16 plus $4 shipping.

Send orders postpaid to CSP, PO Box 284, Gays Mills, WI 54631.
Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.

Makes a great gift and conversation item.

Printed by Dairyland Printing, Viroqua, WI


Home News About Us Events Research and Articles Photo Gallery Links Crawford Stewardship Project works to protect the environment of Crawford County from threats such as those posed by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and to promote sustainable land use, local control of natural resources, and environmental justice.
	Ongoing Projects Sand Mining Crawford County CAFOs Water Quality and CAFO Monitoring Karst Geology Sustain Rural Wisconsin Network-SRWN Livestock Siting Law & State CAFO Permitting "CAFOs are only profitable because so much of the cost and damage is externalized onto the environment, neighbors and wildlife. The monitoring, supervision, clean-up, restitution, fines are not happening, thus the true cost of CAFOs never find the way onto the balance books." Talking point from the CAFO Conference. "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated," Mahatma Gandhi "Producers need to ask themselves what would the public think? How would ten people picked at random from an airport or bus station react to (your) animal rearing, transport or slaughter practices?" Dr. Temple Grandin http://www.grandin.com/ whereis this Crawford Stewardship Project is grateful for the generous support of the Wisconsin Community Fund.	CSP Calendar Tuesday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m Video Night Sponsored by Crawford Stewardship Project and the Gays Mills Library Looking for something to do that’s interesting, informative and free? Then come to Crawford Stewardship Project and Gays Mills Library’s video night! Join us in the Board Room of the new Gays Mills Commerce Center, 16381 State Hwy 131, Gays Mills and enjoy viewing “Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story”. This film is sure to spark our discussion, which will follow the viewing. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. This Emmy Award-winning production is from the team that created “Minnesota: A History of the Land”. “Troubled Waters” traces the development of America's bountiful heartland and its effect on the legendary river. Through beautiful photography and inspiring narrative, the film offers solutions to the river's pollution problems through fresh ideas and concrete solutions. News February 15, 2012 Citizen Group brings Concerns on the Wauzeka Hog Operation to the DNR A Notice of Non-compliance (NON) order was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to the Roth Feeder Pig operation in Wauzeka Township in Crawford County on February 3, 2012. According to the NON, the Roth operation has failed to submit a completed Annual Report due January 31, 2012. The NON reflects some of the concerns brought to the DNR by Christa Westerberg, lawyer with McGillivray, Westerberg, & Bender, LLC, on behalf of Crawford Stewardship Project (CSP) in a letter sent January 17, 2012. This is the second time Mr. Roth has been issued an NON, the first was in March 2011, after CSP brought a series of concerns to the DNR. Since the February 3, 2012 NON was issued, Mr. Roth has sent documents to the DNR that likely address some of the requirements listed in the NON. Other issues addressed by the DNR in the Feb 2012 NON include: Requirement to submit a complete and up to date Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) by March 31, 2012 using “updates normally required” as past updates have used “various tools and non-standard forms”. DNR granted another extension on the old earthen lagoon abandonment plan to 6/30/2012 with actual abandonment completion due date of 6/30/2013. Crawford Stewardship Project has reviewed the Roth NMP over the past year. Results have shown significant concerns, which include missing required documentations and inconsistencies. While an NMP update is required annually, one was not submitted in 2010. The 2011 NMP uses different numbering of the fields used for spreading than the 2009 plan, making tracking individual field soil health difficult, plus field maps were not submitted for 2011, nor were all required checklists for NRCS 590 and NR 243 standards submitted each year. Despite these tracking difficulties CSP was able to review five of the larger fields, noting that organic levels have dropped significantly in these fields, phosphorus levels have increased in two of five fields, and potassium levels have dropped. Read more .... Report on Meeting in Eau Claire on Dec 1, 2011 The Wisconsin Farmers Union and Wisconsin Towns Association sponsored an all day meeting on sand mining on December 1st near Eau Claire. A repeat is scheduled for January 12, 2012. Eau Claire County has passed a moratorium to give the county and the townships six months to decide their zoning and/or permitting processes. The ordinance is available online at http://www.co.eau-claire.wi.us/nonmetallic_mining_moratorium.htm. Read more... Sand Mining - Threat to Rural Communities Sand mines are sweeping across Wisconsin at an alarming rate. Townships without zoning are being quietly invaded, as there is often no public process in place to require a thorough study of the science and of the health effects. The frac sand from these open pit mines is going to the hydraulic fracturing mining industry of gas and oil. Serious environmental issues have arisen in communities of the oil and gas mines, including ground water pollution. A sand processing plant is proposed for Bangor. A mine is in process near Tomah and in Trempealeau County. At least two landowners in Crawford County have been approached and a La Crosse County landowner was offered double the current price per acre. Read more . . . Order your Driftless Wisconsin poster today! click for larger image This beautiful, artistic and graphic display of our precious karst geology is created by local photographic artist Rick LaMartina. It measures 22" x 28" and you can have yours for $16 plus $4 shipping. Send orders postpaid to CSP, PO Box 284, Gays Mills, WI 54631. Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. Makes a great gift and conversation item. Printed by Dairyland Printing, Viroqua, WI	News Books and Videos about CAFOs, sustainable agriculture, water and food issues, etc. available at the Crawford County libraries Book and Video List Here's a map showing the CAFOs permitted as of November 2011 WI CAFO MAP Crawford County Copper Creek High Capacity Well Information A wonderful video report on this issue from Dave Carlson of Northland Adventures on WQOW Here are A Dozen Talking Points on CAFOs for SW Wisconsin. Dowload the most recent CSP Newsletter Crawford Stewardship Project is a nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible. Support CSP Send a check to: Crawford Stewardship Project P.O. Box 284 Gays Mills, WI 54631 csp.county@gmail.com

Dowload the most recent CSP Newsletter