Crawford Stewardship Project

Crawford County Copper Creek High Capacity Well Information Updates

April 16, 2012

Here are some items of note on what's and what's not happening with Save Copper Creek.

TEST WELL - Nothing new here. We are still waiting. At our request, our attorney contacted the DNR and received the following e-mail reply:
"Jodi - I have not spoken to Dr. Long in several months. However, I did speak to his well driller a few weeks ago and he indicated that Dr. Long is still interested in pursuing approval of the proposed well. The first thing that would need to be done is construction of a test well followed by geophysical logging (to be conducted by staff from WGNHS). After that, it is likely that a pumping test would be conducted to further define aquifer characteristics and the degree of hydraulic connection between the lower aquifer and the surface water features. Give me a call if you need more information. Larry"

RADIO INTERVIEWS - Bob Van Hoesen was interviewed by both WDRT and WVRQ of Viroqua about the well. The WDRT interview aired and is now available on the VSN website at http://www.kickapoovsn.org/activism/save-copper-creek -- just click the "Friday Focus" link under the March 22, 2012 update heading. The WVRQ interview will air in three parts (5 minutes each) between 6:45 and 7:00 am on April 17, 18 and 19.

ZONING Cynthia attended the public meeting for the Town of Utica for its revised zoning ordinance. The ordinance was well-received by all present. According to the Town Clerk, the revised ordinance probably won't come up for a final approval by the town board until May.

Let me know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions.
Bob VH

February 4, 2012

Dr. Long has decided to proceed with the test well near Copper Creek. This Wisconsin State Journal article was printed in the La Crosse Tribune and covers this development: http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/crawford-well-plan-moves-forward/article_3c05704a-3f32-11e1-8720-0019bb2963f4.html

Attorneys and scientists will be monitoring the test well operation on behalf of our organization. We will keep you informed.

December 27, 2011

As 2011 draws to a close, I want to give you an update on what's been happening -- and NOT happening -- on the high-capacity well issue. First, though, I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the Save Copper Creek cause in a dozen different ways: for all your ideas, encouragement, donations, petition-signing, putting up yard signs, attending meetings, writing letters, the rummage sale, and on and on and on and on . . . . Thank you, thank you, thank you!

* There have been several articles in the Crawford County Independent/Kickapoo Scout about the status of the well. They report no action on the test well, but also suggest that Dr. Long may be focusing more on bottling the water and perhaps giving up on the use of the water for emergencies. Check the papers for the stories -- also, the articles sometimes appear on the newspaper chain's website, http://www.swnews4u.com/ -- click on news or headlines. The DNR also reports that it has not heard anything new on the test well in the last couple of months.

* The SCC legal team and science team remain vigilant in light of Dr. Long's changeable motives and actions on this project. We continue to explore the revised zoning ordinance in the Town of Utica as another alternative for preventing the use of the well.

* At the suggestion of Edie Ehlert and Ellen Brooks of Crawford Stewardship Project, I attended a presentation in Prairie du Chien by Don Barrett, who is conducting research on aquatic invasive species in a nine-county area, including Crawford. He spoke to the Crawford County Land Conservation Committee. He has identified Japanese hops, an invasive species, in segments of Copper Creek. I talked to him after the meeting about whether well-induced changes in flow and temperature could make Copper Creek more susceptible to invasive species. He couldn't give a definitive answer, but said that anything that changes the natural baseline characteristics of a stream has a potential for harm. While there, I also was asked to give the Committee a brief update on the status of the well, which I did.

* Save Copper Creek received a letter last week from Kim McCarthy, Chair of Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, notifying us that Save Copper Creek will be receiving the TU's Appreciation Award for our efforts to protect the creek. The award will be presented at the TU annual State Council evening banquet in Wausau on February 4, 2012. We plan to have a representative of Save Copper Creek on hand to accept the award.

I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season so far and that we can all look forward to a happy new year.

Bob Van Hoesen for Save Copper Creek
savecoppercreek@gmail.com

			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. 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
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	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 Crawford Stewardship Project is grateful for the generous support of the Wisconsin Community Fund. Order your Driftless Wisconsin poster today! "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.	Crawford County Copper Creek High Capacity Well Information Updates April 16, 2012 Here are some items of note on what's and what's not happening with Save Copper Creek. TEST WELL - Nothing new here. We are still waiting. At our request, our attorney contacted the DNR and received the following e-mail reply: "Jodi - I have not spoken to Dr. Long in several months. However, I did speak to his well driller a few weeks ago and he indicated that Dr. Long is still interested in pursuing approval of the proposed well. The first thing that would need to be done is construction of a test well followed by geophysical logging (to be conducted by staff from WGNHS). After that, it is likely that a pumping test would be conducted to further define aquifer characteristics and the degree of hydraulic connection between the lower aquifer and the surface water features. Give me a call if you need more information. Larry" RADIO INTERVIEWS - Bob Van Hoesen was interviewed by both WDRT and WVRQ of Viroqua about the well. The WDRT interview aired and is now available on the VSN website at http://www.kickapoovsn.org/activism/save-copper-creek -- just click the "Friday Focus" link under the March 22, 2012 update heading. The WVRQ interview will air in three parts (5 minutes each) between 6:45 and 7:00 am on April 17, 18 and 19. ZONING Cynthia attended the public meeting for the Town of Utica for its revised zoning ordinance. The ordinance was well-received by all present. According to the Town Clerk, the revised ordinance probably won't come up for a final approval by the town board until May. Let me know if you have any comments, suggestions or questions. Bob VH February 4, 2012 Dr. Long has decided to proceed with the test well near Copper Creek. This Wisconsin State Journal article was printed in the La Crosse Tribune and covers this development: http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/crawford-well-plan-moves-forward/article_3c05704a-3f32-11e1-8720-0019bb2963f4.html Attorneys and scientists will be monitoring the test well operation on behalf of our organization. We will keep you informed. December 27, 2011 As 2011 draws to a close, I want to give you an update on what's been happening -- and NOT happening -- on the high-capacity well issue. First, though, I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the Save Copper Creek cause in a dozen different ways: for all your ideas, encouragement, donations, petition-signing, putting up yard signs, attending meetings, writing letters, the rummage sale, and on and on and on and on . . . . Thank you, thank you, thank you! * There have been several articles in the Crawford County Independent/Kickapoo Scout about the status of the well. They report no action on the test well, but also suggest that Dr. Long may be focusing more on bottling the water and perhaps giving up on the use of the water for emergencies. Check the papers for the stories -- also, the articles sometimes appear on the newspaper chain's website, http://www.swnews4u.com/ -- click on news or headlines. The DNR also reports that it has not heard anything new on the test well in the last couple of months. * The SCC legal team and science team remain vigilant in light of Dr. Long's changeable motives and actions on this project. We continue to explore the revised zoning ordinance in the Town of Utica as another alternative for preventing the use of the well. * At the suggestion of Edie Ehlert and Ellen Brooks of Crawford Stewardship Project, I attended a presentation in Prairie du Chien by Don Barrett, who is conducting research on aquatic invasive species in a nine-county area, including Crawford. He spoke to the Crawford County Land Conservation Committee. He has identified Japanese hops, an invasive species, in segments of Copper Creek. I talked to him after the meeting about whether well-induced changes in flow and temperature could make Copper Creek more susceptible to invasive species. He couldn't give a definitive answer, but said that anything that changes the natural baseline characteristics of a stream has a potential for harm. While there, I also was asked to give the Committee a brief update on the status of the well, which I did. * Save Copper Creek received a letter last week from Kim McCarthy, Chair of Wisconsin Trout Unlimited, notifying us that Save Copper Creek will be receiving the TU's Appreciation Award for our efforts to protect the creek. The award will be presented at the TU annual State Council evening banquet in Wausau on February 4, 2012. We plan to have a representative of Save Copper Creek on hand to accept the award. I hope you have had a wonderful holiday season so far and that we can all look forward to a happy new year. Bob Van Hoesen for Save Copper Creek savecoppercreek@gmail.com		Letter to the DNR outlining our concerns. DNR document which represents its proposed conditions and responses to public comments on the proposed high-capacity well. Download the document here. What else can you do? * We need your financial donations (tax-deductible) to help cover our growing expenses. Thanks to all those who have already sent in donations. * Continue to write letters to the editor to your local paper and send copies to surrounding papers: the La Crosse Tribune, Crawford County Independent-Scout, Vernon County Broadcaster, Boscobel Dial, and others. * If you're a Facebook user, "like" our Save Copper Creek page and "share" our postings and updates with your friends. * Check our Facebook page * Check regularly into our website on the VSN webpage: http://www.kickapoovsn.org/activism/save-copper-creek * Talk to your neighbors and organizations to which you belong. * Contact elected officials with your concerns. Thanks for being involved and a part of Save Copper Creek. The Water Belongs to All of Us !

Crawford County Copper Creek High Capacity Well Information Updates

What else can you do?