Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 11, Number 1 • Early Spring 2003
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
|
|
By: Charlie Luthin
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is producing an extraordinary publication that identifies the most important conservation lands throughout the state. At the request of the Natural Resources Board, DNR staff developed the “Wisconsin Land Legacy Report: An Inventory of Places Critical in Meeting Wisconsin’s Future Conservation and Recreation Needs.” This document is being produced to identify conservation priorities for the next 50 years. In it, the state is divided into sixteen ecological regions, and each section identifies existing and potential protected landscapes. To view elements of the draft Land Legacy Report, visit the DNR website: www.dnr.state.wi.us/ master_planning/land_legacy/index.html.
Long-time GLAHNF ally and river champion Todd Ambs, executive director of River Alliance of Wisconsin (RAW), has left his position at RAW to become the Administrator of the Division of Water for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under new DNR Secretary Scott Hassett. Hassett was recently appointed by incoming Governor Jim Doyle.Todd now oversees a staff of 700.Todd has dedicated the past five years to building River Alliance into one of the most successful (and formidable!) grassroots groups in the state. He is widely respected in the environmental community for his super-human efforts to help develop and pass stringent non-point pollution administrative rules for Wisconsin, one of the toughest non-point standards in the country.
River Alliance has also gained national recognition for its numerous successes in affecting the removal of small dams from Wisconsin rivers. Although Todd’s leadership will be missed in the private sector, we celebrate his appointment to this important position and look forward to working with him and the new DNR Secretary. His mantra for the past year has been, “Enforce the Clean Water Act!” and we hope he is able to institutionalize this goal.
At its eighth annual science forum, Wisconsin Wetlands Association (WWA) attracted speakers on the theme, “Prairie Wetlands: Restoring Connections.” Over 200 people attended the Forum on January 24-25 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The Prairie Enthusiasts, a multi-state nonprofit organization, was co-sponsor of the event. More information about the forum and its speakers is available on WWA’s newly revised website:www.wiscwetlands.org.
| Charlie Luthin Wisconsin Wetlands Association Serving as Hub for Wisconsin 222 S. Hamilton Street-Suite 1 Madison, WI 53703 (608)-250-9971 (608)-256-4562 (fax) E-mail: Charlie@wiscwetlands.org Website: www.wiscwetlands.org |