From the River Alliance of Wisconsin: Important!

From: Lori Grant [mailto:lgrant@wisconsinrivers.org]
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 5:23 PM
te Hearing on ORW/ERW Next Wednesday
Importance: High

I had high hopes I could send you a message announcing that the Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters designations as unanimously approved by the Natural Resources Board were finalized. Unfortunately, I just got word yesterday that the Senate Natural Resources and Transportation Committee will be holding a hearing on the proposal next Wednesday, August 24, at 10:00. I've been trying to discover what, if any issues have prompted the decision to hold a public hearing, but all I've been able to find out is that the hearing was requested by Senator Breske, a member of the committee and representative of a large region in northeastern Wisconsin. Senator Breske's district includes Vilas, Oneida, Lincoln, Langlade and Forest Counties, which include 8 of the rivers in the proposal: portions of the Wisconsin, Manitowish, Trout, Squirrel, Tomahawk, Spirit and New Wood Rivers, and Swamp Creek.

This truly is our last chance to make sure the proposal is approved. Senator Kedzie, Chair of the Natural Resources and Transportation Committee, has a history of being fair and balanced on conservation issues, and has specifically told us that the best way to influence his committee is to contact him as well as your own Senator, even if they aren't on the committee. Short of a trip to Madison to speak in person at the hearing, emails and quick calls to their offices are crucial to this last step in the process. A handful of email and phone messages go a long way. The message can be very simple:

Please support DNR's proposal to classify 45 northern rivers as Outstanding and Exceptional Resource Waters.
Please give these pristine rivers the protection they deserve.
Maintaining the high quality of these rivers is good for our economy, and good for our families.
It is especially important to contact Senator Kedzie, and to also contact Senator Breske if you live in his district. If you live in one of the other northern senate districts, contact Senators Jauch or Decker in addition to Senator Kedzie. Be sure to give your address so they know you are a constituent. Even though they aren't on the committee, Senators Jauch and Decker will deliver and discuss you messages with Senator Kedzie.

Senator Kedzie
Sen.Kedzie@legis.state.wi.us
608-266-2635
800-578-1457

If you live in Vilas, Oneida, Lincoln, Langlade, Florence, Forest, Marinette, Oconto or Menominee Counties:

Senator Breske
Sen.Breske@legis.state.wi.us
608-266-2509
715-454-6575

If you live in Price, Rusk or Taylor Counties:

Senator Decker
Sen.Decker@legis.state.wi.us
608-266-2502
715-359-8739

If you live in Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer of Barron Counties:

Senator Jauch
Sen.Jauch@legis.state.wi.us
608-266-3510
715-364-2438

If I gather any intelligence as to why Senator Breske asked for a hearing, I will pass it along. In the mean time, this is it folks - one last, make-it-or- break-it push!



Lori Grant
Policy Program Manager
River Alliance of Wisconsin
608-257-2424 x 111
lgrant@wisconsinrivers.org