JULY 2022
ADDRESSING GROUNDWATER ISSUES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL: THE KEWAUNEE COUNTY EXPERIENCE

Groundwater quality continues to be a statewide issue and Land and Water Conservation Departments are at the forefront of addressing the issue.

This Monday, July 18, 2022 seminar will help to provide an understanding of some of the technical, legal, and policy aspects of groundwater.

It will also provide information on how one county (Kewaunee) has addressed these various aspects to balance the agricultural, environmental, political and public concern, and what the results have been so far. This information can assist other county leaders with potential ways to address groundwater issues in their respective counties.
DATE
JULY 18, 2022

TIME
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM*
LOCATION
Holiday Inn Stevens Point – Convention Center
1001 Amber Avenue
Stevens Point, WI 54482
*Noon – 1:00: Lunch is on your own. There are several dining options in and around the Holiday Inn.
AGENDA
9:30 a.m. Registration
(Refreshments will be available)

10:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf, Director of Outreach & Member Engagement, Wisconsin Counties Association

Scott Feldt, County Administrator, Kewaunee County

10:10 a.m. How Did We Get Here?
Kewaunee County Conservationist Davina Bonness and Tucker Burch will provide a comprehensive overview of the issues surrounding groundwater in Kewaunee County: well test results, effects of manure applications, DNR workgroups, the formation of a Groundwater Taskforce, creation of a manure irrigation ordinance, passage of NR 151, etc.

They will discuss how all of these various issues influenced and impacted how Kewaunee County addressed groundwater issues. The presenters will provide a variety of perspectives (county, state, technical, political) on all issues impacting groundwater.

Noon: Lunch Break
Lunch is on your own. There are several dining options in and around the Holiday Inn.

1:00 p.m. Working with Farmers to Gain Compliance
Travis Engels, Kewaunee County Conservation Specialist, will outline the various ways that Kewaunee County interacts with the various players involved in groundwater issues with regard to the implementation of NR 151: working with Crop Advisers (CCAs) on nutrient management plans (NMPs), manure haulers on spreading (gallons per acres and spreading schedules), farmers on best practice, etc. The point is to work with those players to gain compliance through building trust so that honest and respectful conversation can take place in lieu of an adversarial relationship.

2:00 p.m. Verification is Important
Davina Bonness, Kewaunee County Conservationist, will outline the county's recent initiative in reviewing NMPs and comparing them with spreading schedules and specific fields to determine whether fields are being identified in more than one NMP and whether the private landowner is aware that their fields have been included in those NMPs. Verification is key to gaining public trust as to whether state and local regulations are being followed.

3:00 p.m. Adjourn
REGISTRATION
There is no fee to attend this educational seminar. However, preregistration is required. You can register for the seminar below or by clicking here.
PRESENTERS
Davina Bonness
Director
Land and Water Conservation
Kewaunee County
Tucker Burch
Research Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural Research Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Travis Engels
Conservation Specialist
Land and Water Conservation
Kewaunee County