Water Star Community Program

Water Star website

2011-01-01T21:30:00.000-06:00

See the Wisconsin Water Star website for information about the program:

http://www.waterstarwisconsin.org/

This blog provided updates for the initial development phase of the program. This page is no longer being updated.

The current Water Star coordinator is Suzanne Wade. Contact her here:
864 Collins Road
Jefferson, WI 53549
920-674-8972
Email Suzanne here.

The original Water Star coordinator, Michael Forster Rothbart, is now in upstate New York. You can find him here.

Madison toilet rebate proposed

2008-08-18T13:28:00.003-05:00

The City of Madison Water Utility has proposed a $100 rebate for homeowners who buy low-flow toilets.

See the Wis State Journal article here: www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/301112

Read background about the Water Utility Water Conservation and Sustainability Plan here: www.ci.madison.wi.us/Water/Documents/waterconservationop-eddraft2.pdf

The full (draft) Plan is available here: http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/attachments/852f8ee9-36af-4818-9977-dd1076349beb.pdf

Madison's water conservation goals are here:
http://legistar.cityofmadison.com/attachments/4bf2c152-b2ac-4c17-b367-0ee476bb239d.pdf

Water Star Activity Lists

2008-08-08T14:02:00.001-05:00

I have posted an updated draft of our Water Star Activity Lists. These list of activities (364 of them at present!) proposed to be a part of the Water Star program include all input collected at our two July Steering Committee meetings.

We have scheduled two additional meetings to edit and evaluate the activity lists, on August 20 and 21. Contact Suzanne Wade at SuzanneW@co.jefferson.wi.us for details.

Visions and Goals

2008-07-14T14:34:00.002-05:00

For the past month, a subcommittee of the Water Star Steering Committee has been working hard to evaluate previous Water Star goals and vision statements, sift and winnow through our priorities, and set new goals.

I have now posted the current version of our vision statement and goals. The Steering Committee decided that they generally support these statements but will continue to tweak the wording before a final version is approved.

New Mission Statement

2008-06-25T13:16:00.003-05:00

At yesterday's Water Star Steering Committee meeting we approved a new mission statement:

The Water Star Program guides, inspires and recognizes communities that take exemplary actions to protect, improve and enhance their local waters.

How did we develop this statement?

· We decided the format of the mission should be:
(we) (support) (communities) (to protect) (water), and not:
(we) (protect) (water)

· Then we looked at all the ways we support communities:
(what we do)
guidance
recognition
incentives
inspiration
encourage participation

(for whom)
communities
municipalities
lake districts
taxing entities
local govt’s
school districts
towns, counties

(the actions/results)
commitment
improve
protect
restore
celebrate
voluntary work
enhance
enjoy

for (protected resource).
health of water
beauty of water
surface water
ground water
water quality
water resources
ecosystems
rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands

May Water Star update

2008-05-23T15:03:00.000-05:00

WORKING GROUPS
We had a series of productive working group meetings in March and April to collect input on Water Star program design and content. Thanks to all who attended for the great participation and ideas.

The minutes from the working groups have been posted online here:
Surface water
Groundwater
Habitat
Land Use

Two main themes emerged from our discussions about program structure: (1) it should be easy for communities to get started with Water Star, without a lot of paperwork or staff time needed. (2) The program design needs to be flexible, so that it supports communities in identifying their own local priorities for projects.

We are now incorporating the suggestions we’ve collected into a program manual. Find the latest draft Program Summary online, with ideas about how communities will participate.

DNR GRANT
This month, we applied for a DNR River Planning grant to continue developing the Water Star program. For a good summary of what we plan in the coming year, have a look at the grant application.

PILOT COMMUNITIES
Want to be the first to test out the Water Star program? We have not yet decided which municipalities will participate in this year’s pilot program. If you think your community might be interested, let Michael Forster Rothbart know by June 6. Contact waterstar@rockrivercoalition.org or 608-661-4308.

LEARN MORE
More details about our progress developing Water Star are always available online on our Water Star blog (www.wiswaterstar.blogspot.com) and in the Water Star Document Library.

Pilot Project grant application

2008-05-01T14:42:00.000-05:00

The Rock River Coalition has submitted a grant to DNR to continue our work on the Water Star Pilot Program.

The grant application is here:
http://www.rockrivercoalition.org/waterstar/2008%20Water%20Star%20DNR%20grant%20summary.pdf

The current grant will continue until the end of 2008, and the new grant would begin in July 2008 and continue through 2009.

Water Star public meeting: April 17

2008-04-07T11:12:00.000-05:00

We want your help developing a list of actions communities can take to address water problems.

Please come to our public meeting on Thursday, April 17, 6:30-8:30 pm at the Dane Co. Land & Water Resources office in Madison. (Directions below).

We'll discuss all 5 topics included in the Water Star program (surface water, groundwater, habitat & wildlife, land use, health & recreation), brainstorm activities and discuss program design.

If you plan to come, please think about these questions:
What types of problems harm your community’s water? What could members of your community do to improve the water quality? Consider all the different groups who might be involved: citizens, city council, city departments, schools, businesses?

Directions:
Dane County Land & Water Resources office — 1 Fen Oak Ct., Madison.
608-224-3730.

From downtown Madison:
Take E. Washington Ave. (US 151) east. Exit onto Hwy 30, take it one mile to Stoughton Rd. Turn right (south) and proceed 3 miles to Pflaum Rd. Turn left on Pflaum and follow it as it curves right and become Agriculture Drive. After 0.4 mile, turn left on World Dairy Drive. Fen Oak Court is at the end of the first block.

From the Beltline (Hwy 18):
Take US 18 to exit 226 (Stoughton Rd.) Turn north on Stoughton Rd., then take an immediate right (east) onto Dutch Mill Rd. Take Dutch Mill almost one mile to Agriculture Drive. Turn left and then take the first right on World Dairy Drive. Fen Oak Court is at the end of the first block.

The return of the Rock

2008-04-03T13:56:00.003-05:00

Today's Janesville Gazette has an interesting article about work Janesville plans to do to improve their downtown stretch of the Rock River:

www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/apr/03/return-rock/

This sentence sums up the whole problem:
"Buildings turn their backs to the river, and so does much of the community."

Working groups update

2008-03-31T15:11:00.004-05:00

Thanks to all who participated in our Water Star working groups last week. We had two great sessions and generated a lot of good ideas for designing the Water Star program. We're grateful to all who shared their expertise on groundwater and habitat issues.

This week, we have two working groups scheduled:
Land use April 2, 2:30-4:30 UW Pyle Center, Madison
Surface water April 4, 10:00-12:00 UW-Extension office, Jefferson

We have room for a couple more people in the Land Use session (The Surface Water session is fairly full). If you are interested and have not RSVPed, contact Michael directly at waterstar@rockrivercoalition.org or 608-661-4308.

We have cancelled the meeting set for April 8 on health and recreation issues. The Steering Committee will continue to discuss how these issues fit into the Water Star program.

We have scheduled one evening meeting open to all, to discuss the different Water Star components:
All topics April 17, 6:30-8:30 Dane Co. Land Conservation, Madison

Please feel free to invite any interested people or groups to this April 17 meeting.

You can find background and directions here: www.rockrivercoalition.org/waterstar/WorkingGroupInvitationLetter.pdf

A vision for our future

2008-03-20T15:37:00.001-05:00

Jim Congdon and other Water Star Steering Committee members have envisioned how the state could look after Water Star is successful.

Wisconsin is a water-rich state whose residents value, protect, restore and celebrate our lakes, rivers, wetlands and groundwater. Community leaders and residents understand that water quality and quantity is vital to the economic and physical health of their community. Community leaders recognize that their local waters are part of an ecosystem and work in partnership with other communities, upstream and downstream, to protect, restore and conserve the water resources that are such a vital part of their lives. Our citizens understand and share the responsibility of using practices in their daily lives that restore the water resources of their community, on public and private lands and community streets. They understand that high-quality water resources are a vital factor in determining quality of life in their community.

Wisconsin communities, both large and small, are vibrant centers of economic and social life where the quality of life is generously enhanced by lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, wildlife habitat and open green space which are incorporated into their community design. The shores are lined with trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers that shade the waters, hold soil in place and provide homes for wildlife. Business establishments face the river, which runs clear and clean as it winds its way through the community. People stroll, run and bike on pathways winding along the lakeshores and river corridors. Restaurant patrons dine by the water’s edge serenaded by the sounds of flowing water and bird songs. Business patrons parked their automobiles on porous pavement in parking lots with swales to slow, filter and infiltrate rainwater runoff. Many bicycled or walked to their destination from neighborhoods with curbless, clean-swept winding streets. Rain gardens minimize mowed lawns, infiltrate roof and driveway runoff, and are a haven for butterflies, birds and other wildlife. Naturalized stormwater retention ponds capture and filter runoff which is slowly released as clean water. Property values are enhanced by the scenic view and wildlife presence. Communities grow as residents return to the urban setting with its’ convenient services and high quality of life!

Is this vision only a dream or could it be a reality?

Document library

2008-03-17T12:03:00.000-05:00

We have created a Water Star Document Library, where you can find useful written documents about Water Star:

Announcements
Background information
Meeting agendas and minutes
Draft versions of new documents
Program reviews

The files are in pdf format for easy printing or downloading.

http://www.rockrivercoalition.org/waterstar/docs.asp

Program Review: Groundwater Guardian

2008-03-14T12:03:00.002-05:00

Water Star intern Andy Obernesser has been looking at existing incentive-based environmental programs across the country to generate ideas for Water Star program design.

The first report is on Groundwater Guardian.

ABSTRACT

Groundwater Guardian is an incentive-based resource protection program developed by the Groundwater Foundation in Lincoln, Nebraska. The program has three major structural components: the Foundation, Groundwater Guardian Teams and Affiliates. The process of achieving Guardian recognition is focused on the development and implementation of “Result Oriented Activities” (for new Teams and communities seeking re-certification) and “Result Oriented Services” (for Affiliates). The benefits of designation include recognition at the Foundation’s annual celebration for Groundwater Guardian communities, assistance with a local designation celebration, and some direct and indirect grant incentives.

View the pdf version.

Working group meetings

2008-03-04T16:16:00.004-06:00

We have scheduled 6 working group meetings in March and April, for each of the Water Star topic areas.

Topic: Time: Location:

Groundwater -- March 24, 2:30-4:30 -- UW Pyle Center, Madison
Habitat & wildlife -- March 26, 2:00-4:00 -- Dane Co. Land Conservation, Madison
Land use -- April 2, 2:30-4:30 -- UW Pyle Center, Madison
Surface water -- April 4, 10:00-12:00 -- UW-Extension office, Jefferson
Health & recreation -- April 8, 2:00-4:00 -- UW-Extension office, Jefferson
All topics -- April 17, 6:30-8:30 -- Dane Co. Land Conservation, Madison.

These groups will help us develop lists of community activities to include in the Water Star program. It is critical for the Water Star program to be valuable to municipalities, so we will also discuss program design, expectations, incentives, and criteria for evaluating performance.

Contact us if you're interested in attending: 608-661-4308 or waterstar(at)rockrivercoalition.org.

March Steering Committee meeting

2008-03-03T12:35:00.001-06:00

The Water Star Steering Committee will next meet on March 13, 9:30-11:30 A.M. at the office of MSA Professional Services.

Steering Committee meetings are open to the public. Contact us if you're interested in attending: 608-661-4308 or waterstar(at)rockrivercoalition.org.

Reflections article

2008-02-15T11:32:00.007-06:00

The winter issue of Rock River Reflections, the quarterly newsletter of the Rock River Coalition, leads with a nice article about Water Star.

Download the full newsletter (pdf) here.

Introducing Water Star

Imagine your mayor, stepping up on stage to accept an award for all the work your town has done to improve its water quality. The crowd cheers as the mayor makes a long-winded thank you: “And none of these changes would have been possible without the dedicated efforts of our citizens, our businesses, our city council, and Water Star.”

The Water Star Community Program is a new project to reward communities for making environmental improvements in five areas: surface water, groundwater, habitat, land use and human health. In January 2008, the Rock River Coalition started the pilot project stage of Water Star, working with four other Wisconsin non-profits and the Department of Natural Resources.

The pilot project will proceed in two phases. During the coming months, five working groups will meet to discuss and finalize the elements included in the program. A steering committee will meet monthly to work out the program structure and logistics. Later in the spring of 2008, three communities in the Rock River watershed will test out the program and identify ways to improve it. Eventually the RRC intends to introduce the program statewide.

The Rock River Coalition has hired Michael Forster Rothbart to coordinate this initial phase of the Water Star Communities Program. Forster Rothbart comes to the program with a background in urban planning and river activism. He served for three years on the Madison Plan Commission and is a founding member of Friends of Starkweather Creek in Madison.

“There are so many ways we hurt our lakes and rivers without even realizing it,” says Forster Rothbart. “I’m excited to be working on this program. Water Star will encourage communities to actively protect their water resources. I hope to get input from a lot of different people across the state to help make Water Star a success.”

Volunteers are welcome to get involved. Currently the best way to help is to join a Water Star working group. See www.wiswaterstar.blogspot.com for more information, or contact Michael Forster Rothbart at 608-881-4308 or waterstar@rockrivercoalition.org.

What is Water Star? FAQs

2008-02-04T11:57:00.002-06:00

What is Water Star?
• Water Star is a program that rewards communities for preserving and improving their local water quality.
• Water Star has 5 main components:
  - surface water
  - groundwater
  - land use
  - habitat & wildlife
  - health & recreation.
• There are 5 general types of activities in Water Star:
  - education
  - planning
  - physical improvements
  - improving municipal ordinances
  - improving municipal programs and operations.

How does Water Star work?
• Water Star community residents and local governments work together on the issues they identify as local priorities.
• Water Star is a voluntary program, based on incentives, not regulation.
• Water Star provides a framework for communities to address water quality issues, offering guidance and examples from elsewhere in the state to make preservation, conservation and restoration easier.
• Water Star communities earn points for their activities, and then earn recognition for their achievements.

What results will Water Star have?
• By helping to improve water quality, Water Star helps communities to:
  - protect fish and wildlife
  - protect lakes and rivers for public enjoyment
  - increase local quality of life
  - maintain property values
  - save municipalities money.
• Water Star communities will be eligible for state programs and incentives.

What is happening now?
• Water Star is currently a 6-month pilot project in the Rock River basin (in south central Wisconsin). Initially, it will be tested in 3 communities.
• Water Star will eventually be a statewide program for local governments (towns, villages, cities and lake districts) across Wisconsin.
• The Water Star pilot project is organized by the Rock River Coalition in partnership with 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin, the River Alliance of Wisconsin, Town and Country Resource, Conservation & Development, and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes.
• The Water Star pilot project is funded by a Wisconsin DNR River Planning grant.

Water Star Program Coordinator

2008-01-14T10:22:00.000-06:00

The Water Star Community Program has hired a coordinator for the pilot project. Michael Forster Rothbart began work this week.

Michael comes to the program with a background in urban planning and river activism. He served for three years on the Madison Plan Commission and is a founding member of Friends of Starkweather Creek, in Madison. He is also a professional photographer.

Michael grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, (in the Huron River watershed). He traces his interest in water issues back to the 1980s, when he volunteered with one of the country's first citizen water quality monitoring programs and was then sent as a student representative on the Icewalk north pole expedition.

Michael will be working out of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes office in Madison. He'll generally be in the office Mon-Thurs 8:30 to 12:30, and some Fridays. You can reach him here:

waterstar@rockrivercoalition.org
608-661-4308
4513 Vernon Blvd, Suite 101, Madison, WI 53705.

Pilot project begins

2008-01-11T13:56:00.000-06:00

In January 2008, the Water Star Community Program has entered the pilot project phase. We are now organizing a steering committee to help finalize the program structure. In the coming months, we will be selecting three communities in the Rock River watershed to participate in this pilot phase.