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 This page is no longer being updated.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.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Monday, August 18, 2008
Madison toilet rebate proposed
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
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
Friday, August 8, 2008
Water Star Activity Lists
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.
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.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Visions and Goals
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
New Mission Statement
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
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
Friday, May 23, 2008
May Water Star update
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.
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.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Pilot Project grant application
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.
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.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Water Star public meeting: April 17
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.
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.
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