Policies for the People

On the surface, many issues that society faces seem like they may have a one and done solution. However, as we continue on the road of technological advancement, modern life becomes much more complex, and a solution is not always what it seems. Throughout the summer, I have had the opportunity to work alongside seven incredible women from many academic disciplines. All in an effort to find an interdisciplinary approach that will allow us to keep our fresh water bodies swimmable and fishable for the generations to come.

In Wisconsin, we have a long and proud tradition of “doing what needs to be done”, we also benefit from a midwestern sense of community and a fierce gratitude for the natural resources that provide our way of life. This attitude gives us a unique opportunity to combat problems and create policies together in the hopes for a more community-oriented solution. The Red Cedar Watershed, home to some of the most genuine and enthusiastic people I have ever encountered, has been fighting against nutrient pollution that creates algal blooms in our fresh water bodies for decades.

Water pollution is something that touches us all, so it is something that will take all of us to make a change. Through local lake associations and other committees, it can be seen that in this area, we have a lot of dedicated folks that are willing to be part of the solution. People who care about the land and water which we call our home. Creating policy and informing the community from the ground up, and with everyone in mind, is something that could go a long way in the fight for our water resources.

This summer, I was fortunate to get a closer view of the policies that help to reduce runoff and pollution in our state, which is known for its beautiful natural resources. Specifically, I looked at the NR151, a policy which is not known to all, but is a keystone in the fight against water pollution in Wisconsin. The NR151 was created to regulate nonpoint urban and agricultural runoff in Wisconsin. In 2010, this policy was updated to go beyond the federal Clean Water Act to create one of the strictest approaches to water quality management in the nation. Since the NR151 is not specific to one industry, it is important that we view this issue with an “all hands-on-deck” mentality. Farmers, Elected Officials, and Urbanites alike have the power to come together to reduce the input of nutrients into our water bodies.

With the help and dedication of my mentor Dr. Zach Raff, and my enthusiastic research partner and new-found friend, Monica, I was able to apply the skills I have learned in the classroom. We wanted to take a look at the NR151 policy and see if these strict approaches were actually having their intended benefit. Throughout the summer, I got to use newly-learned econometric techniques to analyze the NR151 policy. Through our research, we found a causal relationship between the NR151 regulations and a reduction in phosphorus levels in Wisconsin surface water bodies, meaning that the policy is working how it was envisioned. When we see phosphorus levels decrease, we benefit from smaller blooms of the blue-green algae that harms the ecosystem and decreases the recreational value of our lakes.

As a Stout student, I have had exposure to the lake problem since I started school here in 2014. However, before I entered the LAKES project, I had limited information on what exactly the problem was, and how we should go about finding a solution. Through my time with the project, I have learned many things about the science behind the water pollution in our state that I never would have been able to identify on my own. But I have also learned that behind all the scientific definitions and complexities, there is a need for a dedicated community to come together and create a sustained system for ecosystem conservation, which I believe is very possible in the Red Cedar Watershed. Although policy is not the only approach that can be taken, and we still have a long way to go if we are to successfully clean up our water bodies, I believe it is incredibly valuable to the community because it is something that can work in tandem with other, more technologically advanced approaches that may come in the future.