Environment
A Review of Curt Meine’s Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work on the Occasion of Aldo Leopold’s 136th Birthday
One could tick off details about Aldo Leopold’s life—born January 11, 1887, in Burlington, Iowa; educated as a forester at Yale; worked for the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico and Arizona for roughly two decades; married Estella Bergere in October of 1912; accepted an appointment to the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1924; and, in 1935, came into possession of “the shack,” near Baraboo, along the Wisconsin River, a place that figures as a hub in A Sand County Almanac, and on which property he died, of an apparent heart attack, while fighting ...
The Proposed Master Plan for Rib Mountain State Park Open Letter
The Proposed Master Plan for Rib Mountain State Park which was submitted to the NRB on Dec 14th, 2022 had gone through an extensive public comment process as required by Wisconsin law. However, at the NRB meeting, the plan was significantly amended on the motion of a now former board member changing the plan by adding approximately 28 acres to the parcel to be leased by Granite Peak Ski Corporation.
The amendment designated this added land for construction of three new downhill ski runs and a new ski lift. The new runs and lift will wipe out several existing and ...
Nuclear Weapons and the Environment
January 22, 2023 marked the second anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. On January 22, 2021 nuclear weapons officially became illegal under international law. The world community declared the mass murder resulting from using nuclear weapons a crime against humanity. Currently 92 nations have signed and 68 have ratified the treaty and are bound by its provisions.
Unfortunately, none of the nine countries who have nuclear weapons have signed and ratified the treaty. Because they have not, the treaty does not apply to them. As a result, human ...
Honor the Earth
Pick a country road, just about any one of them will do. The one we live on serves the purpose. I've written about it before, a nice little road, perhaps a little plain, certainly less dramatic than many, and yet real treasures line its sides, both in the ditches and the woods through which it passes. The jewels that sparkle along the way are many. Marsh marigolds in spring, emerald green and radiant yellow; summer's marsh milkweed, richly magenta, and bottle gentian dappling our fall colors with brush strokes of indigo. These are just some of the gems in our ...
Gold Resource Mine Permits Must Not Be Combined
An FYI from the Coalition to Save the Menominee River. By now you all should know something about the infamous Back Forty Mine. Many think because we defeated Aquila in court, the threat of this mine is over. It is not.
Aquila sold out their investors and transferred their remaining assets to Gold Resource Corp., G.O.R.O. on the N.Y.S.E. They are determined to start the mine. They will need five permits before a shovel can be put in the ground. Each permit has numerous conditions that must be met before they can be issued. G.O.R.0, has submitted their first application. ...
Mining Updates
You have seen many mining articles here in Middle Wisconsin this year with the Reef Deposit in the Town of Easton, just below the Eau Claire Dells and in Taylor County there is the Bend Deposit. We continue to encourage you to join our efforts on protecting the water. The following website will always have the most current information.
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Mines/Projects.html
You can click on the various tabs under Recent and Potential metallic Mining Projects in Wisconsin to learn more.
There are Notices of Intent to Drill on both the Reef and the ...
A Water Protectors Christmas
Who would ever have thought that the passion and the dream of one couple would evolve into a strong, and beautiful coalition of water protectors. The Coalition to Save the Menominee River, some of you may know it as "The Back Forty Mine." Today was a time for friendships, and good food. Along with everything else, we have a talented group of musicians. It was our honor to present Dale and Lea Jane with a plaque for their dedication and hard work.
Knock it Off With the Greenwashing
I must commend the many people who are stepping up to the plate in Marathon County with concerns about their drinking water. Recently Green Light Metals has again tried to put themselves in the forefront saying they are here for the green economy. Marathon County residents are too smart to be “green-washed.”
The Inflation Reduction Act itself is not a cure-all for bad mining practices of the past. I only hope the IRA monies will go for education and technology. Let’s try to learn better and less invasive techniques for mining, not hand out subsidies to mining ...
The Costs of Convenience
Climate change is caused by all of us. We all make choices that contribute to the problem. As individuals and as a nation we are not willing to sacrifice even smallest of conveniences to help mitigate the problems.
In her song “Is It for Freedom” singer-songwriter Sara Thomsen asks, “Who pays the cost for the convenience we demand?” Her song is about war, but the question can apply to environmental issues. The answer is all humanity and the biosphere are paying the cost.
Climate change is just one manifestation of our selfishness. Our wastefulness is another ...
No Need for Gold
I find myself testing the ground a lot more these days. With winter coming, I am afraid of the ground freezing too fast. Why, you wonder? I don’t want a mining company drilling in my county.
A letter of intent to drill was submitted for exploratory drilling in the Town of Easton, located in northeastern Marathon County. The mining company wants to drill nine holes over a three-parcel area. The holes are to be 650 feet deep. The drilling will be done in two phases this winter if the application is incompliance with regulations and ordinances. The last company only ...