Title
Restoration Panel Comments
Abstract
Throughout the process of developing the states’ case in the Natural Resource Damage Claim, I have felt very confident that the state has assembled a team of scientists who could solve the problems that are identified, if they are solvable. I am encouraged to continue in that belief by the hiring of Carol Fox as coordinator of the program at this time. It will take a strong leader to guide everyone through the maze of complexities involved in allocating settlement funds.
Chris Clancy pointed out that state biologists are spread thin and it will take additional manpower to implement projects that are funded. He also discussed some of the work that is being done by the biologists and technicians. It should be noted that there is a tremendous amount of training and on-the-ground-experience among Region 2 fisheries workers in river mechanics, biology and implementing stream rehabilitation projects. This experience should be drawn on in the selection of projects to be funded by the NRD settlement. It will require the kind of experience these people have to be able to judge what is best for the aquatic ecosystem.
There are many relatively small projects that are worthy of funding and are very necessary to restore the river to its former condition. I hope there will be a mechanism for getting projects such as these through the screening process without a lot of delay. For example, Chris Brick noted that there is a lot of bank erosion along the mainstem of the river. Some of this is because the river has been straightened. Several of these artificially straight sections could be put back in old channel meanders by simply removing portions of the old Milwaukee Railroad bed. In most cases the old channel is relatively unchanged from when it was cut off by the railroad. Projects such as this will improve fish habitat in the mainstem, possibly get the river away from metals contaminated riverbed and reduce erosive forces.
Because the process of selecting projects for funding with NRD settlement dollars is political in nature, the advisory committee needs to make a special effort to inform and encourage the public to be involved in the process. Everyone interested in river restoration should know what the money can and cannot be used for.
Start Date
14-4-2000 12:00 AM
End Date
14-4-2000 12:00 AM
Document Type
Panel Session/Paper
Restoration Panel Comments
Throughout the process of developing the states’ case in the Natural Resource Damage Claim, I have felt very confident that the state has assembled a team of scientists who could solve the problems that are identified, if they are solvable. I am encouraged to continue in that belief by the hiring of Carol Fox as coordinator of the program at this time. It will take a strong leader to guide everyone through the maze of complexities involved in allocating settlement funds.
Chris Clancy pointed out that state biologists are spread thin and it will take additional manpower to implement projects that are funded. He also discussed some of the work that is being done by the biologists and technicians. It should be noted that there is a tremendous amount of training and on-the-ground-experience among Region 2 fisheries workers in river mechanics, biology and implementing stream rehabilitation projects. This experience should be drawn on in the selection of projects to be funded by the NRD settlement. It will require the kind of experience these people have to be able to judge what is best for the aquatic ecosystem.
There are many relatively small projects that are worthy of funding and are very necessary to restore the river to its former condition. I hope there will be a mechanism for getting projects such as these through the screening process without a lot of delay. For example, Chris Brick noted that there is a lot of bank erosion along the mainstem of the river. Some of this is because the river has been straightened. Several of these artificially straight sections could be put back in old channel meanders by simply removing portions of the old Milwaukee Railroad bed. In most cases the old channel is relatively unchanged from when it was cut off by the railroad. Projects such as this will improve fish habitat in the mainstem, possibly get the river away from metals contaminated riverbed and reduce erosive forces.
Because the process of selecting projects for funding with NRD settlement dollars is political in nature, the advisory committee needs to make a special effort to inform and encourage the public to be involved in the process. Everyone interested in river restoration should know what the money can and cannot be used for.